Online Reporter
Fashion 263 Correspondent
THE world of fashion is currently acting like it missed a meeting somewhere, because nothing is making sense anymore, and somehow that includes the shoes.
Fashion lovers have been debating the open-toe Révélé suede pumps 105mm from luxury house Valentino Garavani, priced at around $1,100.
The heels have been seen on Tyla and Hailey Bieber, which should automatically place them in “must-have” territory.
Instead, social media has decided they look like “puffy pig’s feet”, and that description has taken on a life of its own.
It is the kind of shoe that makes you question everything you thought you knew about toes. The exaggerated open-front design creates a sculpted effect that is meant to feel directional and high fashion, but online commentary has pushed it firmly into “farmyard adjacent” territory.
Suddenly, everyone has an opinion, and none of them is gentle.
The interesting part is how neatly these pumps sit within what fashion has been doing lately. There has been a steady move towards shoes that are less about blending in and more about becoming the entire conversation.
The rise of split-toe silhouettes (ewww) like Maison Margiela’s Tabi shoes, chunky sculptural heels, and exaggerated proportions in footwear all point to the same shift: shoes are no longer supporting characters.
This is also part of the broader “ugly-chic” wave, where the aim seems to be pushing design far enough that it becomes memorable first and wearable second.
Sneakers that look overly engineered, heels that resemble abstract objects and shapes that feel almost experimental are now fully part of everyday style language.
There is also a clear connection to the influence of figures like Michèle Lamy, whose entire aesthetic lives in the space between art installation and wardrobe.
The Valentino pumps sit in that same universe of fashion that leans into discomfort, curiosity and strong reaction rather than quiet approval.
Whether the shoes are genius or just causing confusion depends on who you ask. But they are doing exactly what modern fashion seems to aim for now: getting people to talk, argue and zoom in a little too closely at someone’s feet.
Meanwhile, as far as outfits go, shoes are chosen method for channelling personality. As shoe enthusiast, we all love all shoes—even the ones we would think to never.
Long live the ugly shoe!
Throw some sneakerina!
Bring on the Crocs!
Send the weirdest laces and strangest embellishments. We love these as much as we love the classics, whether it’s a white trainer or a black leather boot.
Winter feels like a particularly great time to try something new when it comes to footwear.
So far this season, we are replacing combat boots and sparkly party shoes with slightly more elevated numbers.
If you’re a fan of athletic styles and collecting sneakers, we are swapping dated trainer trends like chunky trainers with nimble, lace-up ballet-inspired silhouettes.
We also love the idea of changing out fur-lined boots for the much more functional lug-soled brogue. We also fully embracing love of clogs once more this season, which are far easier to wear with wool socks and warm tights than the viral ugly-but-beloved split-toe shoe trend that’s been everywhere this year.
Excited to revitalise your own shoe collection this winter?
Here’s a closer look at the dated trends worth replacing for the time being, and why their alternatives are ideal for your winter capsule.
Wearing: Lug-Sole Brogues
Style Notes: You’ll notice a trend within this trend piece (so meta)—that we highly value functionality when it comes to shoes, especially during winter. It’s cold, and often wet, so you need shoes that can handle this as well as contribute to your personal style.
Rather than opting for furry boots this season (which, unless sprayed with protectant get soaked so quickly), choose a lug-soled option. And not just boots, lug-soled brogues and loafers are a unique way of changing up your shoes from what you usually wear.
Wearing: Clogs
Style Notes: Split-toe shoes, regardless of how polarising, are very fun. However, splitting your toes up in winter? Not so fun. Clogs are equally as fun, but allow you to wear wool socks and tights and remain cosy. We revived the love of clogs this year after spotting a pair on a woman at Heathrow that we couldn’t stop thinking about (shoutout to her for not gatekeeping and leading us straight to ME+EM). The last time we wore clogs was at 11, and, well, they have become so much more stylish since then. Whether you want a traditional wooden sole or opt for a flat-soled Birkenstock, you have many choices.
Wearing Red Heels
Style Notes: A glitter heel can nice for party season, but for most a red heel is undeniably more chic.
So, if you want to make a statement that still feels ultimately sophisticated, take a page from Ingrid’s book and opt for red heels this winter season.
They pop against a sleek all-black outfit but still infuse plenty of colour into your look.
They’ll also work for other special occasions throughout the year, not just in wintertime. – iolnews/whowhatwear.com0
