Maison Margiela Men’s Spring 2016: Shoe Highlights

Who exactly is the Maison Margiela man? With its recent shift in creative directors, putting John Galliano at the helm, it’s a question the house is still figuring out. As a result, the label’s spring ’16 collection, which showed during Paris Fashion Week, featured a particularly polarizing lineup of footwear.

For a traditionally an experimental, high-concept label, Margiela showed a good portion of decidedly classic looks this season. Pointed-toe leather Chelsea boots were a sleeker style for Margiela, done in brown and black patent, and occasionally amped up in silver metallic.

Then Galliano’s signature wild side came out to play. The boots’ toe shapes were rounded, and golden metal studs were added everywhere for punky effect. The look done in a red leather was especially eye-catching, and more in the vein of Margiela’s  freaky deaky aesthetic.

A take on the crisscross sandal was also offered here, done with suede straps and an extra-wide footbed. The style featured an attached black sock that only covered the toes—a concept we saw at Margiela’s fall ’15 womenswear show, which featured shoes that had attached thigh-high stockings. Call it the anti-toe cleavage shoe.

The more comical looks of the collection are something Margiela has always exceled at, particularly the idea of taking ‘not taking itself too seriously’ very seriously. Because someone needs to remind fashion people to laugh.

For a closer look at Maison Margiela’s spring ’16 shoes, click through the gallery.