Sometimes I confuse myself with my continuous fascination with ugly yet cultish footwear.  I really must figure it out because adding to my posts on Doc Martens, Clarks Desert Boots and Wallabees and Kickers HI Boots, I’m now adding T.U.K.’s Mondo Creeper shoes which made an appearance at the David David Fashion East show last week.  Though it is born in England, the brand T.U.K. are based in California and their creeper shoes are distinctive with their chunky sole.   I would classify these as ‘those-shoes-that-the-whole-Camden-high-street-from-station-to-stables’ tries to flog, the sort of thing my sister bought in her emo days. 

If I was to try and analyse my fascination, I guess the images that footwear from Doc Martens and T.U.K. (less so with Clarks and Kickers) conjure are so strong.  Punk, Camden, Goth, Emo – all of that comes to mind along with an abundance of black hoodies, D ring trousers and dyed hair.  I have the urge to break this stereotypical imagery attached to the shoes.  To me, these shoes that are chained and bogged down with stereotypes are ripe for outfits of high contrast.  Doc Martens and florals was a contrast that broke out and worked to some degree of success.  I seem to see potential in the Mondo creeper shoes to do the same, to work in different contexts other than the ones that they are attached with.  It seems to have already begun because at the Mulberry presentation I saw a girl wearing these creeper shoes in black and white checked with polka dot tights, a star print dress and a huge black bow on her head, all in monochrome, sounding all rather deranged but working in reality nonetheless.

It’s especially intriguing when for AW08-9, the Mondo Creeper also comes in grey or purple ponyskin.  Outfit bulb brainwave instantly comes: the grey ponyskin creepers, grey ribbed knee high socks, box cut copper layered organza skirt not unlike the one Couture Salope posted about, a longish, loose-ish grey v-neck cardigan buttoned up with a copper silk vest peeking out from underneath.  I know I know.  Why make my life harder with shoes that are difficult to work when I could just slap on some pretty patent pumps?  I don't know.  It's sort of like the times I used to frustrate myself until I broke down in tears trying to play Alexander Scriabin's Mazurkas on the piano but persevered anyway.  Doesn't matter if I don't get there.  It's all in the trials/fun of trying.

*EDIT* An image from i-D issue 282 definitely gives some more food for thought.  I'm sorry if this has been a love/hate sort of thing but I'm just going to have to try it for myself...