Perforated plastic slippers: From "bad invention" to red carpet star
Once listed by Time as a "bad invention", crocs (perforated plastic sandals) have now become a fashion phenomenon sought after by young people. From a casual item, even called a fashion disaster, these sandals have appeared on the red carpet of Grammy and Oscar awards, affirming their position in the fashion world.
Singer Justin Bieber wore stylish perforated plastic sandals at the 64th Grammy Awards (Photo: Instagram Iam Alberrrt).
The rise of the perforated plastic sandal shows that fashion is no longer bound by traditional standards. Emphasizing comfort and individuality, fashionistas have turned this accessory into a new symbol.
Typically, singer Justin Bieber wore perforated sandals at the Grammy Awards, or Questlove wore a yellow perforated plastic sandal version at the 2021 Oscars, affirming the combination of fashion style and convenience.
The Balenciaga brand also took perforated plastic sandals to a new level with a trendy platform version priced at nearly 20 million VND. Despite facing mixed opinions, these designs quickly sold out, affirming the appeal of perforated sandals in the fashion world.
Justin Bieber takes a photo wearing perforated plastic slippers. The male singer is one of the fans of perforated plastic slippers (Photo: Instagram GQ Spain).
The popularity of perforated plastic sandals is not only due to collaborations with luxury brands but also reflects a shift in public aesthetic perceptions.
Nowadays, not only young people but also many veteran fashionistas value comfort, personality and individuality instead of following trends or adhering to fixed standards.
Beauty Linh Kul wears perforated plastic sandals with creative variations of velvet bows, combined with black lace socks with purple ribbons, creating a sweet yet individual beauty (Photo: Instagram Linh Kul).
Appearing frequently on red carpets, social networks and even in everyday life, perforated sandals have proven that fashion is always moving and breaking all limits.
Previously, perforated plastic sandals were only associated with everyday outfits, even causing a feeling of sloppiness and sloppiness. Now, these sandals have become a style highlight, appearing with streetwear (street fashion), as well as elegant outfits.
Not only young people, many Vietnamese stars such as Miss Thuy Tien, model Quynh Anh Shyn, or rapper HIEUTHUHAI also confidently wear perforated sandals at important events, proving the appeal of this accessory on every fashion stage.
Pham Quoc Binh, a Fashion Design major at Hanoi University of Architecture, said that perforated plastic sandals are flexible, convenient, and easy to personalize with jibbitz (decorative accessories). To enhance the aesthetics, this designer advised that fashionistas should choose accessories to go with perforated sandals based on the theme and color coordination with the outfit.
HIEUTHUHAI breaks the mold with red perforated plastic sandals, combined with wide-leg jeans and a sweater to create a unique highlight (Photo: HIEUTHUHAI Instagram).
Designer Binh believes that although not an ideal choice for party wear, perforated plastic slippers can still be combined with luxurious outfits when choosing minimalist colors such as gray, white and accompanied by sparkling accessories. The special design of perforated slippers helps create an interesting highlight for the outfit.
According to Mr. Binh, perforated plastic sandals are also suitable for the Y2K style (a popular fashion trend in the 2000s) that is becoming popular again and the casual style (emphasizing comfort and convenience) that helps users flexibly mix and match their outfits.
Actor and film producer Questlove wore shiny gold perforated slippers at the 2021 Oscars (Photo: Vogue).
Decoding the success of perforated plastic slippers
The story begins in 2002, when Scott Seamans, Lyndon Hanson and George Boedbecker Jr. created a comfortable beach sandal made of a proprietary croslite (plastic) material that was lightweight, soft, non-slip and odor-resistant. The perforated plastic sandal was introduced to the market as Crocs.
The sandals were considered ugly by the fashion world but still sold well because they could be used easily both on land and in water, just like the crocodile that inspired the brand, in English "crocodile".
Crocs' success came from capturing the comfortable fashion trend of the early 2000s.
With its high practicality, the perforated sandal appears everywhere from the beach to the street. However, its unique design makes it the center of controversy, being ridiculed as "ugly" and lacking in sophistication.
Beauty Han Hang and her boyfriend wear perforated plastic sandals to show off their style (Photo: Han Hang's Instagram).
Perforated plastic slippers were once considered suitable only for chefs, nurses or other specialized professions. However, despite criticism, the Crocs brand did not change its design but chose a bold and strategic direction to conquer the market.
First, the brand focused on improving the croslite material, enhancing the softness and foot support, making the perforated sandals an ideal choice for those who value comfort.
Not stopping at improving materials, Crocs also created a storm with "blockbuster" collaborations with famous names. From Christopher Kane, Balenciaga to Justin Bieber, Post Malone or Bad Bunny, each limited edition created a fever. Thanks to that, the perforated sandals continuously expanded their customer base and consolidated their position in the fashion industry.
According to Lucy Thornley, global vice president of Crocs, the brand's success comes from comfort, versatility and personalization.
The secret weapon of the perforated plastic sandal is the jibbitz (decorative accessory) that personalizes the perforated sandal, turning it into a unique style statement. Combined with a strong social media strategy, Crocs quickly amplified its reach and built a loyal community.
TikToker Tikka Hoang Hien stands out with pearl-studded perforated sandals, paired with a pink and white outfit, creating a sweet yet unique style (Photo: Instagram Tikka Hoang Hien).
From a product that was once looked down upon, perforated plastic sandals have turned the tables, becoming a style icon in the eyes of young people.
The story of the perforated sandal proves that in fashion, there are no limits that cannot be broken.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/su-troi-day-cua-dep-nhua-duc-lo-tu-tham-hoa-thoi-trang-den-tham-do-quoc-te-20250312111459638.htm
Comment (0)