Call me “the crazy shoe guy”, or whatever, but I have a track record of trying to turn a weird shoe into a fashion moment. Sometimes they land, a lot of times they don’t. (Note to self: you can’t win ’em all, Alex!) For my latest attempt at making my footwear go viral, I called in Avavav’s distinctive four-toe boots for a road test.
When I reached out to Avavav, I encountered some resistance and was provided with specific guidelines. The brand representative inquired about my intentions for the boots, revealing they had previously experienced issues with overly maximalist styling and wished to steer clear of that going forward. My rebellious instincts meant I was initially tempted me to pursue a “more is more” aesthetic, but upon taking delivery of the boots at Vogue House, I immediately understood the assignment. These shoes demand a minimalist approach, otherwise, they veer towards costume.
While they have an undeniably cartoonish quality, these ankle-length boots are impeccably crafted. Constructed from supple leather, with a gracefully curved block heel and side zip closure, they’re surprisingly elegant. As for the four extended toes at the front? Naturally, I was in love. The moment I slipped them on, I sensed a transformation in my demeanour – perhaps it was the extra four inches in height, or the dramatic toe extension that made me feel like an ethereal creature. My Vogue colleague and deskmate Daniel Rodgers was less enthused. “I can’t deal with these monster shoes next to me, they’re very distracting – please take them off.”
Wearing the boots with my daytime work outfit – baggy jeans and a grey cardigan layered over a champagne silk shirt, with an oversized blazer and a baseball cap – I set about roaming the office, and got an insight into what animals in the zoo must feel like. My colleagues whipped their phones out to snap pictures and film close-ups, before delivering live commentary that ranged from positive (“I fucking adore them,” features writer Amel Mukhtar), to… less positive (“Unspeakable,” digital director Kerry McDermott). I ignored the haters, and focused instead on styling my new boots for not one but two parties later that evening: a Miu Miu party, and Vogue’s annual Forces for Change gala.