Buying "Dad shoes" is one thing. But purchasing new shoes with dirt and tape already on them – for more than $500 – is quite another.
At least that's according to plenty of shoppers who are sharing their anger on social media in response to a pair of shoes being sold on Nordstrom's site for $530. The Golden Goose sneakers, dubbed the "Superstar Taped Sneaker," boast "Crumply, hold-it-all-together tape" and "a grungy rubber cupsole." In other words, the shoes look as though they're dirty and falling apart.
Italian brand Golden Goose also offers plenty of other worn-looking sneakers for upwards of $500. They have a collection that, as it says on their website, includes footwear that combine "a refined and modern style with a vintage feeling."
Worokya Duncan wrote to Nordstrom on Twitter, complaining that the shoes are "awful" and "insensitive." She asked, "Who’s in the room when you design these?"
Nordstrom replied, "We appreciate your feedback. We’re always looking to bring in new, different, and unique products. We realize taste is subjective and not every customer will like every product we carry. Rest assured your comments were shared with our teams. Thank you."
Nordstrom has not responded to USA TODAY's request for comment.
Duncan tweeted back: "This isn’t about taste. It’s about not recognizing that a store, for which I have a card, doesn’t get that poverty isn’t fashionable. I grew up ridiculously poor & could not afford the 'finer' things. That my embarrassment & struggle is being marketed disgusts me."
Other people on social media chimed in that they "wouldn't even take the shoes for free" and "For the low low price of $500, you too can look like you don't have any money!"
In Nordstrom's defense, many buyers shell out extra money for new shirts that appear distressed and pants that are preripped. But scuffed up sneakers? To some, that's taking the worn trend too far.
But Nordstrom's line for what is "too far" seems to be different than the general public's. The company recently sold a pair of PRPS men's pants, caked with fake dirt, for $425; and a pair of Topshop "mom jeans" with see-through knees for $95.
