Highsnobiety
Double Tap to Zoom
The Shoe Surgeon
1 / 5

Prolific sneaker customizer Dominic "The Shoe Surgeon" Ciambrone is capitalizing on DONDA fever with a spiky pair of YEEZY 700s inspired by the weapon-like, bear-fighting Balenciaga jacket Kanye West wore to his Atlanta listening party for the album.

All-black from head to toe (or rather, laces to outsole), the 700s are studded with hefty silver spikes across the upper, latter, medial, and heel. Hits of tonal snakeskin-embossed paneling add extra texture to the already extra shoe.

They're kicks that — just like their Balenciaga inspiration — scream "look but don't touch." It's a saying that happens to sum up Ye's public persona, an image he's been cultivating for years.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

The rapper's barbed personality became a topic of heated discussion around the time he began voicing support for Donald Trump, whom he eventually met with one-on-one at the White House.

His seemingly never-ending stream of headline-grabbing gaffes (the Twitter rants, his assertion that slavery was a "choice," even that infamous VMAs moment) have turned him into something of an antihero, a pariah who, at the same time, is an icon to scores of people who see a bit of themselves in his troubled character — or just enjoy being contrarian.

Your Highsnobiety privacy settings have blocked this Instagram post.

Endless controversy is no match for the cult of Kanye, though. He's managed to remain at the top of everyone's mind (and the tip of everyone's tongue), despite all the distasteful stuff he's done. Simply put, Kanye West is untouchable.

Though we doubt Ye made a conscious decision to wear that spiked Balenciaga jacket as an allegorical representation of his public persona, it sure makes for a great story — and ultimately, that's what he's all about.

To stay updated on everything happening in the sneaker world, follow @highsnobietysneakers on Instagram, check out the best sneakers to add to your rotation this week, and sign up to our newsletter for the latest sneaker news sent straight to your inbox.

We Recommend
  • Stella McCartney's Low-Profile adidas Shoe Makes it Look Admirably Easy
    • Sneakers
  • Brain Dead's Second adidas Shoe Is Beautifully Boneless
    • Sneakers
  • Wait, There's Still Another YEEZY Restock?
    • Sneakers
  • adidas Drops YEEZY Sneakers Again, One Last Time
    • Sneakers
  • adidas YEEZY's March 2024 Drops: Everything to Know
    • Sneakers
What To Read Next
  • Simone Rocha Made Crocs BBQ Sandals Even More Hardcore
    • Style
  • JW Anderson SS25 Mastered Less Is More
    • Style
  • Nike's Beefed-Up Flyknit Sneakers Just Got Better (& Earthy)
    • Sneakers
  • 50 Years Later, Timberland's Most "ICONIC" Boot Has Nothing to Hide
    • Style
  • Hello Kitty Has the Cutest adidas Gazelles Ever, Of Course
    • Sneakers
  • Nensi Dojaka & Calvin Klein's Chic Lingerie Is Tailored to Perfection
    • Style