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Somewhere along the line, Crocs established themselves as fashion’s favorite anti-fashion statement. And who better to keep the meme alive than Balenciaga and Demna Gvasalia?
Gvasalia introduced the newest imagination of the foam clog partnership in his Gucci-hacked SS22 “Clone” collection, which featured “deep-fake” models as commentary on a loss of individuality in the digitized world. Under his creative direction, the legendary fashion house has come to be known for polarizing, campy-cool designs. Remember those chunky bubblegum-pink platform Crocs that went viral in 2017? The 0 four-inch platforms sold out before even arriving in stores and despite uproar, ironically became a predictable street-style statement at fashion week.
This season, Gvasalia and Crocs elevated what he’s deemed the “world’s comfiest shoes” in a different way. Instead of stacking the clog on layers upon layers of foam, the “Balenciaga Crocs 2.0” shoe stands on a narrow black heel as a stiletto-mule-clog. The updated collaboration also includes knee-high platform rainboots, and both styles appear in all-black, gray, and bright green colorways, marked with the usual all-caps “Balenciaga” branding.
The boots feature the signature Crocs perforations near the toe and calls back to the original collab with a wavy-platform sole. While the heels are causing some users on social media to scratch their heads (are they even walkable?), many are excited to stomp around in the clunky rubber boots.
Notably, Christopher Kane was the first designer to bravely bring crocs to the runway in 2017. Since Balenciaga and Croc’s original team-up, the controversial sandal, once listed as one of the world’s “50 Worst Inventions” by Time magazine in 2010, has proved itself to haters through other successful collaborations. Crocs has linked with streetwear designers Chinatown Market, Nicole McLaughlin, Justin Beiber’s Drew House, as well as musicians such as Bad Bunny, Diplo, and Post Malone, all of which used the clog silhouette and texturing as a building block to expand upon. And if that’s not enough clout for Crocs, Nicki Minaj recently posted an Instagram photo wearing bejeweled hot pink Crocs, decked in sparkly Jibbits and Chanel double-Cs, effectively crashing the site, and according to Page Six, causing a 4,900 percent spike in sales in the pink color ways.
Balenciaga is known for its ugly utlitarian footwear, from the Triple S sneakers in 2017 that kicked off an era of vintage-inspired “dad sneakers,” to their capsule line with Vibram for FW20 of sock-sneakers and heels with separated toes.
Coming off the heels of the desire for comfortable dressing during lockdown, and stepping back into the busy and glamorous world, the heel-house shoe hybrid might actually be making some points. Who knows, they may be the world’s comfiest heels.
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prev link: https://www.crfashionbook.com/fashion/a36663794/balenciaga-stiletto-crocs-and-rainboots-newest-collab-ss22/
createdAt:Tue, 08 Jun 2021 18:21:17 +0000
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section:Fashion