Swae Lee, Reformed Sneakerhead, Is Now Making the Case for Rappers in Heels

As Swae Lee combed through the clothing racks in his expansive closet before the Grammys in February, he boldly proclaimed that men don’t know how to dress. He’s clearly the exception to this rule, though, as he proved that night. For the awards show, he chose his favorite piece: a lacy white shirt that he insisted was unisex. Lee anticipated Instagram comments from people bemoaning the fact that he stepped out in a women’s shirt, but he persisted. “It’s 2k19 boy, it’s unisex, alright? Get with it.”

Lee has just taken this agender approach to dressing to new heights in a literal sense. He debuted a head-to-toe oxblood-colored outfit on Hollywood Boulevard yesterday, combining a bowling shirt, a Gucci belt, a well-tailored pair of slacks, and his signature pile of chains with patent leather heeled boots. It’s rare to see a rapper donning such towering footwear (especially for a sneakerhead like Lee) but men in heels is definitely becoming a thing again—just take Xavier Dolan’s Cuban heeled leather Christian Louboutin oxfords that he wore to Cannes last week, or American Horror Story actor Cody Fern’s Tabi boots from the Golden Globes red carpet. Lee might not be the only man keen to add a few extra inches, but he’s one of the first to bring heels into the world of contemporary hip hop. It’s only a matter of time until, to borrow a phrase from Lee himself, his peers get with it. In the meantime, we’ll be patiently waiting for Lil Uzi Vert to step out in some platforms.