Calvin Klein’s New ‘Dad Shoe’ Sneakers Available

Raf Simons is widely regarded as the forefather of today’s ugly fashion sneaker. (You know the ugly sneaker—it’s the delightfully off-kilter footwear trend we’ve been talking about for months now.) His early collaborations with Adidas and their clunky Ozweego running sneaker date back to 2013, well before the designer-dad-kicks craze swept through contemporary men’s fashion. (Raf’s self-titled label offered similar styles even before that, too.) To date, most of Simons’s work under Calvin Klein 205W39NYC has stayed within a very fashion-y Western aesthetic. The majority of the brand’s current footwear offerings feel ready for a rodeo: ultra-colorful cowboy boots, Western ankle boots with toe plates, and harness-strap calf-leather boots.

That’s why his latest sneaker for Calvin Klein—a clunky lace-up athletic shoe made of napa leather and suede—is an unexpected addition to the lineup. Yes, it has all the makings of a great “ugly” sneaker—extra-chunky sole, bulky silhouette, a mix-and-match of different fabrics—but put in the context of the denim-on-denim looks and cowboy boots, we’re still wondering where exactly this sneaker fits in with the rest of the label.