Ugly Foot Forward

Coming in all shapes and sizes, ugly shoes live on a sliding scale, ranging from the more ‘mainstream’ ugly to the downright stared-at-in-the-street ugly. Once deemed hideous and punishable by banishment, Crocs now operate as a billion dollar brand, initially marketed as a light beach shoe, the foamy footwear has stepped its way onto runways around the world with the likes of Christopher Kane (he started it!), Balenciaga and Simone Rocha offering heeled, knee-highed and pearl embellished renditions of the rubberised clogs. 

It would be impossible to talk about ‘ugly’ shoes without of course mentioning the OG anti-fashion tabi shoe. Inherently animalistic and sneered at as hoof-like, it begs both the wearer and the observer to ponder its unusual shape. Well, unusual in the Western part of the world where all five toes used to sit together. Margiela’s tabi shoes (now in all styles from mary-janes to cowboy boots) paved the way for an anti-establishment form of footwear expression within the central fashion landscape. 

So, you want to get ugly? How ugly you ask? If a sporty thread runs through your style, take a look at Vibram’s (completely batshit but oddly orthopaedic) Five Fingers model. Our faves are the silver sequined edition, turning the sparkly pump look on its head. Freaked out yet? Go for a pair of Nike’s iconic Air Rift if the 5 toe look is a bit much of you. Available in a range of colours, we love the black leather design, oddly wearable and yet weird enough to make you stand out in a good way. 

More of an indie sleaze head? The famed Isabel Marant Beckett wedges are trending again, and while they may be on the safer side of ugly shoes, they certainly are divisive. A sneaker and a wedge? Oh yeah, that’ll piss some people off. 

A loyal worshipper at the temple of Fashion (with a capital F)? Then no doubt your beady eye would have caught the whacky and wonderful footwear presented at Chopova lowena’s SS25 collection, ‘Chuckaboo’. Asics spattered with crystalline flowers and metal petals or jester-style boots crafted in a slouchy tartan and finished with a studded leather belt across the top of the shoe. Has to be seen to be believed. 

Whether you’re tentatively stepping out of your comfort zone or you’re motivated by madness, take a look at our beautifully ugly selects below!