Cocktail Sneakers In the News

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Press Releases

COCKTAIL SNEAKERS’ FOUNDER CHAMPIONS FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP at ELEVATE 2022

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. (October 5, 2022) – Cocktail Sneakers® Founder and CEO Susan C. Hassett, will participate alongside four other female entrepreneurs in an Entrepreneurs Roundtable next weekend at Elevate 2022,  being held on Saturday, October 15th from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Organized and hosted by the Colin & Erika Angle Center for Entrepreneurship at Endicott College (Beverly, MA), Elevate 2022 was designed to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs across all sectors of business. The Entrepreneurs Roundtable will avail valuable tips and advice shared by a handful of entrepreneurs, each of whom has traveled a unique entrepreneurial journey to achieve business success. 

Hassett, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, brings abundant knowledge of the start-up process, through business acquisition. “My message to all entrepreneurs is simple,” said Hassett. “An idea is just an idea unless you execute.” Hassett founded Cocktail Sneakers in 2018 after realizing a void in the women’s casual footwear space.

On vacation one summer, she went in search of a sneaker she could wear comfortably for both daytime activities and evening adventures, without the need to don a pair of uncomfortable heels. Her designs, which are today worn by celebrities, fashion-forward ladies, and everyday gals, combine the best of casual elegance with the comfort of an athletic sneaker. “Cocktail Sneakers is the best of both worlds,” continued Hassett. “By combining style and comfort, women sacrifice nothing. They can dress up Cocktail Sneakers with a suit or maxi dress for professional wear and can slip into them when wearing jeans and leggings. They are so versatile!”

Elevate 2022 will welcome Suzanne McKenzie, CEO and founder of Ablemade, as keynote speaker. Breakout workshops on entrepreneurial toolbox tracks including legal considerations for entrepreneurs, how to craft the perfect story, and the art of the pitch, will be followed by an Entrepreneurs Roundtable comprised of five founders and CEOs from the greater Boston area. Cocktail Sneakers’ Susan Hassett will participate in the panel alongside Casey Arnold of Big Ass Coffee; Dawn Tardiff of Bodiscience; Brittany Riley of Haven; and Kelly Williamson of True Scoops, who will share their individual entrepreneurial journeys and lessons learned.

Visit Elevate 2022 for tickets and location details.

About Cocktail Sneakers
Cocktail Sneakers, LLC is redefining sneaker culture for womenTM. Made to reflect every woman’s personality, classic, casual, and colorful, Cocktail Sneakers are made with the highest quality materials and designed with every woman in mind. While on vacation one summer, founder Susan Hassett conceptualized a well-constructed, comfortable, and elegant sneaker design polished enough for a business meeting yet stylish enough for after sunset activities. Founded by women for women, the brand encourages all women, regardless of age or life stage, to chase their dreams from sunrise to sunset. More information on Cocktail Sneakers can be found at: www.cocktailsneakers.com.

Cocktail Sneakers Elevates Women's Dressy Sneaker Game

Woman-led and operated brand concentrates on style and versatility;
Announces new slip-on designs to suit every woman’s lifestyle

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. (March 5, 2021) – Cocktail Sneakers®, an elevated casual footwear brand that is redefining sneaker culture for womenTM, today launched two (2) new designs, adding to its collection of classic slip-on and lace-up options.

Cocktail Sneakers fuses the sophistication of a dress shoe with the comfort of an athletic sneaker—all within an elevated casual chassis. This unique combination earned Cocktail Sneakers position as a “favorite Fall shoe of 2020,” and sell-out of several designs the last year. The brand, founded by women for women, designs chic dress sneakers that transition seamlessly between professional daywear to evening attire, complementing every woman’s active lifestyle whether it takes her to her living room, or on a nearby or distant adventure.

New this year are both the sassy, metallic, rose gold Sophisticate and modern black lace Occasion slip-on sneaker.

The Sophisticate, which retails for $225, extends Cocktail Sneakers’ line of professional pinhole leather slip-on designs, adding a metallic rose-gold leather option. Cocktail Sneaker’s black Occasion delivers minimalist style in breathable modern black lace and also retails for $225. According to one Cocktail Sneakers connoisseur “The detail of the lace is very feminine, yet the style of the sneaker makes it a little sporty.”

“The onset of the pandemic in 2020 and work-from-home casual style catapulted a style shift and movement of women wearing sneakers—no longer exclusively worn while exercising or with casual attire,” said Susan Hassett, founder and CEO of Cocktail Sneakers. “Dressy sneakers are now being paired with pant suits and dresses—redefining how women pair footwear with both outfits and mood. Women no longer have to sacrifice their sense of style for comfort.”

A Cocktail Sneakers design hallmark is its feminine almond-shaped toe and signature sunset-orange sock lining made of breathable kidskin, beneath which the brand’s performance-level “magic” is discreetly hidden. Walking barefoot or in flats such as slippers or flip flops can lead to foot pain, stretched tendons and other foot challenges. Cocktail Sneakers however are designed with maximum comfort in mind and feature a specially molded and raised heel cup keeping the wearer’s foot in an elevated position without compromising the slender, feminine silhouette of the exterior sole. This intentional design decision ensures that wearers receive both arch support and an added layer of shock absorption and cushion beneath the heel, ultimately supporting wearers from the sole upTM.

Additionally, and unique to Cocktail Sneakers, is both its sole design and included eco-friendly cork layer, which ships with every pair. As no two feet are the same, the additional cork layer is perfectly cut to each sneaker shape to provide an optional benefit for sneaker customization not only in the way it fits, but in the way it feels. No other brand avails this form of customization.

“We’ve successfully married a classic silhouette with elevated design,” continued Hassett. “Women who want to remain both on trend and comfortable can strike the perfect balance when wearing any of our sneakers as they are comfortable and easily paired with jeans, leggings, dresses, capris or skirts—guaranteed to breathe new life into every woman’s footwear wardrobe.”

Cocktail Sneakers are available online as well as through high-end resorts and boutiques across America including: Canyon Ranch, Everards, Intrigue Fine Apparel, Miraval, Mohonk Mountain House, The Phoenician, The Reserve Club, Club at Spruce Creek and Sundara Inn & Spa, among others. Currently available slip-on and lace-up styles include the Occasion, Outsider, Professional, Sophisticate, Traveler and Weekender, all ranging in price from $195 - $240.

About Cocktail Sneakers
Cocktail Sneakers, LLC is redefining sneaker culture for womenTM. Made to reflect every woman’s personality, classic, casual and colorful, Cocktail Sneakers are made with the highest quality materials and designed with every woman in mind. While on vacation one summer, founder Susan Hassett conceptualized a well-constructed, comfortable and elegant sneaker design polished enough for a business meeting yet stylish enough for after sunset activities. Founded by women for women, the brand encourages all women, regardless of age or life stage, to chase their dreams from sunrise to sunset.

More information on Cocktail Sneakers can be found at: www.cocktailsneakers.com.

Cocktail Sneakers Highlights Steady Growth in 2020


Adds Five New Sales and Marketing Team Members; Extends Distribution to Resorts, Boutiques and Pro Shops

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. (October 6, 2020) – Cocktail Sneakers, an upscale footwear brand that is redefining sneaker culture for women, welcomed five new team members and extended its direct-to-consumer reach to several boutiques, resort properties and pro shops including Acacia Spa (Missouri), Frances Kahn (Virginia), Joni & Susi (California), Miraval Resorts and Sundara Inn & Spa (Wisconsin). The brand, founded by women for women, avails a collection of chic women’s dress sneakers that transition seamlessly from professional daywear to evening attire, complementing every woman’s active lifestyle. Joining Cocktail Sneakers Business Development and Sales team are Jamie Roberts (Colorado), Kathleen Keyes (Los Angeles), and Melina Vourlekis (New York City), as well as Social Media and Digital Marketing Specialist Maura Honan and Communications Director Wendy Bulawa Agudelo, both who work at the brand’s headquarters in Marblehead, Mass.

“We feel incredibly fortunate that as coronavirus restrictions lifted and resorts and retail shops opened, interest in a casual yet dressy style of footwear has become an item on many women’s wardrobe wish list,” said Susan Hassett, Cocktail Sneakers founder and CEO. “Interest in fashionable, all-occasion footwear has literally catapulted our brand into the limelight, requiring us to quickly add to our team. As a relatively young company, rapid growth can be both exciting and a little scary yet remains the very essence of startup.”

Cocktail Sneakers Celebrates “National Sneakers Day”

October 9, 2020 is recognized as National Sneakers Day. In support of this day-long celebration, all Cocktail Sneakers team members will don their favorite design to launch its “Weekender for the Weekend” giveaway. Promoting sneakers as both a fashionable and healthy footwear choice, Cocktail Sneakers will gift a pair of its popular lace-up Weekender, in Fall favorite colors red or black, to a lucky recipient.

Enter here or visit Cocktail Sneakers Instagram (@CocktailSneakers) or Facebook (@CocktailSneakers) pages for more details.

Cocktail Sneakers founder Susan Hassett was inspired to create a line of fashion sneakers with feminine sensibilities that would be well constructed, beautiful and comfortable. Currently available styles include the Occasion, Outsider, Professional, Traveler and Weekender, all ranging in price from $195 - $240.

Walking barefoot or in flats such as flip flops can lead to foot pain, stretched tendons and other foot challenges. To curtail such issues, Cocktail Sneakers were designed with a specially-molded and lifted heel cup, keeping the wearer’s foot in an elevated position without compromising the slender, feminine silhouette of the sole. Unique to Cocktail Sneakers are both its sole design and included eco-friendly cork layer, which ships with every pair. As no two feet are the same, the brand includes the additional cork layer with every pair, perfectly cut to each sneaker shape, providing an optional avenue for sneaker customization not only in the way it fits, but in the way it feels. No other brand avails this form of customization. Along with the plush closed-cell foam heel bed and deep heel cup, each pair of sneakers supports wearers from the sole up. “Our sneakers were designed for every woman who wishes to elevate her casual look regardless of where her daylong journey takes her,” continued Hassett. “We want each of our clients to comfortably chase their dreams from sunrise to sunset and look stylish while doing so.”

About Cocktail Sneakers

Cocktail Sneakers, LLC is redefining sneaker culture for women. During cocktail hour on Nantucket Island one summer, founder Susan Hassett conceptualized a well-constructed, comfortable and elegant sneaker design polished enough for a business meeting yet stylish enough for after sunset activities. Founded in 2018 by women for women, Cocktail Sneakers is committed to organizations that support women including Rosie’s Place of Boston and Soles4Souls and champions late-stage female entrepreneurship. Our founder imagined a brand that would encourage women to chase their dreams from sunrise to sunset. More information on Cocktail Sneaker can be found at: www.cocktailsneakers.com.

Cocktail Sneakers® Celebrates Two Years in Business


Adds New Footwear Design and Colorways to Collection

MARBLEHEAD, Mass. (June 1, 2020) – Cocktail Sneakers, an upscale footwear brand that is redefining sneaker culture for women, this month celebrated its second year in business.

Officially launched on June 21, 2018 during summer solstice, the all-female company avails a collection of chic sneaker silhouettes that transition seamlessly from professional daywear to evening attire, complementing every woman’s active lifestyle. In conjunction with celebrating two successful years, the direct-to-consumer footwear brand also recently launched both a new design, the Traveler, and additional colorways for its most popular sneaker style, the Weekender.

“We extended our collection to include a slip-on mule that is perfect for summer wear, especially in locations where temperatures are much warmer,” said Susan Hassett, founder of Cocktail Sneakers. “We also wanted to expand the color options for the Weekender as it has become our most popular design. The response to our collection has been beyond our expectations.”

The Traveler is an elegant raffia mule highlighting a calfskin-leather cross strap and trimmed with calfskin piping. Available in navy and tan for MSRP $195. The Weekender, which was initially available in black and red, is now available in both powder blue and summer white. The Classic White Canvas sneakers are styled with a top-stitched calfskin toecap, trimmed with calfskin piping.

Similar to Cocktail Sneaker’s Red Weekender, the Powder Blue style is made from ultra suede, adding elegance to its upscale silhouette. The new styles retail for MSRP $195.

Cocktail Sneakers For Every Woman

Cocktail Sneakers founder Susan Hassett was inspired to create a line of fashion sneakers with feminine sensibilities that would be well constructed, beautiful and comfortable. “I frequently saw men wearing suits and designer pants with sneakers looking very put together, comfortable and confident and wondered why women couldn’t enjoy the same experience,” Hassett recalled. “Women have for years commuted to work in athletic sneakers, often carrying a pair of high heels or dress shoes in their bags. If they had a pair of dress sneakers comfortable enough to commute in, yet dressy enough for the office, it would certainly solve a problem.” She continued, “I want every woman to enjoy the confidence that comes with feeling polished and pulled together while wearing a comfortable sneaker—just like the men—no matter what activities fill their daily agendas. When I couldn’t find a slender-soled yet sophisticated sneaker to satisfy my specific needs, I decided to create one.”

Cocktail Sneakers’ first silhouettes included the Occasion, Outsider, Professional and the Weekender, and this year, the brand added the Traveler to its collection. Each Cocktail Sneaker features:

• An almond-shaped toe and slender sole designed to reflect an elevated sense of femininity
• Thoughtful detailing and construction using calfskin and other fine materials.
• The brand’s signature sunset-orange sock lining made of breathable kidskin
• Performance-level custom insoles made of high-density, closed cell foam with a deep heel cup for better support and shock absorption
• An eco-friendly cork inserts which delivers a custom fit for each wearer

Cocktail Sneakers range in price from $195 - $240 and are available through select resorts and boutiques located throughout the United States and online at cocktailsneakers.com.

About Cocktail Sneakers

Cocktail Sneakers is redefining sneaker culture for women. During cocktail hour on Nantucket Island one summer, founder Susan Hassett conceptualized a well-constructed, comfortable and elegant sneaker design polished enough for a business meeting yet stylish enough for after sunset activities. The all-female led and operated footwear brand was founded in 2018 and is committed to organizations that support women including Rosie’s Place of Boston and Soles4Souls and champions late-stage female entrepreneurship. Our founder imagined a brand that would encourage women to chase their dreams from sunrise to sunset. More information on Cocktail Sneaker can be found at: www.cocktailsneakers.com.