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These are unusual times and last night’s Oscars ceremony was unlike any other, with many of the normal red carpet rules re-written. Instead of the usual black tie mandate, the official dress code this year encouraged the celebrity attendees to aim ‘for a fusion of Inspirational and Aspirational… formal is totally cool if you want to go there, but casual is really not.”
The message was clear: leave your sweatpants at home and your house slippers at the door. How then to bring the ‘aspirational’ and ‘inspirational’ when you’ve been wearing elasticated waistbands and fluffy footwear for a year?
Solution: Crocs, but spray painted gold.
The Academy Awards’ musical director Questlove served up perfect post-lockdown glamour in loose tailoring and golden Crocs. Wide-fit, oodles of arch support and so very shiny, it was an inspired footwear choice.
Once a style no-go zone, the bulky brand is slowly and assuredly becoming one of fashion’s coolest shoes. The re-croc-aissance began a few years ago with headline-grabbing high-fashion collaborations with Christoper Kane (2017) and Balenciaga (2018), which were swiftly followed by sell-out collections with rapper Post Malone, Bad Bunny (the Latin pop star’s glow-in-the-dark designs sold out in 16 minutes) and Justin Bieber. Other notable celebrity Croc-rockers include Ariana Grande and Pharell Williams.
Inspired? Bottega Veneta has a chic minimalist Croc-inspired rubber clog which could be a contender for the perfect back-to-the-office shoe, £370; or these pretty tie-dye Crocs from Urban Outfitters will make for a good talking point at your next beer garden hang, £39.99.
For our fashion editor’s round up of the best looks from the Oscars 2021, head here.
