Crocs, Birkenstock and Adidas Are Leading the Ugly Shoe Comeback

"From Onitsuka’s hybrid pump-trainers to Margiela’s ever-confusing Tabis, ugly shoes have gone full Hollywood."

These are the shoes people love to hate and hate to admit they love. Fashion’s fascination with the deliberately difficult is nothing new, but even by contemporary standards, the 'ugly shoe' has had an unusual trajectory.

Ugly shoes are defined not by a single shape or brand, but by an attitude. They often feature exaggerated proportions (hello, chunky soles), unconventional shapes (split-toe boots, anyone?), and an unapologetic embrace of function. If a shoe looks like it sprang from a grandparent’s closet or a cartoon closet, it likely fits the bill. The appeal lies in this very wrongness. Once maligned, these “heinous” hoof-like shoes have crossed over into high fashion and street style, buoyed by a cultural moment that prizes individuality and irony over convention. In 2025, ugly is chic, and it’s here to stay.

The past year has seen a steady march of fashion-forward, function-first footwear that both embraces and exaggerates the ugly shoe agenda. From luxury labels to unexpected collaborators, designers are doubling down on the ethos that comfort is king, clunkiness be damned. Here are some of the illustrative drops from over the past year:

Crocs x Swarovski Clogs

"Swarovski x Crocs Classic Clog (£200) and Bae Clog Platform (£950). Limited release via Crocs. Images via Crocs and Swarovski."

Crocs has reached a remarkable peak with its latest Swarovski collaboration, feeling oddly logical despite the initial dissonance. A shoe brand once dismissed as clunky rubber foam has scaled luxury heights: Swarovski-encrusted clogs.

Yes, you read that right; the quintessential ugly shoe brand has teamed up with crystal purveyor Swarovski to create perhaps the glitziest rubber clogs ever made; and this limited collection takes Crocs’ iconic foam clogs and drenches them in Swarovski crystals.

The Classic Clog comes in pearly ivory with an iridescent lattice of crystals inspired by dragonfly wings, with a crystal-studded “Queen of Night” flower charm; and the elevated Bae Clog, is a black platform covered in a web of sparkle. With prices ranging from about £200 for the crystal Classic up to nearly £950 for the fully bedazzled platform, these Crocs proved that even the ugliest of shoes can get a luxury makeover. (And yes, they still have the pivoting heel strap, now studded with crystals, of course.)

Adidas x UnheardOf “Grandma’s Couch” Sneakers

"Grandma’s Couch 2 Rivalry Lo, £150. In-store exclusive at UnheardOf. Images via UnheardOf and Adidas."

Adidas has fully embraced kitsch in its latest collaboration with Cincinnati boutique UnheardOf, delivering a sneaker that feels more like a family heirloom. The Rivalry Low, titled Grandma’s Couch, looks exactly how it sounds: a trainer upholstered (visually, at least) in floral patterns that could have been lifted from a sitting room in 1972.

Designed by UnheardOf’s Phil Lipshutz in memory of his grandmother Naomi, the sneaker honours her influence on both his life and the project itself. Naomi, affectionately known online as the “Sneaker Grandma,” was closely involved until her passing in 2024.

Released for Mother’s Day 2025, the Grandma’s Couch 2 edition features Naomi’s handpicked floral prints across the upper, with the Adidas logo printed in her handwriting on the heel. The insole carries a replica of a love letter written to her by her husband, and the packaging leans into the sentimentality, with floral box art, watercolour illustrations, and soft rose-gold touches.

Priced at £150 and available only in-store at UnheardOf, the sneaker’s appeal lies in its sincerity. It captures a kind of comforting ugliness that feels nostalgic rather than ironic. After all, there’s nothing quite as timeless as a nan’s sofa.

Onitsuka Tiger MEXICO 66 TGRS

 "MEXICO 66 TGRS, £120. Available in select stores and online at Onitsuka Tiger. Images via Onitsuka Tiger."

Onitsuka Tiger has taken a more elegant route through the ugly-comfy terrain, reworking one of its classic silhouettes with a subtle but unexpected edge. The MEXICO 66 TGRS, launched globally in Spring 2025, brings together the brand’s 1960s sneaker with the structure of a ballet-inspired Mary Jane.

It’s a hybrid that feels both streamlined and strange: a slim leather upper with double buckle straps across the instep, softened by delicate floral cut-outs along the sides. The design draws from the balletcore trend but offers more structure and support than your average pump.

The TGRS (short for Tigress) features a wide toe box and adjustable fastenings, designed to avoid the pinch of typical ballet flats. It comes in understated black or white, as well as seasonal shades like lilac and metallic rose. Priced at around £120, it sits comfortably within reach for those looking to sidestep convention without sacrificing wearability.

This is Onitsuka’s answer to the question: what if a Mary Jane actually felt good to walk in?

Merrell Hydro Moc

"Hydro Moc, £30–£65. Available at Merrell, Amazon, Go Outdoors, and Sports Direct. Images via Merrell."

If your ideal shoe is one you can rinse after a muddy festival and still look like you meant it, the Hydro Moc fits. These one-piece foam clogs, perforated like oversized swiss cheese, have become an unlikely icon. Originally priced around £50 to £65, they often sell for less depending on the colourway.

Merrell offers them in everything from matte black to psychedelic tie-dye. They are lightweight, slip-on, and weirdly addictive to wear. In the UK, you can find them at retailers like Go Outdoors, Sports Direct, and Amazon, with prices dropping as low as £30. Style them with chunky socks, cargo shorts, or even gym kit. The Hydro Moc’s popularity has expanded far beyond riverbeds and hiking trails. Now spotted on high streets, it proves that even the strangest of shoes can travel well.

Embrace the ugly by wearing them with chunky socks and shorts, or use them as your new garden shoes that happen to be fashionably fringe.

New Balance 1906R Loafer Sneakers

"1906R Loafer, £120. Available at Footpatrol, END., and New Balance UK. Images via New Balance."

Arguably the shoe of early 2025, New Balance’s 1906R Loafer combines the soul of a chunky dad trainer with the upper of a polished penny loafer. The result is unexpected, almost cartoonish, but strangely appealing.

First seen on the runway, this design went viral before its limited release. It quickly became the year’s first big ugly shoe trend. The loafer comes in neutral black, white, and grey, often with contrasting gum soles. UK pricing sits around £120.

It’s literal fashion irony, but well-executed.

If you like your shoes to be part-subversive, part-functional, the 1906R Loafer delivers. Wear them with tailoring for a deliberately off note, or just with cuffed jeans to let the Franken-shoe do the talking.

HOKA Bondi 8 (Max-Cushion Trainer)

" Bondi 8, £130–£150. Available at HOKA UK, JD Sports, Runner’s Need, and Up & Running. Images via HOKA."

Once written off as purely practical, HOKA’s Bondi 8 has become a staple for fashion insiders and comfort-first dressers. It’s a maximalist running shoe with thick cushioning and a silhouette closer to an orthopaedic platform than a performance trainer.

Originally built for long-distance running, the Bondi’s marshmallow-soft sole (people liken walking in the Bondi to “walking on marshmallows”) and ergonomic build have made it popular for daily wear. In the UK, it retails for £130 to £150 depending on colour and retailer, coming in everything from neutral greys to neon gradients.

Commonly styled with loose denim, loungewear or even dresses, the Bondi 8 fits right into the current mood of exaggerated function.

If you're looking to live your best “Dad sneakers but make it fashion” life, slip into these.

Salomon XT-6 / Trail Sneakers

"XT-6, £110–£150. Available at Foot Locker, Size?, END., and Salomon UK. Images via Salomon."

Rounding out the list, we have the Salomon XT-6, a once purely functional trail-running shoe that has morphed into a streetwear grail. Once designed for ultra-marathons, the Salomon XT-6 has become a fixture in city street style with its technical paneling, toggle fastenings, and chunky lugged soles. It is as ready for the Alps as it is for Soho.

The gorpcore wave gave it initial traction, but celebrity sightings and fashion editorials pushed it further. Bella Hadid helped popularise the look, pairing trail shoes with casual fits that turned performance gear into serious style currency.

Prices typically range from £110 to £150 in the UK, depending on the model and finish, and premium versions with GORE-TEX or limited collabs can hit higher.

Ugly? Maybe to some, but as the hordes of Salomon converts will tell you, functional can be fashionable. And nothing says that louder than a pair of brightly coloured trail shoes stomping through city streets. If you want a shoe that’s fully functional but fashion-approved, this is your most tactical option.