Ugly Shoes Are Having a Moment, But Are We Actually Convinced?

I've gone from questioning the appeal to buying it.

POSTED 08.11.26 06:18 BY ZOE TYLER

From Maison Margiela's divisive tabis to five-toed sneakers, unconventional footwear is finding its way into fashion wardrobes. I've gone from questioning the appeal to buying into one of the most polarising styles, but there are still a few shoes I'm not quite ready to embrace.

The Tabi Conversion

Image via @oliviagraceherring

Controversial fashion that gets people talking seems to be everywhere online at the moment, particularly when it comes to shoes. For me, it all started with the tabi.

I'll admit, I didn't understand the appeal at first. The split-toe design felt a little too unusual for my wardrobe, but somewhere along the way, they grew on me. Now, I've gone as far as buying a pair of heeled tabi ballerinas, and I'm completely converted.

What changed my mind was how surprisingly versatile they are. They have that polished, sophisticated feel without looking too predictable, and I've found myself imagining them with practically everything. A midi skirt, a pair of jeans or even oversized sweatpants: they bring an interesting detail to an otherwise simple outfit. They're also comfortable enough to make me want to wear them beyond the occasional fashion moment.

Image via @oliviagraceherring

Zendaya has also been spotted wearing tabi ballerinas on multiple occasions, giving the divisive design another dose of celebrity approval. If there was ever a reason to reconsider a shoe you weren't sure about, seeing it styled so effortlessly might be it.

Five Toes, Five Times the Controversy

Image via @oliviagraceherring

If tabis still feel a little strange, the next shoe might make them look positively ordinary. I can't seem to escape Vibram FiveFingers on Instagram lately. Yes, those are the shoes with individual compartments for every toe.

This is one trend I haven't been able to get behind just yet. The silhouette is certainly a conversation starter, and I'm not convinced I'd feel confident wearing them myself. Yet, somehow, the girls on Instagram are making them work. I've seen them styled for shopping trips, casual coffee runs and everyday outfits, often with a level of effortlessness that makes me wonder whether I'm missing something.

I imagine the appeal is partly practical, too. They have a distinctly functional design, and I can understand why comfort would win people over. Still, I'm happy to admire this one from a distance for now.

The Ballerina Samba Question

Image via @oliviagraceherring

Adidas has also joined the unconventional footwear conversation with its ballerina-style Sambas. Of all the shoes on this list, these are probably the easiest for me to imagine wearing. They retain the familiar Samba look but introduce a softer, more delicate silhouette that feels somewhere between a sneaker and a ballet flat.

I've been enjoying the outfits I've seen online, especially the contrast between their sporty details and more feminine styling. Yet, despite finding them appealing on other people, I haven't quite pictured them in my own wardrobe. Perhaps I need to see a few more styling combinations before I'm convinced.

For now, they're firmly in the category of shoes I like looking at but haven't rushed to buy.

Maybe Ugly Is the Point

Image via @oliviagraceherring

I might not be sold on every unconventional shoe individually, but I understand the appeal of the category. These designs challenge what we're used to seeing, and that is precisely what makes them interesting. When everyone is wearing variations of the same familiar silhouettes, a shoe that divides opinion can make an outfit feel much more personal.

Comfort is another part of the attraction, particularly with designs that borrow from functional or barefoot footwear. I wouldn't claim every pair is comfortable without trying them myself, but the practical element clearly adds to their appeal.

Perhaps the real pleasure of the ugly shoe is that it doesn't need universal approval. I can love my tabis, remain deeply uncertain about five-toed sneakers and keep reconsidering the ballerina Sambas. Fashion is more fun when we don't all have to agree.

And who knows? A few months from now, I might be the one defending the shoes I currently find impossible to understand.

From split-toe ballerinas to statement-making sneakers, these are the unconventional footwear styles we've added to our Fizzypicks.

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Ugly Shoes Are Having a Moment, But Are We Actually Convinced?

The Tabi Conversion

Five Toes, Five Times the Controversy

The Ballerina Samba Question

Maybe Ugly Is the Point

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