Era of the Frankenshoes: Why are hybrid footwear becoming so fashionable?

The Star

29-04-2025

Take note of the split toe of these tabi sneakers. Photo: Maison Margiela
When are sneakers not sneakers? When they take the form of sneakerinas instead.
It is currently a trend right now for footwear not to be of a single category, but a fusion of different styles.
Take the sneakerina, for example. This is simply a sneaker combined with a ballerina flat – hence the namesake portmanteau.
In terms of functionality, it is a blend of a casual, comfortable design with a touch of feminine flair.
Model Bella Hadid is believed to be a big fan of sneakerinas. She has been spotted out and about wearing them as part of various looks – effortlessly combining comfort and high fashion with each appearance.
Sneakerinas offer the cool vibe of streetwear, while giving you a feminine appeal. Photo: Vivaia The trend itself is named 'Frankenshoes', alluding to Frankenstein's monster (from the Mary Shelley novel), as these hybrid pieces are often cobbled together from mismatched materials, styles and influences, creating a unique and sometimes eccentric look.
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Just recently, Balenciaga launched a collaborative collection of unconventional footwear.
There is one design that combines the buckle and front strap found on the classic Pescura Scholl sandal with a cork sole and a high heel.
The Scholl clogs, often worn by nurses and cleaners, have also been reimagined as a trendy mesh slip-on.
Last year, New Balance merged sneakers and loafers into snoafers.
The design sparked plenty of buzz, though it might not appeal to everyone's taste.
While each release sells out quickly, some people are saying that snoafers just don't look aesthetically pleasing.
And that is perhaps the crux of the issue here. Frankenshoes are supposed to make you uncomfortable – in how they challenge your expectations of what footwear should look like.
Like how Hadid helped popularise sneakerinas, other celebrities have played a significant role in propelling the Frankenshoe trend into the mainstream.
Style icons like Dua Lipa and Kendall Jenner have been spotted wearing these daring hybrids, often turning heads with their bold and unconventional footwear choices.
By showcasing these pieces at high-profile events and on social media, they amplify their visibility and transform what might otherwise be niche fashion experiments into covetable, statement-making items.
In 2023, MSCHF's big red boots went viral. The cartoonish design made waves across social media platforms.
Also don't forget the Crocs heels that divided opinions seven years ago.
Despite all the ridicule received at that time, the brand continued to push out unique designs: hiking clogs, pool slides, platform shoes and more.
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The Maison Margiela Tabi sneakers have also been a favourite for quite some time now.
There have been numerous iterations of this design, but all with the hallmark split toe design.
Making its debut in 1988, Maison Margiela's Tabi footwear is a cult favourite.
The design is inspired by traditional Japanese socks characterised by having a separate compartment for the big toe.
Since then, the fashion brand has introduced an ever-increasing number of Tabi variations from ballet flats to mary-janes to loafers and brogues.
Which really shows that Frankenshoes are here to stay.
Love them or loathe them, such designs can act to push boundaries – one bizarre, boundary-blurring step at a time.