Ugly chic? The toe shoes just might be the strangest footwear trend currently

Time of India

5 hours ago

Source: Getty Images
For years, they were considered the most reviled footwear on the planet. Now, the glove-like shoes that separate each toe have found their way onto red carpets, runways, and shopping waitlists.
In 2025, the Vibram FiveFingers, once the butt of every fashion joke, have become the shoe of the summer, proving that trends have a way of circling back, no matter how strange they once seemed.
High fashion?
Toe shoes first appeared in 2006, launched by Italian sports and mountaineering brand Vibram for barefoot running purists. The design aimed to mimic natural foot movement, with each toe separated to allow greater flexibility and ground feel.
While early enthusiasts swore by benefits like better posture and stronger foot muscles, the mainstream media was not convinced at all.
Source: Getty Images
The reaction ranged from laughter to open disgust. They became a symbol of performance-over-style dressing. That perception has shifted sharply in recent years.
Lyst's second-quarter 2025 shopping index revealed that six of the top 10 most-searched fashion items were shoes, with toe shoes ranking among the most in-demand.
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Several styles are now sold out globally, priced between $100 and $200.
Margiela Tabis, Balenciaga Crocs, and even JNCO jeans have jumped on the barefoot-inspired bandwagon. Celebrities like BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim, model Paloma Elsesser, and rapper Doechii have been spotted in them, giving the once-shunned silhouette a boost in cultural capital.
The 'footnaissance' and the celebrity effect
Some fashion writers have dubbed this revival a 'footnaissance.' In her
Neverworns
newsletter, a New York-based fashion journalist compared the return of toe shoes to other naked dressing trends that leave little to the imagination.
British Vogue famously declared in 2023 that 'toes are the new legs,' pointing to designers like Elena Velez, Wesley Harriott, Daniel Lee, Aaron Esh, and Natasha Zinko who have made feet a deliberate focal point in their collections.
It's not an entirely new phenomenon. A decade ago, stars like Prince Harry, Kate Hudson, and Scarlett Johansson were spotted in FiveFingers. But this time, the comeback has the full backing of social media, and the cachet of being 'so ugly they're cool.'
The benefits and the risks
Source: Getty Images
Advocates argue that toe shoes are more than a gimmick.
Research
has shown that runners and walkers who wear them can increase muscle thickness in their feet, which helps stabilize arches. Supportive shoes, by contrast, can lead to underused foot muscles and gradual arch flattening over time. Toe shoes may also help change gait mechanics and, in some cases, reduce the risk of plantar fasciitis.
But podiatrists warn that the design isn't without drawbacks. One
study
found that over half of runners wearing toe shoes for just 10 weeks showed signs of bone marrow stress — an indicator of a higher risk of fractures. Their flat profile can also put strain on the Achilles tendon, potentially leading to tendinitis and painful inflammation.
For some, the appeal is simply practical- no socks needed, less laundry, and a feeling close to being barefoot. For others, the charm lies in their defiance of traditional beauty standards.