They look like gloves for your feet and we’re not mad at it. They’re walking the runways of TikTok and beyond. Once relegated to those who run marathons and the occasional CrossFit devotee, five-finger shoes, also known as barefoot shoes have emerged as fashion’s latest ironic icon. In a culture obsessed with novelty and anti-fashion statements, the question is no longer why they’re being worn, but how to style them.
The five-finger shoe made its debut in the mid-2000s, courtesy of Vibram, and was quickly adopted by minimalist runners, parkour enthusiasts, and fans of barefoot training. The premise was technical: by mimicking the natural form of the foot, these shoes promised improved posture, stronger muscles, and better balance. But while they gained cult popularity in athletic circles, the aesthetic barrier was high. Let’s be honest, most people couldn’t get past the toe cleavage.
Fast-forward to today, and TikTok has flipped the script. The same shoes once mocked as “gorilla feet” are now featured in curated outfits alongside Margiela Tabis and Balenciaga Crocs. Why? It starts with comfort. The pandemic ushered in a fashion ethos where form followed function and then doubled back to embrace irony. As the timeline of trends sped up, the fashion cycle moved from normcore to gorpcore to corecore, where visual absurdity and meaninglessness became the aesthetic. In that landscape, five-finger shoes were ripe for reappraisal. After all, in fashion, often times something interesting is way more fun to style than a piece of perfection. They’re literally a walking paradox, how fun is that!
So how does one actually style them? The key is contrast. Pair your toe shoes with tailored monochrome or sculptural pieces for an avant-garde twist. The sporty style guru might opt for fleece jackets, utilitarian cargo skirts, and technical layers. Streetwear fans? Oversized tees and jorts work surprisingly well, bonus points for visible tabi or toe socks. High-fashion minimalists might even let them anchor a quiet-luxury look, letting the shoes act as the sole moment of chaos.
The appeal goes deeper than aesthetics. In an era of inflated sneaker drops and logo-driven status symbols, the five-finger shoe reads almost like an act of resistance. As Dr. Emily Splichal, podiatrist and founder of EBFA Global, explains on The Ready State Podcast, “We’re seeing a pushback against the overly designed. Barefoot shoes allow for sensory stimulation and foot freedom. People are starting to value how their footwear makes them feel, not just how it looks.”
That duality, technical performance meets cultural commentary, is fueling the trend’s staying power. As performance wear continues to infiltrate everyday fashion (such as Salomon trail runners, Arc’teryx shells), the five-finger shoe feels like the next logical step. Could we see a Rick Owens or Maison Margiela collaboration? Don’t count it out.
For now, toe shoes straddle the line between outsider art and insider cool. They may still provoke side-eyes, but that’s the point. They’re not trying to be beautiful, they’re trying to be real. And in today’s fashion climate, that might be the most radical stance of all.
Ready to try the trend yourself? Shop a curated selection of FiveFinger and barefoot shoes below to take the look from TikTok to your toes.
