Shoppers are dropping hundreds of dollars on things that used to be considered too ugly to wear here are the worst examples

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Consumers are spending hundreds of dollars on "ugly" clothes and accessories.

Shoppers are favoring more comfortable, practical clothing, and dressing ugly has become ironic.

We've rounded up some of the ugliest products to be released in the past year.

Ugly fashion is here to stay.

The trend of dressing in ugly clothing and accessories hit its peak in 2017, and it shows no signs of slowing down in 2018.

There are two reasons for this: first, consumers are increasingly favoring comfortable clothing and shoes, which is why practical brands Birkenstock and Crocs are having a comeback.

"It happens every several years" David Kahan, CEO of Birkenstock USA, told Fast Company back in 2016. "The planets line up and Birkenstocks become fashionable again."

Similarly, after falling out of favor around 10 years ago, Crocs' core product, the classic clog, is back in vogue.

"The classic clog has re-emerged as our hero," Terence Reilly, Crocs' chief marketing officer, told The Washington Post.

The second reason is that ugly products have become so ironic that they're now trendy, thanks to designer brands launching their own ugly clothing items. It's an excellent marketing ploy — these unappealing products with large price tags create a backlash and subsequent buzz on social media.

Take a look at some of the products that best exemplify the ugly trend: Balenciaga's triple-soled sneakers, 850

Balenciaga

Don't be fooled — these are not hiking shoes. The bulky sole is purely a fashion statement, which is crafted by combining three different molds taken from running, basketball, and track shoes.

The sneakers have been worn by many celebrities, including Bella Hadid, and are now sold-out online.

Y Project and Ugg collaboration

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Ugg boots are back in vogue.

In January, fashion brand Y Projects partnered with Ugg to create a thigh-high version of the boot. Since then, Rihanna and Sienna Miller have been snapped in the classic style of Ugg boots, according to Vogue.

Ugg has been pulling out equally dubious styles on its own to progress from its classic look. A pair of limited-edition flame boots, designed with Jeremy Scott, are being sold for around 400 at different stores online.

VETEMENTS X Reebok high-top sock sneakers, 840

Matches Fashion

This is a new kind of high-top sneaker. These men's sneakers were trialed in a Hong Kong pop-up in November but are now available online.

See the rest of the story at Business InsiderSee Also:Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, and Gap are resuscitating a trend that millennials have rejected for yearsThis chain wants to be the McDonald's of vegan fast food here's what it's like to eat thereI tried Prime Now, Amazon's 2-hour delivery service and I discovered a glaring flawSEE ALSO: Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, and Gap are resuscitating a trend that millennials have rejected for years

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