Once upon a time, everybody knew that certain shoes were worn for comfort at the expense of fashion. Dad trainers, socks with sandals and even Uggs all signalled a person who valued cosy feet at the expense of ones that looked good.
However, the undisputed king of the ugly/comfy shoe had to be the humble Croc. Part slipper, part rubber clog, in their original heyday no celebrity would be seen wearing them unless they'd hit rock bottom.
Recent years have changed all this, with many previously tacky types of footwear reimagined as fashionable. Always a trailblazer, Crocs have led the renaissance with celebrity collabs and designer knock-offs.
Nicki Minaj has been the latest to join the club. The rapper broke a four-month Instagram silence yesterday to tease a Friday announcement, posting a photo wearing bedazzled pink versions and little else.
True to form, her ecstatic fans quickly crashed the brand's website in search of a copycat version. It confirmed what was already obvious: love them, hate them or simply guiltily enjoy them, Crocs are continuing to have a moment. It's only natural to reflect on that with some memes.
