Yep, John Lobb Made Dub-monk Sneakers

Yowzers.

So on one hand, I get it. I get that the recent interest in sleek, lux sneakers, shoes more likely to be worn to an opening at the Guggenheim than open-courts at the gym, has encouraged sneaker companies to offer something a bit more dressed up and dress-shoe manufacturers to toy with offerings more dressed down.

I get that, beyond interest, this hybrid segment in footwear is incredibly bloated at the moment as consumers are willing to go to, and even beyond, the $500 price point to acquire that special pair of luxury sneaks’ they’ve fallen for, despite this very segment being a bit long in the tooth at this point. I get that everyone wants a piece of that action, and Hermés (who owns and operates John Lobb’s read-to-wear line) is no different, with this curious pair of rubber-soled suede double-monks coming in just south of $900, despite the fact that the over the better part of the last decade, the double-monk has become footwear’s equivalent to that family member whose turned into such an embarrassment they no longer receive invites to public gatherings.

Nobody wants to be stuck with the sure humiliation and baggage associated with them. I get why Hermés/ John Lobb, would borrow a page from 2010 #menswear Pinterest board, despite their fairly sterling reputations, and despite having the pick of the litter when it comes to design talent.

But on the other hand, I just don’t.

Available for $860 at Leather Soul.