Saint Laurent has unveiled a new menswear collection for Spring-Summer 2027 that has drawn a strong negative reaction from the public, particularly a pair of completely transparent oxford-style dress shoes. The collection, presented earlier this month at Paris Fashion Week, features footwear made of PVC plastic that fully exposes the wearer's feet.
Designer Anthony Vaccarello, who also presented clear-detailed heels in his Fall 2026 line, reportedly quipped during the show, "I asked myself: 'Why torture women with plastic shoes, but not men?'" The transparent shoes have quickly gone viral on social media platforms like X, formerly Twitter, where users expressed a range of visceral reactions.
Comments on social media ranged from expressions of disbelief and disgust to jokes about foot odor and hygiene. One user wrote, "What in the foot fetish hell!?" while another commented, "My feet are sweating just looking at this." Concerns about the practicality and aesthetic appeal of the transparent shoes were widely shared, with some users humorously suggesting the shoes could lead to a "walking pair of toe fungus."
In an interview translated from French, Vaccarello described the shoes as offering the sensation of "walking barefoot" while maintaining the appearance of a classic men's shoe. The trend of transparent footwear has also been seen on celebrities, with figures like Kim Kardashian and Chase Infiniti having previously worn shoes with clear elements.
Vaccarello has been the creative director at Saint Laurent since 2016, having previously held creative director roles at Versus Versace and leading his own namesake brand. His work has also extended to styling and dressing notable figures such as Madonna and Zoë Kravitz.