Fashion week is upon us, and to little surprise, footwear has remained fertile ground for playful experimentation. (Although weird and wild suiting is certainly gaining ground.) Everywhere you look, it’s hard to miss the shoes: from Prada’s futuristic fare to JW Anderson’s childlike clogs, and the covetable kicks of Wales Bonner and Our Legacy, the runways are chock-full of shoes that will eventually trickle out into the real world. Happily, it looks like we’re in for a fun year of footwear.
At Prada, the dream team of Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada continues to delight. They showed the usual suspects—the Italian label’s polished derby shoes and loafers with ultra-chunky soles—along with a new kid on the block: an eye-grabbing moc toe with exaggerated seams and a sporty outer sole. The silhouette makes appearances as a dress shoe and sneaker, depending on the sole and materials. (It’s hard to look at the layered sole and not think of the Balenciaga Triple S sneaker or Simons’ own Adidas Ozweego.)
JW Anderson, meanwhile, caused a commotion by debuting a collaboration with Wellipets, a British brand beloved for its animal-faced rain boots. The always-playful designer has turned kid’s footwear into colorful clogs for eccentric adults. (It wouldn’t be the first time he’s turned an out-there idea into covetable kicks, look no further than the label’s chain loafer.)
