The fashion industry is being shaken up by a new shoe trend — and it doesn’t seem like a shoe at all. Today’s designers are making shoes that hide the foot, but still keep it very much on display. The fashion cognoscenti are dubbing it the “naked shoe” trend.
Dear Frances’ Balla shoe is one of the most talked about shoes of the moment. The brand describes it as a ‘sock shoe’. It wraps around the entire foot in a thin mesh material to seem like a foot cage. Its inventor believes it has a glove-like fit and is inspired by the strength of women.
This trend didn’t just come out of nowhere. Many fashion experts point to 2022 when premium company Alaia debuted a fishnet ballerina flat that immediately became a hit. The sneaker worked because it was recognisable but yet a bit bold. It wasn’t exactly a sandal, wasn’t quite an ordinary flat, it was somewhere in between. This popularity spawned a surge of similar designs from both luxury companies and budget outlets.
The barely-there sneaker has become a full-blown craze. At a recent Chanel show, models wore heels tethered straight to their feet with absolutely nothing else keeping them on.
“The answer to the appeal is really simple,” says Tiffany Hill, a fashion trend specialist. “The foot has become part of the outfit, almost like jewellery or skin,” she explains. These shoes create a tension, they look dressed and undressed at the same time. That combo of grace and weirdness is what makes them feel fresh right now.
The tendency also fits into a larger cultural zeitgeist. Feet and pedicures are more visible on social media, and some earn money online by displaying their well-groomed feet.
But not everyone is celebrating. Podiatrist Sarah Crookes warns that they provide very little help. The thin upper doesn’t offer much structure and the thin sole doesn’t do much to alleviate the stress of walking on hard surfaces. Over time, if it is used excessively, it might lead to foot discomfort and fatigue. It’s a definite no-go for anyone with plantar fascia or Achilles tendon problems, she warns.
Crookes sums it up well: the shoes look beautiful, but from a health perspective they’re not a really great option for everyday wear.
So if you like the look, enjoy it in tiny doses and maybe forego the long hikes.