Sole survivor

In the sea of ephemeral trends and codes, here's how the ugly shoe became the unlikely messiah of fashion.

- By SIMONE DHONDY.

“PSYCHOLOGY SAYS PEOPLE form first impressions based on your shoes.” That viral Facebook factoid, passed around like a chain letter for the terminally image-conscious, came with the same ominous subtext: if someone glimpsed your scuffed Vans or practical sandals, they’d instantly know your credit score, daddy issues and carbon footprint. Always shared alongside stock photos of aggressively clean loafers or Manolos dangling off marble bathtubs, as if to say: you are your footwear.

Which makes our current situation fascinating, because now, we’re daring people to judge us. We’re walking into rooms in Crocs the colour of Nickelodeon slime, foam clogs with Swiss cheese holes and sandals that resemble orthopaedic bondage gear.