Let’s be honest: fashion used to be kind of a snob. Pointy shoes, uncomfortable corsetry, the kind of handbags you can’t even fit your phone in. But lately? Fashion’s gotten weird. And comfy. And borderline ugly. The kind of ugly your mother warned you about—yet somehow, it’s never looked more right.
Let’s talk about the latest odd couple that just works: the Birkenstock x Scholl collab. Yes, the same Scholl you associate with podiatrists and European aunts on walking tours. The result? A sandal that looks like it belongs in an orthopedic waiting room—and also in the front row at Fashion Week. It’s normcore meets “I threw this on to take the bins out”… and it’s fabulous.
FROM FOOT FAUX PAS TO FASHION FRONT ROW.
If the early 2000s were about stilettos and sleek silhouettes, today’s aesthetic is more: “I just finished a hike and maybe a tax return.” And somehow, that’s aspirational. Don’t ask us why—it just is.
Once upon a time, wearing Crocs was a cry for help. Now? It’s a power move. Balenciaga slapped a platform on them and suddenly you needed a pair just to survive fashion month. And the Crocs x MSCHF Big Yellow Boots? They look like SpongeBob’s footwear—but in a way that makes you kind of want them (and maybe question your life choices). Uggs made a cozy comeback that says “Netflix and Vogue.” And New Balance dad sneakers went from mowing-the-lawn energy to street style stardom faster than you can say “pass the grill tongs.”
UGLY FASHION IS NOT A PHASE, MOM.
This trend isn’t just strolling through the footwear aisle—it’s stomping across every part of the wardrobe.
Remember Gucci’s Screener sneakers? Pre-dirtied, beat-up looking shoes with a hefty price tag. They scream, “I’ve had these since 8th grade gym class,” and the fashion world said, iconic.
Then there’s Balenciaga’s Defender sneakers, which genuinely look like you ripped the tires off an ATV and strapped them to your feet. Function? Unclear. Fashion moment? 100%.Want your shoes to literally smile back? Enter JW Anderson’s frog loafers, a pair of amphibians for your feet. Kermit-core, but make it designer. And over at Loewe, someone clearly crashed a birthday party because the brand sent balloon animal heels down the runway. You half expect a clown to appear. But like… a very stylish clown.
FASHION IS HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS, BUT ARE WE LOVING IT?
Want to feel like you’re being abducted by luxury? Maison Margiela’s glove handbag will do just that. A dismembered leather hand clutching your belongings. Chic? Creepy? Confusing? Yes. Meanwhile, Miu Miu is taking things into “forgot-my-bottoms” territory. Their low-rise skirts and visible underwear look is giving Y2K anxiety and librarian rebellion, yet somehow, it works. Even Bottega Veneta joined the fun with their rubber Flash sandals, which resemble glorified pool slides, but elevated to runway royalty. Your dad probably owns a similar pair… he just didn’t know he was ahead of his time.
FROM ‘WHAT IS THAT’ TO ‘WHERE DID YOU GET THAT’?
Fashion is having fun again. It’s weird, it’s wonky, and it doesn’t beg to be liked. In fact, it dares you not to like it.The best part? These “ugly” pieces aren’t trying to be beautiful in the traditional sense—they’re redefining what beauty even is. They’re wearable confidence. They say, “I get fashion,” while whispering, “and I also have excellent arch support.”
But seriously—there’s a whole psychology behind it.
1. Rebellion Against Perfection
After years of Instagram filters, face-tuning, and hyper-curated aesthetics, people are bored of perfection. Ugly fashion is the ultimate rebellion. It’s messy, ironic, and often hilarious. Think of it as a sartorial side-eye to traditional beauty standards: “I could wear Louboutins… but I choose these Croc boots instead.”
2. Comfort as Status
There was a time when high fashion meant suffering. Heels, corsets, uncomfortable silhouettes—pain was part of the glamor. But now? Comfort is a flex. If you can rock orthopedic sandals with a designer coat, you’re basically saying, I don’t need to try hard to look rich. I am rich.
3. The Power of Irony
Ugly fashion is dripping in irony—and we live in the golden age of irony. We wear clunky dad sneakers because we’re in on the joke. It’s meme culture translated into outfits. If fashion once took itself too seriously, ugly fashion is here to lighten things up (in 7-pound platform shoes).
4. Nostalgia + Subversion
Many “ugly” items are a throwback to eras we once mocked—Y2K butterfly tops, ‘90s platform sandals, even your dad’s New Balance runners. Ugly fashion gives these items a second life, but with a twist. It’s both homage and inside joke.
5. Psychology: The Beauty of the Unexpected
There’s actually a psychological theory called the “Benign Violation Theory”, which suggests we’re attracted to things that feel slightly “off”—but not threatening. Ugly fashion walks that perfect line. It’s weird, but not horrifying. Unusual, but wearable. It catches your eye and holds your brain hostage for a second. That discomfort? It becomes the attraction.
Plus, in psychology, there’s a growing idea that beauty is less about symmetry and perfection—and more about novelty. When something’s unfamiliar, our brain finds it more interesting. So yes, your chunky Margiela hoof boots might look bizarre at first… but they’re unforgettable. And that makes them beautiful.
LONG LIVE THE LUMPY, THE CHUNKY AND THE UNCOOL.
So next time someone tells you your shoes look like they belong in a cartoon—or a hospital—just smile and say, “Thank you. They’re designer.”
Because in 2025, the ugliest thing you can wear… is caring too much.
