Ugly shoes Trend

All signs point to embracing a chunkier way of life this spring and no, we’re not talking about waistlines (see the return of the crop top). After years on the rise, ugly shoes have made it to the top of the Spring 2014 fashion charts with bulky sandals, heels and sneakers topping our must-have accessory lists. Blame it on the Birkenstock, but it’s official: man sandals are happening and the bigger the better.

On the runway, designers reclaimed Teva sandals from tourists by giving the Velcro-laden shoes a new high fashion life. Taking the sandal off of the hiking path and onto the runway was none other than Prada, who created bejewelled variations with concave heels and accentuated rubber soles with multiple straps that secured athletic tube socks in place. Joining Prada in the sport shoe resurgence was Tommy Hilfiger, who had models walking a beach boardwalk in heavy colour blocked flatforms with a multitude of straps. Marc Jacobs wasn’t far behind with his own variation, which featured a separate strap just for the big toe. It might just be time to toss the flip flop, friends.
When it comes to nailing Spring 2014 fashion’s It shoe, the trick is taking classic silhouette and making it a little bit uglier. Case in point: 3.1 Phillip Lim’s hybrid oxford, which straddles the line between a Birk, a sandal and a see-through swim shoe. Just a little tacky and totally perfect.

Prepare for those calves to get a workout this season, because if your shoes aren’t adding ten pounds to the scale, you’re doing it wrong.