Sometimes I confuse myself with my continuous fascination with ugly yet cultish footwear. I really must figure it out because adding to my posts on Doc Martens, Clarks Desert Boots and Wallabees and Kickers HI Boots, I’m now adding T.U.K.’s Mondo Creeper shoes which made an appearance at the David David Fashion East show last week. Though it is born in England, the brand T.U.K. are based in California and their creeper shoes are distinctive with their chunky sole. I would classify these as ‘those-shoes-that-the-whole-Camden-high-street-from-station-to-stables’ tries to flog, the sort of thing my sister bought in her emo days.
If I was to try and analyse my fascination, I guess the images that footwear from Doc Martens and T.U.K. (less so with Clarks and Kickers) conjure are so strong. Punk, Camden, Goth, Emo – all of that comes to mind along with an abundance of black hoodies, D ring trousers and dyed hair. I have the urge to break this stereotypical imagery attached to the shoes. To me, these shoes that are chained and bogged down with stereotypes are ripe for outfits of high contrast. Doc Martens and florals was a contrast that broke out and worked to some degree of success. I seem to see potential in the Mondo creeper shoes to do the same, to work in different contexts other than the ones that they are attached with. It seems to have already begun because at the Mulberry presentation I saw a girl wearing these creeper shoes in black and white checked with polka dot tights, a star print dress and a huge black bow on her head, all in monochrome, sounding all rather deranged but working in reality nonetheless.
It‚Äôs especially intriguing when for AW08-9, the Mondo Creeper also comes in grey or purple ponyskin. Outfit bulb brainwave instantly comes: the grey ponyskin creepers, grey ribbed knee high socks, box cut copper layered organza skirt not unlike the one Couture Salope posted about, a longish, loose-ish grey v-neck cardigan buttoned up with a copper silk vest peeking out from underneath. I know I know. Why make my life harder with shoes that are difficult to work when I could just slap on some pretty patent pumps? I don’t know. It’s sort of like the times I used to frustrate myself until I broke down in tears trying to play Alexander Scriabin’s Mazurkas on the piano but persevered anyway. Doesn’t matter if I don’t get there. It’s all in the trials/fun of trying.
*EDIT* An image from i-D issue 282 definitely gives some more food for thought. I’m sorry if this has been a love/hate sort of thing but I’m just going to have to try it for myself…
oooh i’ve been wanted some of these for a while! i must admit though, i think it’s the agyness deyn influence – she does pull them off pretty well.
even though they’re pretty ubiquitous i just couldn’t find the right pair in my size.
would love to see your outfit if you end up getting them.
Comme should these a while ago and they didn’t look at all emo or punk, and I think they’d be rather easy to take out of that context. Marie has been trying to get me to wear these for about a year, but because I wore them as a teen I can’t see me going back to them, but I’d go for it if I were you.
Fun!
Very reminiscent of the 90’s-Docs with sweet baby-doll dresses…funny how fashion is so cyclical.
RADICALPROPER.blogspot.com
Ah, I remember this look.
haha I had a friend in the university who loved those lol
I hate this look so, so much I just dont understand how can one like it!
kiss
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hm, i like doc martens better – probably because i can’t stand emo, i just hate the whole emo attitude. but i would love to see your outfit if you get these shoes, it sounds fabulous!
Ah, yes these remind me of that band Republica! (And of course, my hero Joe Strummer….)
just like a depeche mode
just like j. galiano like it..isn’t it?
the most- second
love brtish style. about emo- i think is no so bad. i think i even like it, not for me but really for others.
I hate the modern association with emo – what about teds?
I dunno. I think creepers are really wearable and stylish. LIke winkle pickers they kinda have this old vintage rebel connotation to it, and most certainly it can be styled in many ways. I suppose the rebel label that comes with it is what emo’s, and goths, etc associated with, there for kinda conjuring up some not so snazzy imagery. And lets just face it, sometimes people just can’t dress themselves right and like to be pigeon holed to fit in. Another subject for another time.
But all that aside. I love creepers, i still wear mines to this day, pairing it w/ a short prom lookin frilly dress, some crazy stockings and my creeps. I suppose kinda of a kinder whore spin on it. Fashion is REVERTING BACK TO THE 90’S!! (finally, my favorite chintzy era)
i still don’t know what an emo is…
i like the creepers with buckles but i don’t think i’ll ever wear them.
They appeal to the inner goth in me, need to research more on what to wear them with though..
I hate that just because male fashion is not as big as women’s we have to deal with this sort of “shoe innovations”.
xx
did you see the fall 07 nathan jenden collection where he used creepers? it worked! http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2007RTW/complete/thumb/NJENDEN
OH! Please don’t. I saw ‘ponyskin’ and almost vomited.
Ugh, I love creepers. I have a pair of black and white ones that are even larger than those you’ve posted.
Did you miss it when MaxMara was advertising white creepers with their fall line? I wanted them very badly. Very badly indeed. I wore the bejayzis out of my creepers when I had them.
I will need a great deal of convincing to wear these out – it’ll make my large feet even chunkier to begin with! But there is this cool edge to the shoes… hmm…
Gabrielle: I’m sorry but I do genuinely like them….
Will be getting a pair so will give a Creeper Update… in the meantime…see added image above for further inspiration!
this is another one of these trends that i feel like just ended and i need a few more years to get over before getting back into?
maybe im getting old and my life is going my faster….but creepers and the 1990s were like yesterday to me.
I can honestly say they don’t do anything for me, but it’s quite likely you’ll change my mind. (Thanks for the link mention, by the way.)
i owned a few pairs of these. dior used them a few seasons back and it didn’t make sense at all. but now i think it does. the proportions are just right. that last picture makes it make sense.
i owned a few pairs of these. dior used them a few seasons back and it didn’t make sense at all. but now i think it does. the proportions are just right. that last picture makes it make sense.