By this point, I’m sure we’ve all seen the red boots that look like they belong to Boots The Monkey from Dora The Explorer. Celebrities left, and right have been spotted in them, styling them in their own ways, even before their release. These cartoon-like boots have taken the internet by storm and if you’re anything like me, then you love a viral controversial moment.
A Brooklyn-based art collective named MSCHF is responsible for The Big Red boots, which are officially available to the public for $350 this month. Even though they do look like Boot’s boots, they more accurately resemble Astro Boy’s shoes, a Japanese manga character whose big red boots work as rockets. Now, you might be thinking that you’ve never heard of the brand but remember the huge lawsuit Nike filed in 2021 over the “Satan Shoes” in collaboration with Lil Nas X? Yeah, that was against MSCHF. The brand has had its fair share of viral moments in the past, including Grime’s 2021 Met Gala sword look, and it seems that their schtick is making stuff that is, well, experimental. One of my favorites is the AC.1 boot, which literally looks like a medical boot for fractures and sells for $450. Yes, it is strange, but it makes me wonder what the future of fashion is and is it based on these sorts of “high-art” ironic statements.
There is something to be said here about the platform trend and whether it has gone too far (or not far enough?). From the classic Dr. Martens Jadon Boot to the recent emergence of the Moon Boot, the “chunky” shoe seems to be a staple in Gen-Z’s closet. Moon Boots had their own viral moment at the very beginning of 2022, evoking a similar reaction from the internet that the Big Red Boots received. These cartoonish, Bratz-like trends birthed from the culminations of niche corners of the internet are never-ending and have gained tons of mainstream traction. One of my personal favorites is TikTok star Aliyah, who coined her aesthetic as ALIYAHCORE. I would describe ALIYAHCORE as y2k meets alternative and it is safe to say her style has gone mainstream as she’s gained 2.4 million followers just from her styling videos. She is kind of the epitome of the cartoonish, “chunky” look, sporting her fluffy earmuffs, leg warmers, and of course, the Moon Boots.
Essentially, the platform at its core has been a staple since the 90s; we just happened to take it and exaggerate it. I believe a lot of these trends aren’t meant to be taken so seriously because what is fashion if not experimentation? So, if you’re a hater of the Big Red Boots or the Moon Boots, maybe you should appreciate them for pushing the boundaries. I, on the other hand, am obsessed with both. It is fascinating how the digital world has fused with fashion, and I can’t wait to see what other wacky ideas designers come up with.
Words by Beth Rodriguez.
Graphic by Joe Tankersley.