What’s Up with Kanye West’s New Sneaker Socks?

Over the weekend, the hypepriest-in-chief wore a weird pair of booties out to Erewhon.

On Sunday, Kanye West stopped by Erewhon, basically the snake-free Garden of Eden for the Los

Angeles rich and famous, wearing a deep eggplant outfit of slacks, sweatshirt, oversize tee, and…

sock booties? Sneaker-socks? Sooties? Snocks?

Kanye West in sock sneakers

On Sunday, Kanye West stopped by Erewhon, basically the snake-free Garden of Eden for the Los Angeles rich and famous, wearing a deep eggplant outfit of slacks, sweatshirt, oversize tee, and…sock booties? Sneaker-socks? Sooties? Snocks?

West’s shoes are often newsmakers—from his regular Yeezy drip to the undersize pool slides he debuted at 2 Chainz’s wedding last summer—but these are particularly unusual. They appear to be laceless pull-on booties, crafted from neoprene, snugly fitted, and bonded with fabric tape. The super-thin chevron-grid soles extend over the toe.

Over the past several months, West has focused most of his attention on his Sunday Services, a weekly program of gospel performances that culminated in April with a performance at Coachella. Its members insist it is not a church, and yet its sensibility and aesthetic cultivate a highly religious atmosphere.

And footwear has always been an essential part of religion. A little cult book called the Bible is filled with stories about shoes, and Jesus, among other revered figures, was known to go barefoot as a gesture of humility. More recently, Catholic popes have allegedly worn Prada loafers, and their socks alone have become famous objects of desire. The hypepriest phenomenon has also swept American Christianity, with the Instagram account @PreachersNSneakers tracking the hypebeast-level sneakers religious leaders are wearing. The materialism has ruffled some young Christians: “People will follow you if they believe in you, and it has nothing to do with your sneakers,” one Catholic sneakerhead told The Wall Street Journal.

West’s barely-there sneaker is perhaps a move in the other direction, a humbler kind of footwear in an age of excess. If this seems like too close a read, consider that his Coachella performance arrived with a new capsule of merch titled “Church Clothes,” including a pair of “Church Socks” and “Holy Spirit” sweatshirts. Are these shoes meant to suggest that he’s not like the other hypepriests? As sneakers get bigger and bigger—physically and culturally—is West doing some kind of sneaker atonement?

Or maybe they’re just great shoes that are very comfortable for popping into Erewhon when you need a little shot of wheatgrass.

 

Related articles

Happy birthday!! 2Chainz is happy with the Sherp ATV Kanye West gave him for his birthday

Happy birthday!! 2Chainz is happy with the Sherp ATV Kanye West gave him for his birthday For his birthday, Kanye West gives 2Chainz a Russian Sherp ATV…

Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori dares to bare in strapless blue bodysuit – after covering up for outing with his daughter North

Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori dares to bare in strapless blue bodysuit – after covering up for outing with his daughter NorthKanye West’s wife Bianca Censori dares…

Desperate Kanye West Begging Ex Kim Kardashian For Money Help Amid His Financial Woes

Kim Kardashian is raking in the dough as ex-husband Kanye West plows through his dwindling savings – and he’s throwing himself at her feet asking for financial…

Kanye West’s $14m Wyoming Ranch Has Sold – But Rapper Is Still Struggling To Offload His Malibu Home

Kanye West‘s 4,524-acre ranch in Cody, Wyoming has been sold. The Grammy-winning artist, 47, purchased the ranch in late 2019 with ambitious plans involving domes he felt could curb homelessness,…

Meet The Stylish Brainchildren Of Kanye West And Kim Kardashian, Who Are Making Waves In The Fashion World

In the ever-evolving world of fashion, the names Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are synonymous with innovation, trendsetting, and controversy. Both have left indelible marks on the…

Kanye West And His Wife Had A Blast On Their $70 Million Yacht And A Controversial Surprise

Kanye West, the iconic rapper, producer, and fashion designer, never ceases to amaze with his extravagant lifestyle and headline-grabbing antics. Recently, Kanye and his wife were spotted…