Does anybody know how to feel about Crocs existing as stilettos?
Did we step into a parallel universe? What is this creature, and is it to be admired or feared?
I honestly don’t know, writes Cape {town} Etc’s Ashleigh Nefdt.
Crocs are truly a resilient force. No matter what has been thrown at the Croslite gear, they have proved to withstand time and trends. It is a curious case as to why the chunky, colourful baby dinosaurs for your feet have prevailed (far more fiercely than the actual dinosaurs).
Their persistence is definitely not a result of the allure of affordability. Crocs are quite expensive commodities.
Comfort maybe? Again, comfort hasn’t been the saving grace for many other footgear options, otherwise uggs would still be walking all over malls. The ergonomic appeal of the Croc has something to do with their survival, but not everything.
Many have said that it is the anti-fashion nature of Crocs that have served them quite so well. Vice wrote in an article that expressed Crocs to be one step further than anti-fashion, being completely outside of anything to do with fashion. However, I think it’s exactly that anti-fashion basis, or being so far outside of the fashion world that makes them ever stuck with us.
So the un-fashionability, coupled with the strange allure Crocs’ expensive nature provide and the almost cultish nature of its’ fan-base, have provided Crocs with one incredible asset: Their curiosity.
Now, luxury fashion house Balenciaga has released “Balenciaga Clones” collection as part of their Spring collection for 2022, featuring Crocs as a main collaboration.
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They’ve teamed up with the “bold” range of footwear, as Hypebeast put it and the leading collaboration are the stiletto clogs, AKA the stiletto crocs.
The heel is supported by a striking black tube, that could potentially knock someone out if necessary.
The colour options according to Hypebeast are green, grey and black, with the Balenciaga logo subtly snuck in.
Alright, they exist and the more I look at them, the more I wonder how actually wearing them would go down.
And, as an added treat of information; this is not the first time Crocs have teamed up with Balenciaga either.
Back in 2017, Crocs made their debut into the realm of high fashion, again with Balenciaga guiding their way.
The platform Crocs were the imaginings of Demna Gvasalia’s campaign. It caused a huge stir in the fashion world, because for the first time in the fashion capital (where the collab was first showcased), everyone in Paris was talking about Crocs.
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They stood at four inches tall, reaching for the heavens in admittedly stunning pastel colours. And Balenciaga was proud too, with their logo-pins and flowers covering the footgear.
I myself was gifted a pair of platform sparkly purple Crocs once. Not as tall as these but nonetheless, still reaching.
I suppose I had the anti-fashion principle in mind. Of course, parading down the streets of Sandton in them afforded me tons of “what are those?” responses. But there’s a certain freedom to purchasing something for the sole purpose of them not being in fashion. It’s humorous, unexpected and entertaining. What’s fashion without a bit of shock value?
It takes off the pressure of seeking validation from other people’s opinions of your looks. You know they probably won’t approve and so you strut on. Mentally, it’s pretty freeing.
I’m not yet convinced at just how anti-fashion I’m willing to take things, but I’d be lying if I said seeing someone rock these wouldn’t make me smile at the thrill.
Picture: Instagram @elspotsm