Over the past little bit I’ve been contemplating all my favorite designer collaborations, and I realized there was a common thread in all of them… Or should I say, common shoe lace. It seems most (if not all) of my favourite designer & brand collaborations have a strong focus on footwear. I thought I’d share some of my favorites and hope to introduce you to some pairings made in footwear heaven.

BERNHARD WILLHELM x CAMPER

Easily my favourite shoe collaboration of all time, these Bernhard Willhelm for Camper shoes are what dreams are made of. With the ultra thick shoelace and the intricate exposed sole, it really comes down to the design and the details of this shoe. I’ve been lusting for these shoes for years and they’re still at the top of my list.

KENZO x VANS

One of the freshest collaborations to date, these Kenzo for Vans sneakers are available for sale at the ultra-cool Opening Ceremony. This collaboration is one of those partnerships I couldn’t possibly have imagined on my own, but works perfectly now that I see it. At a price point that doesn’t entirely break the bank ($125) it’s definitely a designer collab that can be realistic to most budgets.

JEREMY SCOTT x ADIDAS

Jeremy Scott for Adidas is a season-after-season love affair that thankfully never seems to end. The most recognizable shoe that Jeremy designed for the sportswear label is the infamous winged shoe, a style I couldn’t help but snag myself. For this post I figured I would feature a even more unconventional shoe Jeremy designed for Adidas; the pointed toe cowhide creeper. The amazing thing about this teaming is that you can watch a Jeremy Scott show, see a pair of incredible shoes that you want, and then they’re available a few months later through Adidas at a semi-reasonable price. And really, in what other world would Adidas create a cow print creeper other than in Jeremy Scott’s world? That’s why I love it.

RAF SIMONS x DR. MARTENS

Oh, hi there. Raf Simons for Dr. Martens is a collaboration that speaks for itself. A creative visionary such as Raf can really do no wrong, especially when it comes to tackling an iconic shoe like a Doc boot. Good enough for Dior Couture, good enough for Dr. Martens, good enough for me! I’ll take 5, Raf.

CASSETTE PLAYA x SWEAR

These Cassette Playa for Swear shoes are a bit of a sensitive subject for me. I found these years and years ago before my online shopping addiction began. I found them on sale for a good price (under $100), but opted not to get them because the shipping was something like $30. I honestly regret it to this day. These were far ahead of their time for the whole creeper trend and I feel they would’ve been a treasured piece in my wardrobe. Oh well! You win some, you lose some.

BAND OF OUTSIDERS x SPERRY

Band of Outsiders brings their very current, very classic design aesthetic to the Sperry loafers. The line includes signature styles for the modern gentleman. Something about the inside out print on the tongue is so smart to me. Dare I say… tongue in cheek?

HUSSEIN CHALAYAN x PUMA

Lord knows I love a good sandal, and these Hussein Chalayan for Puma sandals are just my style. Sleek black design with no bells or whistles. Plus at only $100 on Revolve, they are definitely in my price range.

YOHJI YAMAMOTO x ADIDAS

Finishing up the list is one of my favorite ongoing collaborations – Yohji Yamamoto for Adidas, or better known as Y-3. Yohji is most commonly known for designing the classic Adidas trainer with a definite twist. I thought I would share one of my favorite shoes to date from Yohji; these beautiful, classic lace-ups from the Fall/Winer 2011 line. Such intricate details but still so clean and simple. Waaaant!

I hope I opened your eyes to a new pair of shoes or two. If you think I’ve left any key collabs out, make sure to comment and share!

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