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Original poster

Clarks WTAF?

211 replies

Bananararity · 17/05/2025 16:20

90% of my work shores are from Clarks and have been for years. I get this is a collaboration but honestly? Or am I really out of touch and this is what I need to be wearing.

Absolutely love the shade of blue though.

www.clarks.com/en-gb/Martine-Rose-Heel-Womens/26183327-p

OP posts:
cumbriaisbest · 21/05/2025 13:57

Bananararity · 17/05/2025 16:55

I’m actually angered by them. If they were the usual court shoe they do in that colour with a heel I’d have bought them - probably two of them. But they’ve taken something that usually sells and made it look as though it’s been jammed in a door. Any they trebled the price.

Who is the target market here?

Crazy people?

Greyexpectations · 21/05/2025 13:03

Padloque · 21/05/2025 12:52

The thing is, though, they're not really meant to be SHOE shoes. They're a visual statement that, hey, Clarks are down with high-concept fashion designers, who in turn take Clarks seriously, OK? Look, we're still at the forefront of the cordwaining industry! They're not expecting you to buy them to wear to a wedding in St Mary Mead (although if you love them...). At £250 a go, they've probably made 3 in each size, and sent 2 of those 3 pairs to influencers.

It's like when Fiat unveils a car that runs on pinot grigio at a motor show, or McDonalds develops a burger made from locusts - it's to prove they can, and to make you talk about how clever it is. I don't know if they've hit a bit of a bum note with this particular concept, in the current economic climate.

No one is making concept shoes at £250.

I have some mad impractical but beautiful (and uncomfortable) hiking boots that were sold for nearly £1000. They were a gift from a friend who worked at the brand, because I’m not insane, but £250 is nothing.

Even a pair of fugly Nike trainers is over £150 these days, and they are mass produced.

Padloque · 21/05/2025 12:52

The thing is, though, they're not really meant to be SHOE shoes. They're a visual statement that, hey, Clarks are down with high-concept fashion designers, who in turn take Clarks seriously, OK? Look, we're still at the forefront of the cordwaining industry! They're not expecting you to buy them to wear to a wedding in St Mary Mead (although if you love them...). At £250 a go, they've probably made 3 in each size, and sent 2 of those 3 pairs to influencers.

It's like when Fiat unveils a car that runs on pinot grigio at a motor show, or McDonalds develops a burger made from locusts - it's to prove they can, and to make you talk about how clever it is. I don't know if they've hit a bit of a bum note with this particular concept, in the current economic climate.

lilacmamacat · 21/05/2025 10:50

Pretty colour, and would be a reasonable shape if all that dross was trimmed off, but as they are, they look like the sole is two sizes bigger that the shoe. Tops marks for the designer bullshit description though.

lilacmamacat · 21/05/2025 10:47

PansyPottering · 17/05/2025 17:59

Wowzers. 😵 I hope my algorithm isn’t going to be fucked after looking at those!

Cant believe these snake skin boomerang heeled loafers are in the sale.

Those are hilarious. Is anyone going to even buy them in the sale?

AngryLikeHades · 21/05/2025 10:06

LittleBearPad · 18/05/2025 07:36

They’re to generate interest from fashion press. They won’t sell many but they don’t intend to. They’ve achieved one of their aims through this thread which is to drive clicks to their website.

You may well be tight about that, but why do they not intend to sell any? They are ugly as f!

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2025 09:03

The woman who likes sometimes a bit different and doesn’t want to look like everyone else. God forbid that we shouldn’t all be sheep.

Picklelily99 · 21/05/2025 01:04

My god, they see us coming sometimes, don't they? The gullible, the fool who is easily parted from their money, the simpleton who will buy what she's been told is the new 'must have'.

8u5W8nk3r · 20/05/2025 22:28

Has anyone said yet that the brown ones look like a pasty?

Teddy1949 · 20/05/2025 19:32

Are they meant to be a work of art, you certainly couldn’t wear them without them looking even more tatty within the day.

Summersun9 · 20/05/2025 18:12

They have to be amongst the worst shoes I have ever seen.

Annascaul · 20/05/2025 16:42

Bananararity · 20/05/2025 15:34

Ok. I can actually see a rationale for them. When you can’t decide between a heel and a sport shoe. And who doesn’t want a shoe on a hue of ‘safety orange’!

Edited
Show quote history

You could get around that by wearing two odd shoes, not a pair of two odd shoes cobbled together.

Original poster
Bananararity · 20/05/2025 15:34

Tenducks · 20/05/2025 13:57

Some people have no shoes and some people have so many they are bored enough to buy these.

Ok. I can actually see a rationale for them. When you can’t decide between a heel and a sport shoe. And who doesn’t want a shoe on a hue of ‘safety orange’!

OP posts:
Tenducks · 20/05/2025 13:57

Some people have no shoes and some people have so many they are bored enough to buy these.

Clarks WTAF?
KimberleyClark · 20/05/2025 13:51

Zimunya · 19/05/2025 12:11

Trans women are the target market, I imagine. Clarks actively supported the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender people, through collaborations and campaigns.

Show quote history

Why do you think transwomen would want to wear shabby, unfinished looking shoes?

Worrywort98 · 20/05/2025 13:44

Bananararity · 17/05/2025 16:20

90% of my work shores are from Clarks and have been for years. I get this is a collaboration but honestly? Or am I really out of touch and this is what I need to be wearing.

Absolutely love the shade of blue though.

www.clarks.com/en-gb/Martine-Rose-Heel-Womens/26183327-p

My shoes look like this after aggressively wearing them 24/7 for a year haha

SurferRona · 19/05/2025 22:27

I love them, very much. Witty. I’d wear them a lot and smile whenever I looked down, Hope they do go into the sale as I’d never buy shoes at that price 🤞👠

Chumbawomble · 19/05/2025 21:49

I love shoes but haven't bought any Clark's since the kids left school. Just awful overpriced cack imo.

YourSignalFadedIntoAnotherWorld · 19/05/2025 18:45

Fuck my eyes!

Who wants intentionally distressed shoes? Buy a second hand pair for £20 on Ebay and you're golden.

Just effed up.

HollieHock · 19/05/2025 18:26

Hilarious. Who are their target customers I wonder.

DBD1975 · 19/05/2025 16:19

They will be in the sale!

puffyisgood · 19/05/2025 15:55

I think on balance they're just meant to be a little bit of [overpriced] fun.

CertainUncertain · 19/05/2025 14:55

Greyexpectations · 19/05/2025 13:23

is there literally anything on MN that doesn’t allow trans to be shoehorned (!) in??

It’s much more likely that this London-Jamaican designer is appealing to the Clark’s cult following in the Caribbean. The brand gets name checked a lot in lyrics and they sell loads over there.

Laughing so hard at all the outraged comments on here. How dare Clark’s design shoes outside the comfort zone of frumpy suburban women. M&S will be doing lace knickers next!

Show quote history

Thank you!

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 19/05/2025 13:36

Greyexpectations · 19/05/2025 13:23

is there literally anything on MN that doesn’t allow trans to be shoehorned (!) in??

It’s much more likely that this London-Jamaican designer is appealing to the Clark’s cult following in the Caribbean. The brand gets name checked a lot in lyrics and they sell loads over there.

Laughing so hard at all the outraged comments on here. How dare Clark’s design shoes outside the comfort zone of frumpy suburban women. M&S will be doing lace knickers next!

Show quote history

Agreed Greyexpectations
Martine Rose is a well known and established designer, 20 years in the trade. Her background is British Jamaican. She makes men's and women's clothing and footwear.

I'm not a fan as the clothes and shoes are street/urban, which aren't my thing. Kendrick Lamar and Rhianna are celebrity fans.

This thread has hit new levels of ridiculousness.