If you were wondering if the fashion world would buck the comfortable shoe trend that's now ruled for seasons, the answer is a pretty resounding no. Sneakers and flats are commonplace [1], but Christopher Kane just surprised the whole style world when he sent a jeweled capsule collection of Crocs down his Spring '17 runway [2] at London Fashion Week, without an ounce of irony. In a press release about the shoes, the designer said:

"I always work with unexpected items and combinations, transforming the everyday into desirable luxury. I wanted to bring my own stamp and DNA to Crocs' classic clog shoe and achieve something really special. The marble print feels very earthy and I often think of Crocs in a very grounded way, worn with either an evening dress or with jeans, and adding the rock crystals brings a bit of luxury to this everyday style. Crocs are arguably the most comfortable shoe, I love that they are slightly awkward and might be perceived by some as 'ugly'. They have a very naïve and childlike shape which I especially like when they look extra clunky on the foot."

Unexpected, certainly; but Kane is totally serious about introducing Crocs (the same brand beloved by Mario Batali, and maybe your dad), to his fashion-conscious customers. He boldly styled them with evening dresses, and studded them with crystals — a hopeful attempt to give them trendsetting appeal. We're no strangers to the "ugly" shoe phenomenon. After all, we've embraced Tevas, Birkenstocks, UGGs, and Gucci's hairy slippers [3], but are Crocs really next? Is this the comfortable shoe of fashion's future? Read on and weigh in.