Clear shoes have long been linked to women's fashion, but that idea is beginning to shift.
During the Spring 2027 men's ready-to-wear presentation at Paris Fashion Week, Saint Laurent introduced transparent dress shoes for men, bringing a familiar trend into an unexpected category.
Designed by Anthony Vaccarello, the collection sparked immediate discussion, proving that experimental footwear continues to reshape modern menswear.
Transparent Dress Shoes Steal the Spotlight
For years, shoes made from PVC, TPU, and other transparent materials have remained a steady presence in women's footwear. From towering platform heels to barely-there mules, the style has appeared everywhere from street fashion to luxury runways.
Celebrities including Ciara, wearing Femme LA, and Mindy Kaling in Christian Louboutin have also embraced the trend for different occasions.
Instagram | @fashionbombdaily | Saint Laurent pairs clear dress shoes with classic tailoring to create a bold new menswear look on the runway.
Now, Anthony Vaccarello has adapted the concept for men's formal footwear. The transparent dress shoes appeared in several shades as models walked through a fog-filled runway presentation. The shoes complemented belted coats, relaxed tailoring, and slouchy suits, all reflecting Saint Laurent's signature French design language.
Fashion critic Miles Socha described the collection in WWD, writing, "The designer insisted the work, titled 'Cloud #07145,' was more than a backdrop, feeding his narrative about restraint as a form of seduction. In an unexpected parallel, long, snout-nosed dress shoes, some transparent, were clouded with perspiration amid a Paris heat wave."
Vaccarello also explained the thinking behind the design with a lighthearted remark: "I asked myself: 'Why torture women with plastic shoes, but not men?'"
Mixed Reactions and a Growing Trend
The official @ysl Instagram account shared images of the transparent shoes shortly after the runway show, and the response was sharply divided.
One commenter wrote, "Haven't we been through enough," while another responded with, "NEED OMG." Most reactions leaned toward skepticism, although some viewers welcomed the bold direction. A few even joked that open-toe versions might have received a warmer response.
Instagram | @fashionbombdaily | Saint Laurent leads a new wave of innovation as bold footwear designs reshape modern menswear.
The collection arrives as men's footwear continues to become more experimental. Designers are increasingly moving beyond traditional dress shoes by introducing fresh shapes, materials, and finishes. Christian Louboutin, working with Jaden Smith, has also explored unconventional ideas through designs featuring gradient colors and wide square toes, showing that creative footwear is becoming a stronger part of men's fashion.
Saint Laurent's Spring 2027 collection highlights how fashion boundaries continue to shift. By bringing transparent materials into men's dress shoes, Anthony Vaccarello challenged a trend that had largely belonged to women's footwear for years.
Whether the style becomes widely accepted or remains a runway statement, its debut has already generated conversation and added another unexpected chapter to the ongoing evolution of men's fashion.