The uglification of fashion has over the last few years become big business. Chunky dad sneakers, baggy jeans, thick-soled Teva sandals worn with socks for an added dose of gross, has made the leap from “no way” to “yes, please.” Fashion thrives on diverting from the norm, and throwing up the proverbial middle finger to the traditional idea of good taste. Influencers constantly looking to update their social media feed are pushing the trend for ugly to the extreme. Currently fashion champions those that embrace individuality and buck traditional looks opting instead for strange combinations of clothing to showcase the ultimate in personal uniqueness.

The style has been in traction for a while now. Back in 2011, Christopher Kane debuted a pool slide usually only ever seen on uncouth tourists from Europe, followed in 2017 by a continuing collaboration with Crocs. The year 2012 saw Phoebe Philo, then creative director at Céline singlehandedly give fashion cred to the orthopedic Swedish shoe Birkenstock by adding a mink lining. Sales have skyrocketed. What many of these styles have in common is practicality and comfort. Shoes brands such as UGG, Birkenstock and Crocs have built lasting businesses out of functional products. Loose, high-waisted mum jeans and bucket hats might fall out of fashion, but eventually their practicality sees them on rerun. Comfort sells. At the top end designers have taken notice. Gucci and Balenciaga see the trend for functional fashion such as the belt bag, pool slides and buckets hats as a gateway product for those interested in owning a piece of their collections, as these products often come in at cheaper price points. Plus, unlike sky-high heels, these comfortable items have the added bonus of being worn on a regular basis giving designers more exposure.

As for me, I have decided to let the dad sneaker trend pass me by. There’s only so much ugly I can herald. But I’m not immune to a functional fashion trend. Oh, how I love thee, my hands-free belt bag (this English gal will not be uttering the words “fanny pack.” Look up the meaning and give yourself a laugh). I have several incarnations in rotation, and I’m certainly not the only one championing its practicality as online high-end retailer Net-a-porter.com currently has 72 belt bags listed on its website. It’s hard to resist its usefulness.

Fall’s new crop of ugly fashion includes exaggerated shoulder pads as seen at Gucci and Dr. Marten-style, combat boots. Fashion has always had a thing for reinvention, making the unimageable into a must-have.

Kim Smith has been a professional wardrobe stylist in Honolulu since 2004. Born a true Londoner, Smith had a successful career in public relations in the fashion industry in London for more than eight years before moving to Hawai‘i in 2002. Smith’s work spans a vast array of magazines, retailers and television as well as working with individual clients on their specific style needs. See her work at kimsmithstyle.com.