These oddly shaped shoes are turning heads from Hollywood to Melbourne's Swanston Street.
First released in the late 1980s, high-end French fashion brand Maison Margiela's cloven-hoof-like tabi shoes were inspired by the Japanese footwear of the same name.
Designer Martin Margiela said he first saw them being worn by construction workers during a visit to Japan.
The brand's range these days include loafers, boots and ballet flats — the most popular retailing for $1,430 a pair.
They even have a rhinestone cowboy-boot style with a price tag of $12,790.
In the West, Margiela's polarising designs have long been a symbol of wealth and style.
But recently a new generation of celebrities have discovered the tabis, bringing them into the public consciousness.
[Source: ABC News]
