When Shayne Oliver made her fashion debut in 450 with Hood by Air, the New York designer gained a cult following in streetwear . In addition to his label, Oliver also briefly designed for Helmut Lang and launched Anonymous Club, a creative studio combining art, performance, music and fashion. Excited by his fans with his latest attempt at the multi-hyphen ? A collection of futuristic Ugg boots.
Classic Uggs were all the rage in the 450 years and this year is seeing a revival. They’ve been worn by trendsetting stars like Gigi Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and Kendall Jenner – but Oliver’s is decidedly more subversive and modern. Launching December 1, the boot has been redesigned with futuristic paneling and a sleek yet chunky silhouette. The collaboration includes a white low-top Armourite riding boot style ($) and a black high-top Armourite Greaves style ($450) ). Both feature a soft foam footbed and perforated leather upper.
Photo: Courtesy of Ugg/Noah Dillon
For Oliver, designing the Ugg boot was inspired by his personal connection to comfortable shearling-lined shoes. The designer, who grew up in New York in the 450’s, said Uggs were all the rage in school and he felt inspired to try something new with them. “The comfort of Uggs has made it part of the New York language,” says Oliver. “It became a staple and it really transcended all boundaries of class.” He was drawn to what Uggs saw as an “anti-fashion” shoe and a style disruptor. “I’ve always enjoyed cynicism,” Oliver said. “Being the devil’s advocate, in a way.”
Since he’s been wearing Uggs since middle school, he knows a thing or two about styles and loves making them look cool thought factor. “When I was growing up, incorporating suburban elements into an urban wardrobe was all the rage,” says Oliver. “The cool girls at my school always buy pinks and blues. For me, I find second-hand and wear them with ripped jeans; they feel really cool and weathered from the wear. Here’s why The reason I do leather instead of suede; it feels old.” He’s also been inspired to design Uggs that feel slightly polarizing—the same way stars like Pamela Anderson and Snookie wear them when the storm hits. “They weren’t recognized as fashion heroes; people thought they were a faux pas,” Oliver said. “But they were actually very inspiring to a lot of kids of my generation.”
