Shunned or adored, ugly shoes are gaining ground

Fashion genius or tasteless joke, ugly shoes are far from unanimous. And yet, they continue to charm the most prestigious brands and trendiest it-girls. A roundup of pairs to adopt if you’re feeling even the slightest bit daring…

by Louise Menard.

Ugly shoes: a polarizing trend

Surnommées “ugly shoes” en raison de leur apparence parfois étrange et peu séduisante au premier regard, ces chaussures semblent pourtant plus que jamais revenir sur le devant de la scène mode. Exhibées sur les podiums par des marques telles que Marc Jacobs – on se souvient de ses Doll Pumps dévoilées au défilé automne-hiver 2024-2025 – les ugly shoes sont également devenues la coqueluche des stars.

Charli XCX in Uggs, Sarah Jessica Parker in studded clogs, and Irina Shayk strolling through New York in water shoes… Many stars have embraced these bizarre yet coveted footwear styles.

While the neon-studded flip-flops from the Fenty x Puma collab flew off the shelves, Birkenstock 1774 just revealed its latest nylon creation: quilted velcro sandals, a reinterpretation of its signature Arizona model.

But the question remains: would you dare take the plunge? Between a love of kitsch and all things oversized, boldness and a quest for comfort, ugly shoes are, above all, a declaration of sartorial freedom.

selma kaci en crocs x simone rocha — Selma Kaci in Crocs x Simone Rocha © Photo by Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images.

willow smith en birkenstock — Selma Kaci in Crocs x Simone Rocha © Photo by Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images.

Outrageous footwear imagined by top fashion houses

Sneakers, mules, sandals, ballet flats… Every model is out there in the wild. But if one pair deserved the crown of ultimate ugly shoe, it would undoubtedly go to Crocs. A brand that understood the disruptive power of these controversial shoes long ago.

After Levi’s, Hello Kitty, and Takashi Murakami, just to name a few, Crocs has multiplied its iconic collaborations with prestigious labels. Who could forget the urban design pair with interchangeable charms co-designed with Balenciaga, or the three collaborations with Simone Rocha, which gave rise to punk Crocs adorned with pearls and rhinestones?

And the sportswear universe is just as active. Salomon has teamed up with MM6 Maison Margiela for futuristic pink sneakers, while Asics joins forces with Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen to create unique waterproof sneakers. In short, from the pony-hair clogs by Acne Studios to the Barbie-pink flat sandals by Scholl x Balenciaga, our hearts are already won over.