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The so-called “ugly shoe trend” has been percolating for seasons, but it reached a fever pitch with an unexpected yet undeniably cool new collaboration between Balenciaga and Dr. Scholl’s.
The two labels have teamed up to bring together “Balenciaga’s savoir-faire with Scholl’s expertise in ultra-comfortable orthopedic footwear and insoles,” according to a press release.
The collection, debuting for Fall 2025 and now available for pre-order with prices ranging from $575 to $1,750, was born out of Balenciaga Creative Director Demna Gvasalia’s “desire to create the most comfortable heels ever made” while infusing the luxury French fashion house’s “signature footwear silhouettes with the unmatched comfort of Scholl products.”
Calfskin sandals with exposed cork soles accented by Scholl’s unmistakable metal buckles, which pay tribute to the original 1956 Pescura style, are offered in kitten heels and flats in black, glossy pink and silver metallic lambskin.
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Platform perforated square-toe clogs and co-branded iterations of Balenciaga’s Pool Slide Sandals are rendered in shades of white and a decidedly versatile pastel orange hue.
There is also a Birkenstock-esque variation offering extra grip with the same edgy metal hardware. Everything is crafted with ergonomic insoles to take you into fall in stylish stride.
The two most high-fashion options in the mix are black knee-high boots and stiletto mules in ultra-smooth sheepskin, both of which appeared in Balenciaga’s Pre-Fall 2025 lookbook.
Vogue’s Sarah Mower aptly described it as a classic Demna-ism by taking the comfort-centric Dr. Scholl’s slide and turning it into a “spike-heeled fashion mule,” which she added looked “so ineffably cool when worn with a great big gray hip-length bomber and a flared knee-length skirt.”
Scholl, an Italian brand with over 100 years of experience in foot care, is world famous for its innovative, scientifically backed designs that prioritize comfort and wellness. Through Gvasalia’s distinctive lens, orthopedics have achieved unprecedented new levels of “ugly shoe” trendiness.
