Ugly fashion: Would you wear these £6k 'skin' boots?

This may just be one step too far

Winter is coming, which means - like Jon Snow - you'll want to get your hands on some snazzy boots.

You might be thinking of plumping for the plain old leather variety, or maybe an ethical pair made out of recycled plastic or pineapple, external or something. 

Or maybe, just maybe, you were hoping you would find a pair of really ugly boots that look exactly like human skin but with spiky horns sticking out of the bottom.

If that last one is you, you're in luck. There are people out there whose taste is as messed up as yours and they've produced that exact thing - human skin boots (although don't freak out too much - they're made from silicone).

If you don't believe us, take a look:

*Shudder*

If you're hoping to get them for next year's Halloween costume (boy, are you well prepared), be warned - they're a bit of an investment. A pair of these ugly skin boots will set you back 10,000 Canadian Dollars (about £5,912). Yeesh. 

One half of the duo who designed the shoe, Steven Raj Bhaskaran, tells Vogue they don't expect it to be a best-seller: "The bottom line is, the masses aren’t going to adapt to this. It isn’t like tomorrow everyone is going to be wearing these heels but we want the masses to accept it and see it as something not scary or intimidating."

He adds they're going to bring out more versions - some with "more hair". Intriguing.

Needless to say, not everyone is sold.

Although some people's reactions are a bit more diplomatic...

But you'll be amazed to hear these aren't even the ugliest shoes out there.

From mop shoes to bejewelled crocs,, external ugly fashion has persisted throughout 2018. In fact, it has popularised items so deeply uncool, wearing them proves, ironically, just how cool you are (it's all very 2c2c, y'know?).

Here are some of the top contenders for the year's ugliest fashion item.

"Poverty" trainers

Earlier this year, one ugly fashion item was accused of taking the trend a step too far. Italian brand Golden Goose faced a Twitter backlash after the release of this "fashionable" footwear – a pair of battered sneakers complete with decorative duct tape. 

Nope, no idea either. 

The shoe was criticised for mocking poverty, with the worn-out kicks on sale at the eye-watering price of $530 (£400).

Many from the Twitterverse were, shall we say, unconvinced.

But not everyone agreed with the outcry: 

Even with all the controversy, there were still some takers:

This wasn't the first time Golden Goose has evoked the wrath of Twitter – in 2016 they received a similar backlash., external At the time, Golden Goose gave the following statement to US Magazine:, external “[Our] company is proud to highlight its pioneering role in the booming of the distressed look,” they said. “The duct tape reinforcements appearing on the [Superstar sneaker] style pay homage to the West Coast’s skater culture — professional skaters, who have inspired the brand’s shoe collections from the beginning, repair their shoes with the same kind of tape.”

Celebrity fans of that intentionally 'distressed' shoe included Taylor Swift, external and Selena Gomez., external

If you're after less divisive ugly footwear, why not try these?

Bum-bag flip flops

Yep, who could forget Nike’s 'fanny pack' - or as we call them in the UK, 'bum bag' - Benassi slides? These sandal slides came with a handy zip pouch for you to keep your… well, we’re still trying to figure that part out. 

Having a bumbag on your foot sent the Twitterverse into a frenzy earlier this year:

Some did go against the ugly fashion grain:

But mostly, people were just wondering what to do with this extra pocket space.

A place to stash some cash? A hidey-hole for condoms? A home for some emergency loo roll? So. Many. Options.

Some also pointed out the risks of keeping your worldly goods in your shoe.

Seriously holey jeans

Jeans, once items worn to cover the body. But that was before ugly fashion.

Now the world has fashion's weirdest hybrid, jindows. Yes, jeans with windows. In case you’ve ever looked at someone in normal jeans and thought "I wish I could see their knees". 

People's ripped jeans are starting to look so torn you may feel the need to check whether the wearer has been in an actual fight. Whole chunks of jean are missing, presumed shredded. Think of the tan lines.

If those weren't enough for you, try this pair on for size: 

The platform crocs

Another 2018 high-fashion 'It' shoe is the platform croc. These embellished shoes are taking crocs to new heights, literally.

If you’re thinking you wouldn’t be caught dead in crocs, you might be surprised to hear the fash-huns do not agree with you. Priced at £600, the shoes by Spanish label Balenciaga sold out, external in February this year, before they were even officially on sale.

Tbh, our ankles hurt just looking at them. 

The high-top sock trainers

You’ve all heard of 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. Well, brace yourselves for another great time-saving invention: 2-in-1 sock shoes.

Because honestly, who’s got time to put socks and shoes on? Not us. And now we don’t have to:

These trainers by Vetements and Reebok may be practical, but they’re also pretty ugly. The difficulty washing these sock sneakers also makes us wonder about how these will smell after two or three wears.

Plus, dad sneakers, external may be all the rage, but we’re just not sure what a shoe emblazoned with the words "left" and "right" says about our intelligence. Still, in for a penny...

The denim bustier

When ASOS debuted this denim bustier earlier this year, many speculated what the inspiration behind it could have been:

But the loudest question was simply, 'Why do this?' (Incidentally, many commenters pointed out that's exactly the look on the model’s face.)

Or why spend £35 on it? It may cost less than high-fashion crocs but you could probably make this 'ugly' look yourself. Dig out that old pair of jeans you've been meaning to bin and get your scissors for some home-made DIY style. 

Uggs get extra ugg-ly

Many have experienced the pillowy goodness that lies inside an Ugg boot. But even fans of the divisive footwear will be puzzled by the latest version that hit the catwalks - Uggs have now gone over-the-knee.

The boot, worn by men and women, was debuted at Parisian brand Y Project’s fashion show back in January. Never has a shoe been so extra.

We’re struggling to find a reason for all that baggy material and are still worried about how, exactly, you walk in them. Like most things ugly, it doesn’t come cheap either – prices range from $270 to $1380.

Still, if you decide that fleshy human skin boots aren't quite for you, there are so many ugly fashion options that you'll easily find your sole mate... sorry. 

The article was originally published on 6 June 2018.

Read more:

The bum bag renaissance has gone too far

Nine of the most WTF moments in festival fashion

The weirdest Halloween costumes of 2017