Contrary to popular belief, the biggest flex of Fashion Week Month is not wearing needlepoint stilettos like Carrie Bradshaw. It is about attending the most prestigious events in comfortable shoes that most people consider “ugly.” It is the ultimate test of one's styling abilities to make the shoes that everyone hates feel appropriate for the biggest designer show in the industry.

Over the years, fashion editors have applied this method of dressing to Birkenstock slides, Asics sneakers, Ugg boots, and even Crocs (courtesy of Simone Rocha). And yesterday, Sorel was officially unveiled as the next functional shoe to be stylishly rebranded.

On September 4, Proenza Schouler opened New York Fashion Week's Spring 2025 season with its RTW Spring collection. While the collection was a master class in tailoring and construction, the eyes of the industry (like Emily Ratakowski and Ella Emhoff, who sat in the front row) were on something further south.

Dressed in pinstripes and dancing fringes, models showed off a new collaboration between Proenza Schooler and Sorel. [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...]