Fashionista takes NYFW with a pair of taxidermied rat boots

Fashion & Beauty

alexa

By Alev Aktar

Some people walk on air, but this woman is hobbling on rats.

On Saturday night, a feral fashionista paraded a pair of black platform boots holding taxidermied rodents on a Chelsea sidewalk. Lights inside the ungainly clodhoppers illuminated the small freeze-dried bodies, which were encased in metal cages. One of the stuffed rodents appeared to be peering out of its pen, black beady eyes glistening in the dark. 

“I don’t want to see that,” said a sickened security guard outside The Blonds show, where the woman shambled in front of the entrance, assisted by a helper. The boot-wearer was so unsteady on her feet that she almost fell down several times before staggering inside to her front-row seat.

The unsafe shoes were built by the New York office of Uncommon Creative Studio – a brand, experience and art collective – in a bid for attention. It worked, as the boots went viral on social media.

“As Uncommon opens our studio [in Manhattan] we wanted to play a part in one of its biggest moments, Fashion Week,” said founder Nils Leonard. “There are 3 million rats and 8 million humans in NY: If New York was a shoe it is these.” 

To give the public something to gnaw on, his firm also created an Instagram account for the shoes, @ratboot_nyc.

“OK I’m listening but what the f–k are y’all saying?” commented a confused follower.

“I LOVE RATBOOT,” added another.

The boots will be auctioned to raise money for Mainely Rat Rescue, a nonprofit that finds forever homes for rehabilitated rats. 

Want to help pocket pests? Scurry up and get your vermin-filled footwear!