The “Ugly” shoes to start wearing now

SS22 trends are all about throwing things back, footwear included. Whether you’re playing b-ball in chunky sneakers, attending a music festival in old-school clogs, or lounging poolside in chic sandals, platforms ooze Y2K energy and streetwear sensibility, ensuring you’re impeccably dressed while hitting your step count. The only thing fresher than the air on daily strolls? Comfy kicks with sturdy soles.

Below, we outline our top picks for any occasion - platforms that elevate your height, your confidence, and your style game for this season and beyond.

Get ready to get walking...in style

Typically streamlined to promote agility in athletic activity, a chunky platform sole gives sneakers a spunky, contemporary appeal. Wear with miniskirts to lean into the preppy tennis aesthetic, balancing out the flirty, leg-baring silhouette with a more masculine shoe. Our pick? Balenciaga’s iconic Triple S sneakers - a three-way cross between a running shoe, a basketball shoe, and a track shoe - boasts three times the height boost with three layers of TPU-injected soles.

Clunky clogs for the win

The controversial “ugly” shoe has gotten a sleek upgrade. Now, we relish in the raiding-grandma’s-closet look. If Gran’s shoes aren’t easily accessible, turn to modern brands to satisfy your craving for refined retro. The embellished iteration on everyone’s feet - and IG feeds -Aeyde’s studded, wooden-platform clogs will be your go-to for wearing with wide-leg capri jeans and daring front-slit trousers.

Your orthopedic-looking sandals just got an upgrade

Breezy sandals in neutral colour palettes are ideal for spring and summer, and the addition of a platform sole gives the laidback shoe a little urban edge. Despite their minimal design, alexanderwang’s black wide-band slides with a moulded platform sole ensure you stand out. A sassy nod to the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, they’ll deliver a dose of drama to even the most cloudless of days.