We’ve been seeing trotters peeping through shoes for a while now, whether in transparent mesh ballet flats (my current favourites) or jelly sandals, a 90s-turned-Y2K style that’s taken over TikTok, with a 90% increase in posts over the last year. Chloé, the Parisian label which drove us crazy last summer with its thong jelly kitten heel sandals, are back with another banger for Spring/Summer 2026— jelly Disney-princess style peep-toe mules.
But there's stiff competition for foot-bearing shoe styles this season. Brands want to put your toes on full display — think more Page 3 than tasteful toe cleavage.
Curtsy Toes’ wedges and flats separate out every little piggy, while Valentino’s Révélé pumps take peep-toe to a whole new level, completely exposing your big and second toes. For Autumn/Winter 2026, the preppy loafer was transformed by Tory Burch with a flash of foot, while Chanel’s newly minted creative director Matthieu Blazy sent soleless 'sandals' down the catwalk at the brand’s Resort 2027 show in Biarritz recently.
Perhaps the pinnacle of the recent freaky footwear trend, these shoes were held onto heels by ankle straps, leaving the rest of the naked foot exposed to the elements. Fine for a sandy catwalk in France, less practical for pounding Britain’s rainy pavements.
Paired with a barely-there pedicure, the designs sent social media into a spiral. Users were mainly humoured or confused, wondering if the shoes were a joke or a social experiment. On the other hand (or should that be foot?) fashion writer and self proclaimed lover of 'freaky nasty shoes' Liana Satenstein called them “chic, elevated” and “phalangeal fodder for the ages".
So what’s with the Big Toe agenda? The various naked foot iterations we're now seeing follow on from the split-toe shoe trend, originating in the fashion world with Maison Margiela’s Tabis, first launched in 1988 and now an undeniable cool-girl signifier. Nike Air Rifts followed in the mid-90s, then Vibram’s FiveFinger soles in the mid-00s, before Celine’s toe-revealing Glove heels in 2018. Basically, footwear has clearly been getting weird for a while.
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But why? With the rise of right-wing politics, fashion has been taking more conservative turns. Quiet luxury, old money, clean girl and tradwife aesthetics all lean into this more buttoned-up look, as orthodox values seep into our style choices. As a reaction, some fashion fans are using so-called ‘ugly’ pieces to visibly step away from that sphere, prioritising individuality and self-expression. These subversive outfits also serve as a way to de-centre the male gaze, dressing more for fellow fashion gal credibility than flirting. Although, if they’re into feet…
Rachel Makar, director of luxury at resale platform and footwear purveyor StockX, has noticed “a shift toward more unconventional footwear over the past few seasons". She cites a "real momentum around exposed-foot styles", name checking the likes of adidas’ Samba Jane and Puma’s new Speedcat Sandal, along with barely-there sneakers like the Nike x Skims Air Rift in mesh.
"Overall, people are open to shoes that feel a little unexpected or push outside the norm," she says, and explains that younger shoppers on the StockX platform are drawn to pieces that get people talking. "The Puma x Fenty Cat Cleats are a great example. They also tap into the broader wave of ’90s nostalgia, with trends like jelly sandals coming back,” she added.
Georgia Graham, founder of the newsletter and podcast Threads of Conversation, has previously caused a style stir with her love of Vibram’s FiveFingers shoes, which she calls the “catalyst for the freaky [footwear] phase.” As for the trend's recent explosion in popularity, she points to people seeking titillation, "especially in a data-driven society that's often devoid of eroticism". She also notes "the rise of conversations about foot pics on OnlyFans, or selling grubby shoes and socks online — as always, fashion reflects and commodifies society as a whole, including its weird desires.”
Ready to give the look a try? Here's how to style naked footwear this summer, according to the experts:
- Graham spied London Fashion Week designer Marie Lueder styling her Vibrams underneath a pair of heeled sandals, while musician Melissa Bon wore hers with a hoodie, Hermès handbag and silver chain anklets. Basically, there are no rules with these rebellious shoes — wear them with everything and anything in your wardrobe, for a twist on your regular look.
- Freaky shoe aficionado and fashion analyst Mandy Lee has an enviable collection of toeless socks to pair with her footwear, including stirrup, sheer and even arch support sweatband styles. She also adorns her ankles with ribbons, a look we’ll definitely be replicating.
- And finally, for trotters worthy of their own wikiFeet page, Simone Sandra Paul, founder of The Footlift London Clinic, recommends washing and drying feet daily, “paying special attention to in between toes. Exfoliate the feet weekly with a foot file on dry skin to remove dead skin cells, improve hydration and prevent hard skin from building up,” she says. Moisturising is also key, while products with urea or exfoliating acids soften hard skin over time.
With that in mind, are you brave enough to bare your toes in a balmy summer breeze, or is a demure outline of your phalanges through a mesh ballet flat more your style? Whatever your look, one thing’s for sure – freaky shoes show no signs of going anywhere soon.
Isabella is a freelance journalist who has written on young women's issues, entertainment, TV and film, South Asian representation, mental health, dating and so much more. She has bylines in ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Prima, Digital Spy, Women's Health, and Harper's Bazaar, and was named 30 Under 30 by MediaWeek, PPA and We Are The City. She was also shortlisted for Workplace Hero at the Investing In Ethnicity Awards and Hero of the Year at the European Diversity Awards. Follow Isabella on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
