Chunky, clunky, and cooler than ever. Vivaan Shenoy takes you into the world of “ugly-cute” fashion, where comfort trumps convention, and your footwear doesn’t need to be pretty to slay.
The rules of fashion have been flipped, and at the center of this plot twist? Sandals. Chunky, padded, Velcro-strapped, orthopedic-inspired sandals. What once lived in the land of airport dads and hiking gear is now the latest street-style flex.
From Alia Bhatt stepping out in padded Prada slides to Janhvi Kapoor pairing chunky Tevas with breezy co-ords, the ugly-cute sandal has gone from ironic to iconic. Ananya Panday recently rocked socks with Crocs at a shoot, while Khushi Kapoor was spotted in oversized rubber Birks, adding her Gen Z stamp to the trend.
Even internationally, it’s a full-blown revival. Think Hailey Bieber in retro pool slides, or Zendaya in sculptural designer flatforms. The aesthetic? Function meets flair. Weird meets wearable.
And let’s be honest: in the blazing UAE summer, sweaty feet don’t care about sleek stilettos. Whether it’s foam, rubber, or faux fur, the priority is comfort and Gen Z is here for it.
So go ahead: strap in, chunk up, and walk bold. Ugly has never looked this good.