If last year’s unexpected must-have was a pair of Gucci’s furry loafers, 2016 looks set to be the year of the babouche.
It might sound more like a creature you’d see in a zoo than a style you’d find on Net-a-Porter, but the babouche is already set to become 2016's ‘It’ shoe. So expect this love-it-or-loathe-it style to be all over your Instagram feed during fashion month.
Named after traditional Moroccan shoes, the babouche is a flat, slipper-like style with an exaggerated point at the toes. As with most trends, it all started with Céline, when Phoebe Philo featured a buckled version in her Resort 2016. Philo has history when it comes to turning so-called ‘ugly’ shoes into sell-out styles, from fur-lined Birkenstocks to orthopaedic sandals.
Brands like Victoria Beckham, Opening Ceremony and Narciso Rodriguez have also jumped on the babouche bandwagon and offered up their own twist on the style for their pre-fall collections, while the style has also been spotted on Instagram.
So, whether you think it’s a laid-back style essential or feel it’s better suited to fancy dress, the babouche won’t be going anywhere this season. But will you be adding it to your shoe collection?
Words by Katie Rosseinsky