Barefoot shoes have always been around—think ballet flats, like the popular Margiela Tabi ballerinas, which reinterpreted the traditional 15th-century Japanese sock of the same name, or any flat shoe with thin layers of material that practically adjust to your feet. These types of footwear are designed to simulate the sensation of walking barefoot as nature intended, all while protecting your feet. These flat shoes are known to help develop foot muscles, enhance balance, and correct posture.
However, the trends with this silhouette have expanded from the simplistic form of its flexible sole and usual leather materials to not just imitate the sensation of kissing the earth but the look as well, turning functionality into an aesthetic of looking like you are truly feeling the ground.
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Bare to barer
There has been a gaining traction for barefoot shoe designs in a variety of materials, such as rubber or clear plastic for flat jelly shoes—you know, the nostalgic shoes you used to love or hate as a child. It’s part of the whole 80-90s jelly sandal revival slowly coming back into mainstream fashion as early as 2024 with The Row’s Mara jelly shoe, which was a PVC-netted flat, followed by the fishnet ballet flats from Alaïa, a mesh ballet flat that not-so-subtly reveals the foot’s skin.
From these jelly-netted to mesh flats, it was about time for this barefoot shoe trend to look barer with clearer materials for all the girls who love funky footwear. Take a look at these Mason Margiela polka-dot Tabis or the Melissa Possession Ballerina flats made with clear PVC.
Sun’s out, toes out
There’s also another trending flat shoe that’s taking the barefoot aspect up a freakier notch. From the 2000s barefoot-style shoe for functional fitness, weightlifting, and overall natural movement, to now being the cool girls’ “ugly chic” shoe, the Vibram FiveFingers shoes show off all five of your toes, with separated toe slots to move freely and grip the ground, and, in my opinion, give the Tabis a run for their money. Their popular designs that you have probably seen styled on TikTok or Instagram are the Vi-B ECO and V-Soul shoes. Last year, even Blackpink’s Jennie Kim and American rapper Doechii were seen wearing the Vibram FiveFingers Shoes.
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Nonetheless, the “barer barefoot shoe” trend has evolved into a popular choice for many fashion girlies seeking unique footwear, adopting a variety of materials and designs that reveal the entire foot. Even popular designers embraced this trend, such as Tory Burch’s Mellow Mary Jane Jelly or Skims’ literal clear Jelly Shoes.
Perhaps beyond the functionality of a flat shoe, showing off your entire foot is now fully in? What are your thoughts on this trend? Does it make you want to let your toes breathe or simply put those socks back on?
