The "Ugly" Shoe Trend That You'll Hate Now But Wear Soon

by Nicole Kliest

We talk at great lengths about ugly shoes here. Why? Well, aside from the fact that we live for a heated fashion debate we also believe that despite how "ugly" or "not ugly" a piece may happen to be, if you're seeing it everywhere, then it's worth talking about. Such is the case with ugly shoes. Whether it's sock boots, chunky dad sneakers, toe-ring sandals, or kitten heels, if it's a shoe style that's polarizing, we want in.

This brings us to the topic of today's spotlight: the utility boot. Now, this may not sound as alarming as the previously mentioned footwear (a leather strap around the toe is admittedly not the easiest look to pull off), but it's also fair to argue that pulling off a pair of, say, clunky lace-up boots isn't either. But because we love a challenge and happen to also love a utility boot for winter, we rounded up a few street style outfits illustrating how these boots can be dressed up or down in a cool, weather-appropriate way. We even threw in an edit of our favorite product picks right now so once you're convinced, you can snag your own pair.