Fashion Faux Pas or Fabulous Find? Skims’ Furry Footwear Causes Quite the Stir
Skims, the billion-dollar shapewear and loungewear brand founded by Kim Kardashian, has become known for its trendsetting yet comfortable designs that enhance women’s bodies. However, their latest footwear release – a pair of over-the-knee faux fur boots – has been garnering attention for all the wrong reasons. Dubbed “ridiculous” and “tacky” by some fashionphiles, the unique shoes have quickly become Skims’ most controversial product yet.
Crafted from ultra-plush faux fur in earthy cocoa and grey hues, the boots feature a cozy calf-grazing silhouette and sturdy molded sole, evoking a hybrid of UGGs and yeti feet according to dissenters. Skims promises the boots will keep your extremities toasty while matching perfectly with their signature soft knits for ultimate seasonal styling. But many shoppers simply aren’t buying the brand’s billing of these shoes as a winter wardrobe “must have.”
“You all are walking around looking like Chewbacca from the waist down if you want to,” scoffed one Twitter user upon their launch, comparing the hairy shoes to the furry Star Wars Wookie. Other critics echoed the same sentiment, joking they’d have consumers resembling “Big Foot” or Cousin Itt from the Addams Family. Some simply deemed the polarizing boots “ugly and dumb,” even claiming they look like dated footwear from budget-friendly mall staple Claire’s.
While naysayers troll the product across social media, Skims stans have been quick to clap back in defense of the head-turning boots. “Ignore the haters – I think they’re perfect for winter!” gushed one fan account on Instagram. Indeed, supporters don’t seem bothered by the outrageous design, focusing rather on the promise of warmth and comfort.
So are the boots a terminal case of bad taste or secretly stylish? As with most fashion, the verdict lies in the eye of the beholder. And those beholders with an affinity for playful novelty prints, textures, and silhouettes have already made up their minds. Despite the backlash, Skims’ site shows many sizes are already sold out, suggesting at least some fashionistas are eager to embrace the footwear’s over-the-top aesthetic.
Yet even devotees of daring design have their doubts, wondering if the shoes cross the line from fab to drab. “I love Skims but not sure about these,” mused one Twitter follower. With winter still ahead, the brand has time to win over undecided consumers. But influencing public perception may prove an uphill battle.
Ultimately, Skims built its brand on body positivity and embracing one’s shape without judgment. Thus supporters say criticizing those who love the look misses the company’s core message. As model Ashley Graham, who recently collaborated on a capsule collection, asserted, “If you like [the boots], flaunt them!” Skims seems unlikely to pull the polarizing shoes despite complaints. So for now, we’ll have to wait and see if the footwear is a fleeting fad or a covetable cult-favorite in the making.
