Explaining the Viral Footwear Trend

Freaky shoe lovers, rise up.

Hybrid designs, cloven toes, chunky platforms, furry and embellished creations are trending on TikTok. And the credit for the latest footwear obsession on social media goes to Mandy Lee, the fashion writer and analyst, also known as @oldloserinbrooklyn.

Beyond engagement with her freaky shoe content on platforms like TikTok, the concept has taken off to the point that The RealReal tapped Lee to curate an edit of freaky shoes — think feathery Valentino boots, zebra-print Gucci platforms with a tail and the like.

“I’ve always been a shoe and coat girl; they are my two favorite categories to collect, so it’s been a lifelong passion,” Lee explained to FN, WWD’s sibling publication, via email about how she got into freaky shoes.

Lee has cultivated an exciting collection of unusual footwear, which she shares with her following. Take, for instance, the shoes she wore during this past New York Fashion Week: Marni loafers with hoop piercings, Maison Margiela Tabi shoes with an open toe and Tory Burch Pierced pumps, among others.

Contemplating which is the freakiest of all her shoes, Lee said, “Depends on your freak barometer. Some might say Vivienne Westwood animal paw boots from the ’90s, others would say brown leather and leopard fur Marni pierced loafers.”