health
‘The absence becomes the point’: the steady march of barely there shoes
Dear Frances offers the latest take on ballet flats, offering ‘a glove-like fit wearability’ – which is fine if you have nice feet
TL;DR
- The 'barely there' shoe trend is characterized by designs that cover minimal parts of the foot, such as sock shoes and mesh flats.
- This trend is seen as an evolution of 'naked dressing' for the foot, where the foot itself becomes part of the styling.
- Inspiration for this trend can be traced back to the success of Alaia's fishnet ballet flats in 2022, leading to various iterations.
- While fashionable, podiatrists caution that these shoes offer little support or shock absorption, potentially leading to foot strain and fatigue.
- The trend is also linked to a mainstream interest in feet and foot fetishes, and the idea of grounding oneself in reality ('touching grass').