Seen as uncool for years, the so-called “ugly shoe” is walking back into the spotlight in 2026. Think clogs, Velcro hiking sandals, chunky dad sneakers. Comfort-first silhouettes that were once mocked now headline lookbooks and showroom orders. The reason is not a meme. It is retail reality.
Signals have piled up since 2023 : investor money flowed to comfort pioneers, search data stayed sticky, and runways slipped in bulkier soles season after season. Birkenstock went public in October 2023 at 46 dollars a share, valuing the brand around 8.6 billion dollars. Crocs bought HeyDude in 2022 for 2.5 billion dollars. And according to McKinsey’s State of Fashion 2024, global fashion sales were expected to grow 2 to 4 percent in 2024, with consumers leaning into value, durability and ease. Put together, the path to a 2026 comeback looks less like a fad and more like a cycle closing its loop.
Ugly shoe trend 2026 : what changes and why it matters
The main idea is simple : people kept the comfort habit while getting bored of minimal basics. After years of invisible sneakers and quiet loafers, the eye wants texture again. Quilted straps, rubberized clogs, orthotic-looking soles suddenly feel fresh. Brands read that mood and pivoted assortment planning toward silhouettes that stand out in a scroll.
There is also a wardrobe problem that can be solved. Office codes loosened, yet full-on performance sneakers feel too sporty with tailoring. Clogs and Velcro sandals bridge that gap. They ground wide pants, long skirts and cropped blazers without trying too hard. Streetstyle from Copenhagen to Seoul already tested the mix, then retail followed with wider size runs and colorways.
A note on timing. Spring-Summer 2026 footwear will be unveiled during the September 2025 shows in New York, London, Milan and Paris, then sold into stores for delivery from early 2026. That is when the return becomes visible on sidewalks, not just moodboards.
Data points : Crocs, Birkenstock and the comfort economy
Money tells the story. Birkenstock’s October 2023 IPO priced at 46 dollars per share, raising roughly 1.48 billion dollars and signaling investor faith in comfort-led brands. The company’s valuation – about 8.6 billion dollars at listing – pushed utilitarian sandals into blue-chip territory.
Crocs did not stay on the sidelines. In 2022, the company acquired HeyDude for 2.5 billion dollars, a bet on casual, foam-forward design that doubled down on the molded clog archetype. That deal effectively broadened the category from quirky to mainstream family footwear, from campus to grocery run to office Fridays.
Macro context supports the shift. McKinsey and The Business of Fashion projected in their State of Fashion 2024 report that the industry would expand by 2 to 4 percent in 2024, with value-conscious consumers prioritizing functionality and versatility. Those are the exact levers ugly shoes pull : all-day wear, easy maintenance, and price ladders that stack from high street to luxury collaborations.
Styling mistakes to avoid with clogs, Velcro sandals and dad sneakers
A few missteps keep coming up in fittings and street snaps. The fix is easy, and no, it does not kill the offbeat charm.
- Balance volume : pair chunky soles with straight or wide-leg trousers that hit the top of the shoe, not puddling over it.
- Elevate materials : choose leather or suede clogs for office looks, saving foam pairs for off-duty days.
- Mind the socks : ribbed cotton or fine merino works. Neon gym socks can turn irony into costume.
- Keep color tight : two or three tones max. Let the shoe be the accent, not the whole story.
- Test proportion : cropped blazer, long denim skirt, sculptural clog – that triangle flatters most body types.
What to watch next : runway signals and the retail calendar
Designers already dropped hints in pre-collections. Technical fisherman sandals with polished buckles. Clover-shaped clogs in patent finishes. Remixed dad trainers with lower profiles and quiet colors, less meme, more wardrobe. Those items migrate from showrooms into wholesale orders right after the September 2025 presentations, then land on shelves by early 2026.
Expect two waves. First, accessible price points roll out in early spring with foam and rubber builds, chasing volume. Second, elevated takes arrive for high summer in leather and wood, designed to sit next to tailoring and light suiting. Collaborations will keep heat high, but the durable driver is daily wear. That is why retailers back neutral palettes – black, bone, olive – with one seasonal pop.
What was missing last time was versatility. In 2017-2019, the ugly shoe read as a punchline, not a platform. The 2026 version integrates quietly with grown-up wardrobes, aligns with comfort spending validated by deals like Crocs-HeyDude in 2022, and rides an industry that McKinsey still sees growing in the low single digits. So yes, the “ringarde” shoe returns – and this time it definitly stays on.