The Craziest, Wackiest, Over-the-Top Runway Shoes of 2016

This past year was all about tossing basic shoes aside. For fall ’16 and spring ’17, top designers embraced wacky motifs on shoes including staggering platform soles, over-the-top embellishments and spandex boot-pant hybrids.

Of course, the list of crazy shoes includes a lot of Gucci. Artistic director Alessandro Michele continued the Italian label’s dramatic makeover with new interpretations of its iconic styles (think loafer mules with furs and sequins, or horsebit pumps with staggering platform soles).

Marc Jacobs NYFW spring 2017
https://footwearnews.com/t/marc-jacobs/"; id="auto-tag_marc-jacobs" data-tag="marc-jacobs" >Marc Jacobs NYFW https://footwearnews.com/t/spring-2017/"; id="auto-tag_spring-2017" data-tag="spring-2017" >spring 2017 presentation.
CREDIT: REX Shutterstock.

Meanwhile, Marc Jacobs also topped the list for his continuous use of sky-high platforms. He first showed them for fall with a more goth-inspired aesthetic, but later revived them for spring in his raver-inspired collection. Naturally, Lady Gaga wore them on the streets shortly afterward.

Gucci Resort 2017
Gucci’s resort ’17 collection.
CREDIT: Giovanni Giannoni.

Watch on FN

When it comes to crazy shoes, one can’t forget Demna Gvasalia. Over at Balenciaga, he pushed the envelope for fall with dramatic crystal embellishments on pumps, as well as monstrous platform boots. For spring, he showed spandex boot-pant hybrids.

For his own label, Vetements, Gvasalia showed slouchy thigh-high boots with tattoo-style graffiti. He also collaborated with Manolo Blahnik on over-the-top wader boots, a style that won the Footwear News Achievement Award for Collaboration of the Year.

Balenciaga Fall 2016 Shoes On The Runway
Balenciaga RTW fall ’16 runway collection.
CREDIT: Giovanni Giannoni/Fairchild.
Vetements x Manolo Blahnik Boots
Vetements x Manolo Blahnik boots.
CREDIT: REX Shutterstock.

For 230 slides of crazy shoes, click through the gallery.

View Slideshow

Want more?

The Craziest Runway Shoes From Tokyo Fashion Week

Katy Perry’s Craziest Shoe Moments

The Craziest Runway Shoes From Milan Fashion Week

The Craziest Spring Shoes From the Runways in London

The Craziest Runway Shoes From Paris Fashion Week Spring 2017

Access exclusive content

\