Steven Smith Teases New Boot-Like Crocs Silhouette

Designing a sneaker and getting it to the masses doesn't happen overnight, just ask Steven Smith. The legendary footwear designer who affectionately goes by the nickname “The Godfather of Dad Shoes” has worked at about every major brand over the last 40 years, getting his hands dirty at New Balance, Reebok, adidas, Nike, Yeezy, and now Crocs. He’s well aware of the process behind getting his work to the public, and although we’ve only been blessed with one Steven Smith Crocs design so far, it looks like he just teased us with another new model on his Instagram.

On his Instagram Story, which is usually full of fit checks and reposts of fans commending him for his various designs over the years, Smith posted a seemingly innocuous photo in the mirror of his outfit. A camo jacket, jeans, and a black and grey pair of shoes that almost look boot-like. He tagged the maker of the jeans and the jacket, Kimes Ranch and Mountain Hardwear, respectively, but he also tagged Crocs. Weird right? No way those are Crocs. Well, they are, and they’re Smith’s latest design.

The pair itself seems to pull some DNA from the Yeezy 700 V3 with its rounded toe and smooth molded sole unit, but aside from that, the rest of the model is straight gorpcore ready. Traditional laces, something rarely seen from Crocs, weave through 3M reflective eyelets, while a midfoot mesh window provides breathability.

After joining Crocs as the Colorado-based brand’s head of creative innovation in November 2024, Steven Smith shared a first look at his Crocs Ripple in September 2025. Since then, the two-tone silhouette has had early releases at a few key activations, but we’re still expecting a wider drop in March of this year. The focus hasn’t shifted away from other work behind the scenes, as seen here with a tease of his next project, and expect to see more from Steven Smith and Crocs throughout the year.

As of now, Steven Smith’s latest Crocs silhouette has no name or release window. Perhaps Smith and the Crocs team will take the same route as the Ripple and slowly drop teasers in the lead-up to a full showcase, but only time will tell. For now, download the Sole Retriever mobile app so you can stay informed on all things happening in the sneaker world.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts, catching the latest movies, and trying new food. Email: nick@soleretriever.com