Jaden Smith has never been afraid to make people uncomfortable with fashion, but his latest footwear creation might be his most polarizing yet.
The 27-year-old actor and musician, who recently stepped into his role as men’s creative director at Christian Louboutin, is once again dominating conversation online after debuting the brand’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection during Paris Fashion Week.
While the collection leaned heavily into what the house described as an “avant black tie” world – where traditional tailoring collided with sculptural art- it wasn’t the sharp suiting or dramatic silhouettes that stole the spotlight. It was the shoes. Specifically, a pair that looks like something pulled straight out of a sci-fi meets Party City fever dream.
Dubbed the Claw Feet, the viral design features an exaggerated five-toe silhouette, furry textured uppers, and oversized claw-like nails that instantly became the internet’s newest nightmare.
According to She Finds, in a behind-the-scenes video, Jaden explained that the inspiration came from a statue he spotted while eating at one of Christian Louboutin’s properties in Portugal. One look at its feet, and the idea was born.
Unsurprisingly, social media wasted no time weighing in. Some Instagram critics were brutal, calling the shoes “simply horrendous,” “ridiculous,” and “a Halloween costume for rich people.”
One person took it a step further, accusing the capsule of representing the devil. “Satanic images being displayed here not dressy or classic for a man at all. This guy has a sick mind,” they wrote.
Others questioned whether luxury fashion’s obsession with shock value has officially gone too far, with many arguing the design feels more performative than wearable.
Still, not everyone was ready to write them off. A surprising number of fans praised Jaden for doing exactly what fashion is supposed to do at its most ambitious: provoke a reaction.
Some admitted they expected to hate the collection but found several pieces genuinely unique, while others applauded him for pushing menswear into stranger, less predictable territory.
The claw controversy arrives just days after his parents broke headlines with their rare appearance. On June 26, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were spotted leaving their hotel in the French capital, looking relaxed and coordinated in shades of pink and burgundy after supporting their son’s Louboutin presentation.
His appointment as men’s creative director signaled a major new chapter, one that extends far beyond designing a few headline-grabbing shoes. Jaden is expected to help shape four collections a year, building what the brand has described as a distinct visual universe rooted in emotion, storytelling, and experimentation.
And that may be the real point behind the Claw Feet.
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