Balenciaga is no stranger to coming out with sneakers that make people turn their heads out of curiosity. The luxury fashion house’s latest drop, which is a delightful combination of super cool and strange, is no exception. Enter the limited-edition Balenciaga x Vibram collab, which will officially be available starting Friday, October 16.
The fashion world got its first look at these sneakers last March during Paris Fashion Week as part of the label’s Fall-Winter 2020-2021 collection. But now, they’re available for the world to see — and buy! Each of the three styles will cost $1,290. Please see below to experience (or re-experience) the collection’s unexpected catwalk debut.
For some background, Vibram is an Italian footwear company that’s known for its double-take worthy FiveFinger shoes that replicate the experience of being barefoot. When you type “running shoes with toes” or “hiking shoes with toes” into your Google Search bar, it’ll come up with shopping recommendations for — you guessed it — Vibram. Over the years, plenty of celebrities have stepped out in the unique kicks, including Kristen Stewart, Kate Hudson, Channing Tatum…and the list goes on.
The collaboration features three styles — one sneaker and two sock-inspired shoes — that are available in men’s and women’s sizing. Each shoe is made from recycled knit and features Vibram’s well-loved rubber sole. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a limited-edition collaboration without logo details from both brands on the shoes.
The first of the three styles is a lace-up sneaker featuring a cool suspension heel that we imagine will quite literally put some pep in your step.
As Cardi B once said, well, rapped, she likes “those Balenciaga’s, the ones that look like socks.” And lucky for her, the Balenciaga x Vibram collection includes two Toe Sock styles. The first resembles the sneaker with its suspension heel. But as you see below, the rest of it resembles a sock. Unlike the lace-up sneaker, which is just available in black, this style also comes in red.
The second iteration of the Toe Sock is an epic heeled bootie that comes in pink and black. It has a foam insole that will trick you into thinking you’re not wearing heels. Hell, you might even be able to get a workout in.
