GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES: THE ANDRO BOOT
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MODERN CONSTRUCTION MEETS MINIMAL DESIGN.
ALL inclusive in size.
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UTILITARIAN's first product was our ANDRO KNEE BOOT. Bentley loved a long pointed toe and cuban heel, but rarely could he find one in the mens section. When he fell in love with a women's boot similar in style that was in size 42 (his size), the center seem tore in half while trying to get it on. He vowed then that he wasn't going to go through the emotional turmoil and create a brand that sold shoes he loved that would fit all feet - man, woman, or anything in between.
GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES: THE GY LOAFER
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MODERN CONSTRUCTION MEETS MINIMAL DESIGN
ALL inclusive in size
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Loafers are a wardrobe staple. Whether you're a man, womxn, or someone who is non-binary, chances are you have a loafer in your closet.
Bentley knew that out of all the loafers that exist in the world, he had to design something stood out among the crowd and broke through all the homogeny.
The GY loafer features many different lines, shapes, and angles making it one of the most architecturally appealing gender neutral shoes in the collection. The body of the GY loafer is soft and hugs your foot in natural places with the soft and supple leather. The front of the shoe is elongated to create a dramatic length and optimal comfort. The elongated toe comes to a sharp square at the top presenting multiple edges that create a trapezoidal sculpture.
GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES: THE NOUS BOOT
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MODERN CONSTRUCTION MEETS MINIMAL DESIGN
ALL inclusive in size
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This gender neutral shoe design started with a love for nature and all the materials it provides. In appreciation of these materials, Bentley always tries to find ways to tie unexpended materials with unconventional designs.
With a block of wood in hand, Bentley wanted to juxtapose the dense and solid base with a light and skin tight upper. The leather is seamlessly lasted in between the wood base and upper, creating an undisrupted continuum of lines, shapes, and materials.
These gender neutral shoes exude meticulous craftsmanship and chicness.
GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES: THE MINIMAL SNEAKER
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MODERN CONSTRUCTION MEETS MINIMAL DESIGN
ALL inclusive in size
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Bentley will be completely honest when it comes to sneakers - they aren't his thing. The sporty and streetwear is not his aesthetic nor is it the anywhere close to the ethos of UTILITARIAN. However, when designing his first collection of gender neutral shoes, he knew it was important to incorporate them somehow. Because even though sneakers weren't his thing, he believed it was important to incorporate them into UTILITARIAN's merchandise mix.
When Bentley set out to design the first pair of sneakers in the gender neutral shoes collection, he was determined to make a pair that he would actually want to wear. Ergo, the minimal sneaker was born.
The MINIMAL Sneaker embodies the minimalist and modern approach the brand takes in design. This sneaker allows those who don't want to look sporty still have access to a comfortable and casual shoe.
EXPLORE SHAPES WITH OUR GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES.
Monochromatic dressing is a way of life at UTILITARIAN. When an outfit is all black or all white, we like to mix in different textures and shapes to keep things intriguing for the eye.
Here, the model is wearing the DANER t-shirt, SCHULTZ pant, and ANDRO ankle boot. The top and pants have very rounded shapes on the body, so to juxtapose the soft edges, we added the ANDRO ankle boot to give the outfit more an element of sharper edges and angles.
Furthermore, while this outfit is all black, the mix of textures in the fabric allows the eye to travel around and find different elements of the outfit. The DANER t-shirt is has a very saturated black color, which absorbs light and presents a very soft texture. The SCHULTZ pant is double-faced wool in a slightly lighter shade of black. The pant has a little bit of texture in the fabric, sectioning out the bottom of the model from the top. Lastly, the ANDRO ankle boot tapers in the shape of the body and elongates the foot. The soft and supple sheen of the leather creates a complete opposite look of texture then the pant it sits below.
All in all, while the outfit is black from head to toe, the use of different textures and shapes allows the eye to travel around and creates a diversified look overall.
EXPLORE HEIGHT WITH OUR GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES
Whether you're 4'6" or 6'4", everyone needs a little lift every once in awhile. The NOUS boot gives your outfit a perfect combination of height, stability, and sophistication.
Here, the model is wearing our KAYE top, KITON pant, and NOUS boot. The mixing of our button-up with leather pants and platforms gives a sensibility of refined edginess.
EXPLORE DRAPE & STRUCTURE WITH OUR GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES
At UTILITARIAN, we've been obsessed with tucking long drapey pants into knee boots for quite some time; and the obsession is nowhere near over for us.
Here, the model is wearing our MAR top, ALFYN pants (coming soon), and ANDRO knee boots. The top and pants have a very drapey and fluid shape, so to juxtapose the drape, the ANDRO knee boot gives the outfit an element of structure and shape.
This outfit presents two different versions of high/low dressing. The first aspect of our high/low dressing is the oversized silhouette up top paired with a slim and straight silhouette at the bottom. From the gender neutral shoes to the gender neutral top, we see a crescendo of volume; hitting its peak at the top. This style of look is visually appealing to the eye and allows it to travel up and down the body examining what we coin as a crescendo. The second aspect of our high/low dressing is the mix of femininity and masculinity. The oversized pant and top present a more masculine feeling with their shapeless drape and oversized silhouette. However, the shape of the boots presents a more feminine look. Presented alone, each item exudes an androgynous look, but when we pair these different pieces together, we get a high/low feeling of both feminine and masculine.
Ergo, the perfect gender neutral look with our gender neutral shoes!
EXPLORE OPPOSITION WITH OUR GENDER NEUTRAL SHOES
Our #1 mantra here at UTILITARIAN is NEVER be afraid to explore. You can choose to apply that mantra in many ways (we do), but especially when it comes to styling. It's always an exciting process when you explore different shapes, colors, and textures - you never know what you'll find.
Not only did we explore with color in this outfit, but also with materials, shape, heigh, widths, and fabrics; we ended up finding on of our favorite looks for this season.
Here, the founder of UTILITARIAN is wearing the REX top, ALFYN pant (coming soon), and the NOUS wooden platform boots. The REX top and ALFYN pant are both oversized silhouettes, but by french tucking the top into the pant, it creates a break in-between the two silhouettes. The colors also create a stark but appealing contrast. The NOUS boot elongates the ensemble even further with the two-inch wooden platform. The boot also creates opposition as it is the only piece in the mix this is structured and form-fitting. While the brown color of the boot is more orange compared to the dark brown of the pant, the transition of the colors segues nicely and creates a colorful look rooted in neutrals.
Altogether, there is a lot of opposition in each of the pieces. However, this look proves that sometimes when contrasting things come together they can create a cohesive piece.
