Embrace your quirks this A/W with these wild and wacky kicks
Summer is over, which means your footwear rotation probably needs a big update. The days are slowly becoming shorter and wetter, but one way to brighten things up is with a pair (or two) of some incredibly over-the-top shoes. So, instead of giving you the same old boring ‘best A/W shoe list’ you’ve probably seen a million times, we thought we’d indulge in our wild side and highlight the weirdest styles on offer this summer. And with footwear only getting stranger by the minute (thanks, MSCHF), there’s plenty to sink your teeth (or feet) into.
Ancuta Sarca’s floral Nike heels
Debuting its SS24 “Florri” collection at London Fashion Week, Ancuta Sarca captivated the audience with a pair of blooming upcycled Nike heels. Crafted from a variety of repurposed Nike’s, the quirky kitten heels arrive with floral adornments, and if you look close enough, you’ll even spot some leftover swooshes scattered throughout.
Dior’s 3D-printed Carlo Derbies
Technology has come a long way, so much so that we can now purchase shoes produced entirely by a printer. Yep, that’s right, Dior’s latest offering from its FW24 line sees their classic Carlo Derbies reimagined through the lens of 3D printing. Sure, rocking a pair of shoes produced by a printer might be a little dystopian, but it’s certainly a conversation starter if we’ve ever seen one.
doublet, SUICOKE and Vibram’s Furoshiki
With the winter months slowly approaching, you’re probably turning your attention to some footwear that’ll keep you nice and snug, and what better way to do that than by cosplaying as a bear? Never one to shy away from the experimental and absurd, doublet teamed up with SUICOKE and Vibram earlier this year for a rather uniquely fuzzy footwear offering for this hibernation season.
Christian Cowan’s Teletubbies boots
Have you ever watched the classic kid’s TV show Teletubbies and thought, “wow, they need to make that into a shoe?” No? Well, it doesn’t matter anyway because that’s exactly what we’ve just got, thanks to Christian Cowan’s collab with the show. It centres around a pair of high-heeled boots styled on Dipsy, the loveable green children’s character from the cartoon series, and is produced with a green felt exterior. Finally, some respect for the coolest TV character to ever live.
UGG’s Aww Yeah
UGG is continuing its ascension into dizzying heights with this oddly shaped sandal silhouette that just screams summer. Appropriately titled the ‘Aww Yeah’ sandal, the kicks boast a unique, puffy look alongside a humble platform. Oh, and we should probably mention, Julia Fox has been rocking this one quite frequently, so it must be cool – don’t just take our word for it!
Red Wing’s Mario Boots
Who would’ve thought that Mario chic would become a prominent movement in fashion? Well, thanks to MSCHF’s Big Red Boot and now the reveal of Red Wing’s Mario Boots, it seems the Italian plumber’s style is becoming fashion’s next big thing. The blocky pair of shoes are made of durable, natural leather with slip-resistant treads designed for a super plumber – suitable for many occasions, especially saving princesses from castles, of course.
Rick Owens’ Cargo Fetish
Finding the perfect pair of trousers to partner your kicks is, oftentimes, an incredibly stressful job. They might stack weirdly on top of your shoe, and the colour coordination might ever so slightly be off, but with Rick Owens DRKSHDW’s latest offering – the Cargo Fetish boots – you won’t have to worry about any of that. Why? Well, because there’s already a pair of trousers attached to the shoe. The leg portion features a recycled nylon with a thigh-high boot outline and cargo pants style look, complete with usable pockets (bonus). The sneaker below has a similar aesthetic to the always classic Ramones, featuring that iconic rubber white toe cap we’re all used to seeing by now.
