The “ugly” shoe trend has found new territory: bridal footwear.
A bridal shoe collaboration between Birkenstock and Danielle Frankel sparked controversy online recently, with some balking at the idea of Birkenstocks at a wedding and, what’s more, the steep price point. The limited-edition collection features lustrous satin and refined details like rhythmic pearls and hand-painted flowers, applied to casual silhouettes like a slide or a clog.
Birkenstock x Danielle Frankel
Birkenstock/Danielle Frankel
The bridal designer shed some light on how she sees the collaborative shoes fitting into a wedding day and beyond.
“Our brides are looking for designs that prioritize beauty and innovation while allowing them to be fully present and comfortable throughout their celebration,” Frankel Hirsch told FN. “This collaboration was made with that balance in mind and reflects how weddings are today: a little less precious, more grounded in who a couple really is, while still feeling elevated, intentional, and beautiful. We see these pieces fitting into any part of a wedding, and like to think that this collection can act as a lasting keepsake that’s worn well beyond the celebration.”
Rachel Rigler and her mom wearing Sneex.
Sazu Weddings
But there are more brands that are part of the “ugly” bridal shoe conversation. The sneaker-heel hybrid label Sneex, founded by Spanx creator Sara Blakely, has promoted its shoes as a potential option — and people have indeed worn them for the big day.
Beauty influencer Rachel Rigler had a twinning moment with her mom at her wedding to “Dynasty” star Adam Huber, when both the bride and mother of the bride switched into Sneex for the reception following the ceremony. Rigler wore The Tepper style in white while her mom went with The Icon in navy, both embodying the brand’s signature aesthetic of a sporty sneaker upper elevated by a stiletto heel.
“Swapping into Sneex with my mom wasn’t just about comfort, it was such a fun way to kick off the night together,” Rigler told Footwear News. “It was a sweet, lighthearted moment we got to share before the chaos of the reception.”
Pete Davidson for Crocs.
Some other brands are in the mix as well. Crocs clogs have been a controversial special occasion shoe choice for years, and the brand even played into this phenomenon by putting Pete Davidson in a white tuxedo shirt with a black bib, an undone bow tie, beige shorts, mismatched socks and white Classic Clogs in a recent campaign emphasizing Davidson’s casual approach to dressing. “Some people don’t agree with my interpretation of formal wear,” the actor and comedian says in a campaign video. “I’m just comfortably me.”
In another instance of embracing comfort for formal occasions, the sock shoe brand Brave Pudding, founded by Sarah Fiszel, released lace bootie and flat styles that would be ideal for dancing the night away at a wedding. Fiszel was inspired to take her brand into the eveningwear space when she noticed guests at a wedding she attended in Mexico taking off their heels on the dance floor during the party.
Stylist Leon Gray sees the introduction of “ugly” yet comfortable bridal shoe styles as a positive step forward in fashion.
He told FN, “I think people [have been] very quick — and this happened after COVID as well — to say that people are moving away from heels entirely. And that this means that bridal outfits are just becoming more casual. And I don’t think that’s true at all. I just think the industry and designers are recognizing that there are many different types of customers that want lots of different options, and this is just speaking to that, which is creating more variety in a space that is reflecting the customer base in a more meaningful way.”
