Celebrities have the power to turn the latest footwear styles into must-have items—but what if the season’s hottest shoe isn’t a designer heel, but an Ugg boot?
Indeed, unlikely shoes have turned into red-hot trends with the help of prominent celebrity placement. Below, we highlight unlikely styles that were thrust into the fashion spotlight (with the help of style-savvy A-listers, of course).
Birkenstocks
This year has been a banner year for the Birkenstock sandal. But before becoming a mainstream fashion trend—much thanks to the normcore movement—the comfort sandals experienced much placement amongst a bevy of celebrities. The Olsen twins have been spotted sporting all-black styles with socks, while Julianne Moore, Heidi Klum and Jessica Alba have all worn the traditional Arizona version.
Platform Sneakers
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Though the platform sneaker has since been prominent trend in the footwear market, the 1990s brought the style into the forefront at a time when classic sneaker brands like Nike and Converse were still dominating the scene. So who’s to thank for lifting the sneaker to new heights? The Spice Girls lead the movement, of course, with Baby Spice making the style her signature.
Ugg Boots
Everybody remembers the Uggs craze in the 2000s. While some may look back on the trend with regret, celebrities can be held equally accountable, with stars like Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz and Beyonce all seen sporting the plushy boot. The trend was so strong that even men hopped onto the trend: Orlando Bloom and Ben Affleck wore it as well.
Hunter Wellies
When Kate Moss repeatedly stepped out in Hunter’s Wellington boots at various Glastonbury music festivals, the quintessential rain boot quickly went from practical to fashionable. Since then, a number of celebrities have embraced the rain gear, including Nicole Richie, Ashley Olsen, Hilary Duff and Rachel Bilson.
