For those of us in the shoe biz, barefoot footwear is not new. Vibram made waves when it introduced Five Fingers in 2006, originally designed for yacht racers to maintain grip on slippery decks. The shoes were quickly embraced by runners, yogis, and fitness enthusiasts of all kinds. Though Time Magazine named the FiveFingers one of its “Best Inventions” of 2007, the style never quite reached the fashion crowd.
Until now. Understated footwear (pliable ballet flats, minimal Mary Janes) has been trending a few seasons, and it seems the only place left to go is — nearly — no shoes at all. In a recent Vogue article, contributor Julia Hobbs writes that her silver FiveFingers glove shoes have been “welded to my feet this winter.” Model Paloma Elsesser and rapper Doechii are other high-profile, early adapters of the trend.
“In wardrobe terms, [FiveFingers] dial up offbeat downtown chic when paired with cashmere legwarmers and friends who work in fashion that won’t get nauseous at the sight of all those toes— friends who witnessed the Tabi (RIP), long the fashion industry’s favourite freaky shoe, fall into the jaws of ubiquity.” —Julia Hobbs, Vogue
The movement has been bubbling for some time, coming on the heels (or lack thereof) of Balenciaga’s “Zero” shoe that dropped last month. The ultralight, 3D molded slippers barely qualify as shoes as all, only featuring a minimal sole, toe covering, and heel cup. The fall styles are available for pre-order now from select stores, and we have yet to see whether the look will truly catch on.

Last year, health guru and wellness influencer Mark Sisson founded a minimalist shoe line aimed at creating a more attractive gloved shoe. “It’s just a matter of time until barefoot shoes start to appear regularly in high fashion,” Sisson says. “Comfort is becoming paramount. We are already seeing lower heels and wider toe boxes in several of the luxury brands.” For the fashion crowd, Peluva offers a sleek, understated five-toed loafer called the Miami.
Earlier this month, YZY dropped its own minimalist slipper, called the SL-01, offered at a low price point of $20 per pair. Avant garde streetwear brand Bravest Studios offers everything from bear claw mules to toe slides and foot clogs. For now, barefoot influencers are causing rage on social media for trouncing around town shoeless to “connect with nature,” but could they be onto something? As shoepeople and as citizens of the world, we certainly hope not.