We all know that fashion has a bit of a thing for the ugly shoe. Cast your mind back to the whole bedazzled Crocs-scenario that Christopher Kane brought us, which was followed up by Balenciaga’s platform Crocs. Then, there was the whole Birkenstock craze, and people are still loving the ugly ‘dad trainer’ trend (Balenciaga proves to be a key culprit yet again).
But did you ever think thigh-high Uggs would EVER be a thing?
Just when we thought the ugly footwear trend had peaked, Y/Project, the super-cool French brand that’s on par with Vetements for its subversive streetwear, revealed a surprise collaboration with Ugg- the brand of the noughties, beloved by Paris Hilton, busy mothers, and basic bitches everywhere.
It might seem an unlikely collaboration, but this is not the Ugg boot you know (and love? Or hate? It’s a pretty divided world out there), since Y/Project’s creative director Glenn Martens has given the classic boot a 2018 makeover.
These Uggs are thigh-high- we’re talking extreme crotch skimming proportions here- and they’re slouchy.
Apparently, the designs were geared towards maximising the brand’s best characteristic- comfort. “Putting on Uggs is like putting your foot in a warm pot of butter, and I thought why not elevate that and immerse your full legs!” wrote Martens. “So, we decided to design an Ugg boot that climbs up to the crotch and covers the whole leg.” Because who wouldn’t want to dip their legs in a warm put of butter?
He continued: “The UGG Classic boot is one of the most recognizable shoes in history. It’s timeless and challenging design made it a worldwide statement. Y/Project is about challenges. Since launch we've been twisting the grounded codes, we challenged the acceptable and triggered people by putting focus on the unexpected.”
Well you’ve got us there Y/Project, literally no one saw this coming.
It’s not the weirdest concept Y/Project has come up with though, just think back to the toe mule they brought out for Spring 2018. Compared to that bizarre look, the Ugg collaboration actually seems pretty tame…
Okay, the thigh-high Ugg is a baffling shoe, and yes, it does kind of evoke the mental image of a beige Michelin man, or a Shar Pei puppy, but….swathing your legs in shearling might well be the ultimate level of comfort. Pros and cons, I guess.
Follow Annie Simon on Twitter: @annieasimon
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.