After an arduous winter, it’s safe to say my bright yellow Speedcats are looking a bit more vomit than vibrant. Thankfully this week we’ve got a bumper footwear feature for just in time for the big spring clearout. Starting strong we’ve got the Merrell 1TRL SS26 collection. For a collection based on developing styles from the brand’s archive, it’s extremely futuristic and fashion-forward. The brand’s classic Jungle Moc is re-invented as the Jungle Trek Mule, which comes in a two-tone, cybersigilism style camo print. With a lowered heel tab and blended platform, the new sillhouette is a super sleek update. The standout from the collection, however, is the Relay Web 1TRL, hailed from the Sprint family of the 2000s. The low-profile shoe comes in two leather colourways with contrast stitching, and a tongue flap hiding the laces for a polished upgrade, but retains the one-piece heel we loved so much in its predecessor. In jet-black it’s very Matrix-chic, the perfect day-to-night shoe for those Friday (or Thursday, no judgment here) after-work drinks. Find drop 1 here, and keep your eyes peeled for the release of the second half of the collection.
You might think the UK’s favourite bad boy rapper and sheepskin slippers go together about as well as chalk and cheese, but UGG’s latest campaign starring Central Cee is here to prove you wrong… well, sort of. Over the last few years the brand has been working to transition their image from cosy to cool with campaigns featuring the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Rina Sawayama, but the latest campaign featuring Cench might be their coolest yet. Avid readers of The Goat may recall that the rapper actually made an appearance in the brand’s ‘Iconic Feeling’ holiday drop imagery, but this time he’s swapped shearling for leather to sport the all new Otzo Clog. The clog is a super sleek nubuck and leather slip-on, making it anything but your average slider. Thanks to the understated design and waterproof material, the Otzo Clogs make the perfect indoor-outdoor shoe which guarantee not to leave you with soggy socks. I’ll take socks and clogs over socks and sliders any day of the week, thank you. If you’re looking to upgrade your rubber sliders for something a little more Scandi-chic then check out the collection in all three colourways here.
Alohas might have found its genesis in reinventing the espadrille, but the TB.490 CLUB collection couldn’t stray any further from it. The sustainable (you guessed it) Hawaiian brand has turned its hand to low-top sneakers. Like Merrel’s Relays, Alohas’ TB.490 CLUBs also use the shoe’s tongue to hide the laces, but preserve the original TB.490 collection’s classic soccer shoe silhouette. They come in cream leather with super soft sage green trims, and there’s also a tan leather and calf hair version if you’re looking to swap out your yeti boots for a more spring-suitable alternative.
Rounding things up with a more high-end option: Louis Vuitton’s LV Tilted Sneaker. What makes these shoes so special (apart from being Louis Vuitton, obviously) is that by widening and balancing the soles, the brand invites you to put the shoe on the other foot — right and left being intentionally interchangeable. The balanced sole and padded tongue, reminiscent of the incline slopes of skateboarding, make the shoes extremely breathable and super comfortable. Though the silhouette is basic (classic, really), they come in just about every colour and pattern you can imagine — from house LV Damier, to The Darjeeling Limited inspired exotic animal print, to gem-embellished goat leather (coming soon). They also come in plain block colours if you’re looking for something a little more understated, though considering the campaign imagery is centred around a polo match we can assume ‘understated’ maybe isn’t the target audience’s adjective of choice? Quiet luxury is overrated, anyway. Shop the full collection here.
- WriterLucy Wragg
- Banner Image CreditUGG
