If there’s anything you should take away from the last few years, it’s that the people yearn for eccentric footwear. “Wrong shoe theory” and “ugly shoe trends,” were major search terms on TikTok and Google alike, and now it seems the subsequent evolution is… getting freaky.
So how does one define a freaky sandal? According to the internet and creators like Mandy Lee (TikTok: @OldLoserInBrooklyn), pretty much, it’s a shoe that leans into an older era of fashion, an unexpected accessory, or a surprising detail. The overall effect is a bit off-kilter. Freaky sandals take a stereotypical open-toed shoe you’d get at any retailer, like the humble flip flop or the platform sandal and add their own flair, like a chunky toe ring, cloven toes, feathers, or jelly details, to make an observer do a double-take. They’re the younger cousin of the Tabi and Vibram toe shoes. Please, feast your eyes on some examples below.
The freaky shoe era is an ode to individualism and kookiness, stemming, in part, from the “weird girl” aesthetic and the fashion designers cultivating that space, like Simone Rocha, Marni, Maison Margiela, and Loewe.
Now, I wouldn’t say this type of shoe is on everyone’s radar, but a crop of eclectic fashion girls are tapping in, which means it’s sure to be everywhere in a few months, especially as the warmer weather makes its way in.
Most recently, Selena Gomez wore a pair of leather, square-shaped sandals with a gold toe-ring while out in Los Angeles. She paired them with a cream ruffled tank and dark wash flared jeans. It’s a very basic outfit that immediately became interesting simply because of her choice of sandal.
This I’d qualify as a baby step into what a freaky sandal can do. It’s a beginner’s approach if you’re testing the waters of letting your full freak flag fly, but we all must start somewhere.
Right now, fashion should be about having fun. After what’s felt like a few seasons of minimalism, quiet luxury, and uniform dressing—gelled with “clean girl” aesthetics—getting a little weird should really be on our collective mood board. Having a trove of funky looking pieces in your closet is the long-term goal of any freaky sandal lover. As for me, I’m declaring this summer Freaky Sandal Summer, so if your toes are ready to be the main attraction, get ready to show off some more unique footwear.
Aiyana Ishmael is the style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In her work, Aiyana focuses on the culture of fashion and how it intertwines and shapes the zeitgeist. She is an award-winning journalist from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of the historically Black university, Florida A&M. She is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30: Media honoree, and her debut romance novella PASSING GAME is set to release March of 2027 (831 Stories/Simon & Schuster).
