Raf Simons’ Bowie-Esque (RUNNER) Boots Have Landed
After a runway appearance in January.


Raf Simons’ FW20 show, which was inspired in part by HBO’s Watchmen, was one of the designer’s most futuristic collections in recent memory: silver base layers, plastic outerwear, and a ‘Solar Youth’ slogan made repeated appearances in an offering that seemed inspired by the space-age of the 1960s.
Its sci-fi influences were also apparent in the show’s footwear: a sleekly minimal take on the Chelsea boot, accented only with a discreet logo at the heel base. Their distinctly Bowie-esque feel was accented by the show’s finale: as the models took their final walkout, a piano cover of “Life on Mars?” played. At the time, the new footwear made it onto our list of the most notable footwear to emerge this season.
The boots have now dropped for the first time with global retailers. As previewed on the runway, they come in either black or white leather, with a notched heel and almond toes. The only other ornamentation on the pair comes from a pull-tab zip along the back.
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RAF SIMONS (RUNNER) AW20 AVAILABLE NOW IN SELECTED STORES #RafSimonsRunner #RSRunner @RafSimons
Though Simons’ best-known footwear is undoubtedly his Ozweego collaboration with adidas, he has slowly been moving away from sneakers: his recent collections have highlighted other options, including heavy-duty leather boots, instead.
The pair are available now from MATCHESFASHION, for $660 USD.
For others looking for an alternative to the sneaker, Dr. Martens has collaborated with NEEDLES on a butterfly-emblazoned take on their signature boot.