It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that wearing socks and sandals is the ultimate fashion faux pas. I can't explain why; I can't even rationalise it beyond a vague sense of nausea, but socks and sandals are just one of those big sartorial no-nos.

When it comes to sandals, Crocs are also often derided by fashionistas for their appearance, and so the idea of putting socks and Crocs together for any reason other than as a rhyme in a rap, would probably be declared totally bonkers by anyone in vogue.

However, now a new type of Croc is apparently available, which aims to marry the two piece of footwear together, by actually attaching the sock to the sandal. Genius, or insanity? The internet can't make up its mind.

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Yes, it appears that Crocs have teamed up with the streetwear company Alife, to unleash an all-new collection of their multicoloured plastic shoes on the world.

They outwardly resemble an ordinary pair of regular Crocs, but with a pair of tube socks attached to them. Very retro! Sadly, if you were thinking of purchasing them as some kind of novelty gif, then the price might put you off the idea more than the aesthetic. These bad boys will set you back $140 for a pair. Ouch.

However, some social media users have defended socks and sandals: 

1. 

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2. 

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3. 

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4. 

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5. 

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6. 

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7. 

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However, this isn't the first time we've written about a strange fashion trend. Check out this piece all about Croc-inspired handbags. Yeah, I'm not making this up.

Fashion. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Whatever it is, you're right. Fashion is subjective. Although sometimes there are trends, those waves of collective thought were people think, "Oh yeah, that looks good." We love fashion trends; some years, the color schemes are absolute perfection. Other trends, we'd rather like to forget ever happened. Everyone knows ASOS. They're a pretty on-trend fashion brand, but here are 30 trends that are a bit much...

[post_page_title]#1 Furry Heels[/post_page_title]

Granted, not the worst, but definitely not something I would be caught dead in. I mean, imagine getting hit by a bus in these and the arriving paramedics at the scene have to see you in shoes that make you look like you skinned a poodle?

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[post_page_title]#2 I'd Like to Keep it On Please[/post_page_title]

Any Drag Race fans out there? Show of hands. Yep, I'm pretty proud of that caption, if I do say so myself. However, what I wouldn't be proud of is wearing this mask. The only reason you should be wearing this ugly thing is if you've forgotten the words to Ariana's "Greedy"...even if it is mostly a chorus of like three words.

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[post_page_title]#3 This Bag[/post_page_title]

Ok, I'm a little torn by this one. It's actually really kind of cute. However, the reason that I put it on the list is that it's so not useful! I'm a writer, so immediately I'm like no, no, no... all my pens will fall out. But not just that. Imagine being a normal girl. Where are the tampons going to go? I'm sorry, but I can't have that kind of negativity in my fashion life.

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[post_page_title]#4 Safety Bra[/post_page_title]

In solidarity with my big-boobed sisters out there, this is a no. Can you imagine being anything bigger than a double-A cup? You'd get arrested for indecent exposure trying to wear this out of the house. Plus what is up with the buckle?

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[post_page_title]#5 What Even Is It?[/post_page_title]

At first, I thought it was chains. Then I thought it was bubble wrap. Then I gave up and just concluded that it was hideous. I mean, seriously. Even the hot model can't make this thing look good. You know that it's a lost cause when even the model can't save the garment.

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[post_page_title]#6 All Year Halloween Wear[/post_page_title]

If Halloween is your thing and you want to look like you're wearing a costume all year long, then, by all means, this is for you. But if not, then this outfit is going too far. It just makes you look either like Oogie Boogie - but like hot - or it makes you look like an abandoned baseball in a dog park that you find in the bushes.

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[post_page_title]#7 I Can't[/post_page_title]

I can't even. That's really all I can say about this look. I don't even know what it is. It's just like... a hamburger that you put on your head. Why?! ASOS, you definitely have gone too far with this one. You can't even call it "high fashion" anymore, it's just weird.

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[post_page_title]#8 A Felony in the Making[/post_page_title]

You know how your life can change in an instant? That is exactly what would happen if you wore these pants out in public and forgot to add the underpants. You'd definitely end up on a list... particularly if you live anywhere close to a park or school.

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[post_page_title]#9 Festive Socks or Stockings?[/post_page_title]

So, what is the purpose of these? Are they socks or stockings? Not that it would make much of a difference, they're still disgusting. I just want to satisfy my own curiosity. They look like something a kid would wear at Christmas time... and even then, I wouldn't let my child run around in these.

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[post_page_title]#10 Influencer Shorts[/post_page_title]

Influencers on Instagram love to flaunt their assets. Well, I just found the source of their jeans. This denim belt is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Plus, I would think that ASOS would have figured out by now that the 80s and 90s are over, we've moved past the denim on denim trend. Let it go.

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[post_page_title]#11 Male Crop Top[/post_page_title]

With all those hairy dad bods out there, the male crop top is probably a bad idea... unless he's ripped. Oh, wait, you don't like what I'm saying? I should be more respectful of all body types... funny that. That is exactly what I've been saying, only it's women that are getting body shamed. So yeah, if you want to defend your dad bod then embrace women's extra curves, cellulite, and stretch marks. But seriously though, that male crop top has got to go. It's stupid.

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[post_page_title]#12 Bake at 350 for 1 Hour[/post_page_title]

This one is a hard pass. If this look is what you're going for, it would be cheaper just to wrap yourself in aluminum foil. But seriously, please don't. You'll only end up looking like a potato that is ready for the oven. And everyone hates a baked potato.

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[post_page_title]#13 Denim on Denim[/post_page_title]

Can I get a hell no? Hell no! This atrocious look is all kinds of wrong. It's jeans and a skirt combined. On its own, maybe both could be incorporated into a cute outfit, but together it's just wrong. Why would anyone want to wear these things together? It looks like you ran out of room in your suitcase and had to get creative while going through security at the airport.

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[post_page_title]#14 This Rainbow Jacket[/post_page_title]

Does anyone remember "The Rainbow Fish" from when they were a kid? Well, now you can apparently dress up like the titular main character from the children's book. This is great as a pride or Halloween look, but there is little beyond that where it would be appropriate to wear this jacket.

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[post_page_title]#15 His and Hers Curtain Editions[/post_page_title]

You know what I've always wanted to look like? My grandma's curtains from 1955. And what's more, I want bae to get in on the fun as well. Yeah, that's exactly what this outfit is screaming. Personally, it just makes me want to scream. Period.

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[post_page_title]#16 The Martians Have Landed[/post_page_title]

The little green men from Mars have finally made it to our planet. Oh, wait, no. It's just another terrible outfit, courtesy of ASOS. There is just too much shine going on. On the bright side, it's the perfect outfit to go storming Area 51 in.

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[post_page_title]#17 Gentlemen, Start Your Engines[/post_page_title]

Drag Race fans know that Mama Ru loves her colorful suits when out of drag. And Ru definitely knows how to pull off those wild colors and prints. But only Ru can do that. This ASOS creation would look terrible on anyone else. The only person I can see this being acceptable on is RuPaul, but I don't think he'd ever wear this unless it was Klein Epstein and Parker.

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[post_page_title]#18 I Give Up[/post_page_title]

When I was like 15, I tried to make cut-off shorts from an old pair of jeans. I immediately regretted it, since I looked like I'd been attacked by a wild animal. Now if only I'd had some hardware on me, I could've fixed them. That is exactly what this looks like: trying to fix some cut-off shorts you didn't mean to make. And it's awful. I give up.

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[post_page_title]#19 Get Out[/post_page_title]

Can I just say that as a feminist, I find this highly offensive. If someone showed up at my door wearing this, I'd make them leave. It's not funny, it's crude. We live in a world where women are constantly being the target of body shaming and harassment, yet we have to contend with this s**t during the holidays too? Nope, get out.

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[post_page_title]#20 The Fascinating Fascinator[/post_page_title]

When I think holiday fascinator, I think something cute and sparkly. Instead, this looks like you stuck your five-year-old's holiday felt project on your head and called it macaroni. It's just terrible! Why would anyone want to wear that to Thanksgiving or anywhere really? Holiday season or not, it's just a big no-no.

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[post_page_title]#21 Raggedy Ann[/post_page_title]

You know what I really want to wear? Raggedy Ann's clothes, but make it fashion. Yeah, said no one ever. If you want to look like a sad voodoo doll then, by all means, go ahead and wear this, but just know, you're going to look ridiculous. Don't say I didn't warn you.

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[post_page_title]#22 You Don't Know Me[/post_page_title]

Can we please stop assuming that all women eat salads and love pink? Just, no. I don't eat "girly" salads, and I don't put my lunches into pink tote bags. I eat my lunch over the sink in my PJs like the savage-work-from-home-writer that I am. Can we please put that on a green tote bag instead?

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[post_page_title]#23 You've Got Quite a Tail[/post_page_title]

Remember when women wore hoop skirts for a fashion statement? They were got very cumbersome and often would catch on fire if a woman got too close to a fireplace. That's what these shorts remind me of. They look completely impractical and stupid. Unless it's Halloween don't wear it. Burn it instead.

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[post_page_title]#24 The Boob Harness[/post_page_title]

"If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all," we've all been told this as children. And it was a great lesson. For the most part, we hold our tongue before speaking. So listen up, I've got a new life lesson for some of you to learn. If you don't have anything nice to wear, just stay at home naked.

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[post_page_title]#25 A Christmas Ornament[/post_page_title]

Christmas ornaments are for decoration. They're not for toting around your lipstick and phone and wallet on a night out. In fact, I doubt any of them could even fit into this tiny little rat purse. Instead of using this for a bag, you'd be better off just hanging it on your Christmas tree. It's such a terribly impractical item to own.

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[post_page_title]#26 This Poo Bag[/post_page_title]

No. Just no. I can't say it enough. No. No. No. No. It's a bag that has poop on it! What are we, 12-year-old boys? There's nothing amusing about this bag. I would be so embarrassed to exit my house wearing that thing. There really is no need to even have that bag in existence. It's not cute or funny, it's a terrible idea.

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[post_page_title]#27 This Scarf[/post_page_title]

Fur scarves shouldn't be a thing. I mean, poor little bunnies. But this scarf definitely shouldn't be a thing because it's so heinous looking. The colors are awful. The fact that it has got fur is even more awful. And to top it all off, can someone please explain to me why the fur on it is in balls?

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[post_page_title]#28 Tiny Bathrobe[/post_page_title]

This looks like a bathrobe that shrunk in the wash. It should definitely not be worn out of the house as a jacket. It should just not be worn. Period.

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[post_page_title]#29 Satan's Sandals[/post_page_title]

Ever wonder what Satan wears down in hell since it's so hot all the time? Well, here you go. These buckled, furry sandals look like something that you'd wear in the seventh circle because they're just that awful. It makes your foot look hooved.

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[post_page_title]#30 Half a Jacket[/post_page_title]

All I can picture when I see this is David Attenborough narrating, "And the millennial molting season has begun. Soon, these near-homeless millennials will leave their summer beaches in search of their pumpkin spice lattes and avocado toasts." I'm a millennial myself, so it's not ageist when I say it. But seriously, this jacket is awful.

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Ariana Grande is one of the most fashionable celebrities out there right now, and her peerless sense of style has won her almost as many fans as her music has. Everything she wears looks fantastic, and she's become such a style icon that she's now launched a fashion line in collaboration with Lipsy London. But one of her most iconic features has got to be her famous ponytail. Seriously, the girl never lets her hair down, and the long ponytail has become synonymous with her.

But now, Ariana has apparently made the shocking decision to chop her ponytail off and embrace a new, post-Pete break hairdo. At least, that's what her latest Instagram post seems to suggest. The musician took to the social media site on Thursday to post a captionless photo of her fresh bob, along with a cute little cat filter as well.

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Fans immediately noticed that she'd changed her look, and opinion appeared to be sharply divided on the cut. One Instagram-user wrote: "I think it's Soooo much better!!! But....you're always beautiful and you must do what YOU think is good for you [sic]," while another added: "Ari, you really inspire me, thank you so much :)."

Previously, Grande admitted that her ponytail actually hurt a lot. When Grande-fan Camila Cabello expressed her exasperation about how painful it was to wear her hair in a ponytail, she tweeted the star saying: "I just did a high ponytail for the first time and it is literally pulling on my BRAIN ITS SO PAINFUL HOW DO YOU DO IT @ArianaGrande." Lo and behold, Grande promptly replied: "well u actually have hair so that prolly makes it a lil more painful ..... nah jk i’m in constant pain always and don’t care at all. [sic]"

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There is actually a reason why Ariana always wears the same style. In an extensive Facebook post, she explained that: "Since people give me such a hard time about my hair I thought I'd take the time to explain the whole situation to everybody. I had to bleach my hair and dye it red every other week for the first four years of playing Cat ... as one would assume, that completely destroyed my hair. I now wear a wig on Sam & Cat. [sic]"

The 'Thank U, Next' songstress added: "My real hair is back to brown and I wear extensions but I wear it in a ponytail because my actual hair is so broken that it looks absolutely ratchet and absurd when I let it down. I tried wigs, they looked RIDICULOUS. Tried a weave because I am working on a new project and want to try some different looks and literally wanted to rip my scalp off. So as annoying as it is for y'all to have to look at the same hairstyle all the time, it's all that works for now."

Personally, I think Ariana will look good no matter her style. Even if she went completely bald overnight, I think she'd still rock it; don't you?

 

If this summer can be defined by anything, it's probably the resurgence of the humble Croc into public discourse. For years, Crocs have been derided as something of a fashion faux pas; the undeniably comfortable, but ultimately not-very-stylish shoe have long been a synonym for fashion ineptitude.

Yet, over the last couple of months alone, stories of new weird and wonderful Crocs designs have been popping up the world over. We've been confronted with Goth Crocs with metal studs, Wedding Crocs for your special day, Crocs handbags for those who just can't get enough functionality in their lives, and even Crocs with socks, for the ultimate dad-at-a-bbq vibe.

It would seem that someone over at Nike has been paying attention the renaissance of the Croc, because the giant trainer brand has just come out with a new sandal.

Allow me to introduce to you the Air Force 1 VTF.

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Nike reckons this shoe will help you stand out from the crowd, and it's not difficult to see why. With an elastic strap for ease of slipping on and off, the shoe has many features of a classic Nike shoe design. Here's what the company has to say about the new sandal;

"The Nike Air Force 1 VTF has all the elements of the classic look in a slingback design. An elastic strap is easy to take on and off. Glittery and metallic details help you stand out from the crowd."

According to Hypebae, the sneaker also has an "Air-Sole unit" to provide cushioning for extra comfort. The Air Force 1 VTF currently retails for $90, and is available in kids' sizes up to age seven.

Katy Perry has issued a formal apology after being lambasted on the internet over shoes in her new fashion line.

Earlier this week, the singer pulled a particular style of shoe from her fashion range, after critics accused the design of promoting blackface.

Perry's 'Rue Face Slip-On Loafers' and 'Ora Face Block Heel Sandal' (which cost the hefty price of $129 per pair at Dillard's and Walmart) were discontinued from certain stores as a result, but soon word of the shoes had spread and fuelled further outrage and condemnation.

Despite the fact that the footwear came in a variety of colours, many people pointed out that the black leather shoes combined with the facial features somewhat resembled the black face paint and racial caricatures used in minstrel shows. On social media, the reaction to the shoes has been mostly negative, with many users ridiculing their appearance.

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One Twitter user wrote: "Regarding Katy Perry’s shoes; if you have to second guess whether a design is blackface/racist...it probably is. 'Reaching' or not, information is too readily accessible for this to occur."

Someone else added: "So Katy Perry has a blackface shoe and Gucci has a blackface turtleneck. I'm trying to figure out why they're both acting clueless as to how this happened."

Now, Perry has come forward to formally apologise for any offence caused by her footwear. In an official statement, Perry said: "The Rue and The Ora were part of a collection that was ... envisioned as a nod to modern art and surrealism. I was saddened when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to painful images reminiscent of blackface. Our intention was never to inflict any pain. We have immediately removed them from Katy Perry Collections."

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This isn't the first example of so-called blackface clothing to provoke controversy in the world of fashion. Earlier this month, major designer brand Gucci was forced to make an apology over a polo neck jumper, after receiving an online backlash from critics who perceived it as racist.  The black balaclava sweater, from their 2018 Fall Winter collection, caused an uproar on social media.

In a contrite official statement addressing the issue, they said: "Gucci deeply apologizes for the offence caused by the wool balaclava jumper. We can confirm that the item has been immediately removed from our online store and all physical stores. We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.

"We are fully committed to increasing diversity throughout our organization and turning this incident into a powerful learning moment for the Gucci team and beyond."