Balenciaga Crocs

Balenciaga x Crocs Stiletto Clogs Have Arrived

A traditional foam Croc mule meets a Balenciaga stiletto heel. They just did that.

Does the world really need a stiletto Croc? Doesn’t matter — it’s here, courtesy of a new Balenciaga x Crocs collaboration. Yep, you read that right. Paris-based fashion house Balenciaga has teamed up with everyone’s favourite foam slip-on shoe brand Crocs to give us a stiletto clog that is, if nothing else, one of a kind.

The shoe was unveiled at Balenciaga’s Spring 2022 presentation on June 6. The collection, dubbed “Balenciaga Clones,” featured a few other pieces from the house’s collab with Crocs including platform rain boots Crocs. This is the second partnership between the two brands, appropriately titled “Balenciaga Crocs 2.0.”

The presentation (and brand crossover) comes a few months after Balenciaga was “hacked” by Gucci when it showed Balenciaga-branded pieces in its March 2021 Aria show. In addition to reinventing Crocs, Demna Gvasalia showed both Gucci accessories (including a monogrammed tote with “This is not a Gucci bag” written on it in graffiti) and new Balenciaga wares, combining the double-G and double-B logos of Gucci and Balenciaga on accessories like hats, scarves and belts.

The internet-famous clog stiletto has people talking, with some even saying they thought the collaboration was a joke at first. The shoe is a classic Croc mule with the addition of a skinny Balenciaga heel and subtle “BALENCIAGA” branding. The shoe comes in black, grey and — wait for it — grass green, because why not? The price for the heels has not yet been released, but they’re likely going to be pretty pricey seeing as the last Balenciaga Crocs collab had shoes going for $850.

This isn’t Balenciaga and Crocs’ first time creating viral shoe designs. For their first collab in 2018, they made “meme-worthy” platform Crocs that came in a variety of bright colours and were bedazzled with large, cartoonish Jibbitz (a.k.a. the little accessories made to fit in the holes found on the top of a Crocs shoe). Despite mixed reactions to clog stiletto, it’s impossible to deny Crocs’ hold on both fashion and pop culture.

The foam clog brand is constantly upping the ante with unexpected partnerships and wild designs. Their latest collaboration with Diplo dropped earlier this month and features trippy tie-dye motifs. Previously, the brand has worked with other musicians including Justin Bieber, Post Malone and Bad Bunny on collections that quickly sold out. From additional collaborations with restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken to luxury fashion brands like Christopher Kane, the list of Crocs’ partnerships is extensive, to say the least.

Can we take a moment to appreciate Crocs’ versatility? Whether you love or hate the high-fashion foam clog stiletto, Crocs sure knows how to get people talking. We have to respect the hustle.

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