Balenciaga sent models down the runway wearing platform CROCS – and people don’t know what to think
THE much ridiculed sensible footwear choice of nurses, tourists and toddlers have had a high fashion rebrand - and they're proving very controversial.
French fashion house Balenciaga have taken the humble Crocs and made them into something much more fabulous - and garish.
Yesterday, crowds at the brand's Paris Fashion Week show were left gobsmacked by the sight of a model clod-hopping down the runway in the clunky shoes.
People were horrified, commenting on a video shared to that they would never allow a pair of the moulded-shoes in their house, let alone wear them around.
Silvinatl wrote: "Beautiful dress, I’ll always loathe Crocs no matter what."
Others shared the sentiment, commenting "that's ugly as hell" and, "Love balenciaga....NOOO to the shoes".
However, some people liked the look, saying: "YES to Crocs" and "OMG THEY GOT THE MEMO."
On a picture of a pink version of the shoes, which clearly show off all the different jewels plugged in to them, poster Celinerlopez wrote: "The world is officially ending- worst hashtag ever in history #balenciagacrocs."
Her followers were philosophical about the mercurial footwear, with hindyweber saying: "The idea is to think about something fashion people abhor and try to make it cool. That's their cheap ass trick. Problem is it might actually work."
Bealedesma replied: "I'm actually into it. When something is so bad... it's actually good."
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Hindyweber hit back, saying that people wouldn't like the design if they were thought up by Crocs' creative team rather than celeb-favoured designers Balenciaga.
Last year Christopher Kane tried to drag Crocs in to the cool footwear zone at his London Fashion Week show.
Like Balenciaga's version, they were studded with sparkling rocks and crystals, but came in a selection of marble patterns.
At the time the Scottish designer : "I always work with unexpected items and combinations, transforming the everyday into desirable luxury.
"I wanted to bring my own stamp and DNA to Crocs’ classic clog shoe and achieve something really special.
"The marble print feels very earthy and I often think of Crocs in a very grounded way, worn with either an evening dress or with jeans, and adding the rock crystals brings a bit of luxury to this everyday style.
"Crocs are arguably the most comfortable shoe, I love that they are slightly awkward and might be perceived by some as ‘ugly’.
"They have a very naïve and childlike shape which I especially like when they look extra clunky on the foot."
Balenciaga boss Demma Gavasalia's motives for redesigning Crocs was slightly different, but mostly as he regards them as being very futuristic rather than 'fugly'.
He told : "It's a very innovative shoe. It's light, it's a one-piece foam mould and to me these kind of techniques and working with these kind of materials is very Balenciaga.
"In the future you will be able to 3D print them at home because they are all one piece."
If you think Crocs at Paris Fashion Week is outrageous, wait until you see these jeans that expose more than they cover up.
And be shocked again by these Chinese slogan T-shirts would be far too rude to be worn in the UK.