What if the next luxury shoe trend is one that barely covers your feet at all? Chanel’s viral barefoot sandals have sparked exactly that question after actress Margaret Qualley wore the unusual design on a London red carpet, leaving most of her feet directly exposed. The footwear has quickly become one of fashion’s most talked-about designs, with social media users debating whether it is bold fashion or simply too much. Read on to see why Chanel’s barefoot sandals are going viral and how much the controversial design could cost.
Where Is the Shoe?
The Chanel design looks more like a heel cap with ankle straps than a traditional sandal. It features a small piece of leather around the heel and thin straps that secure it around the ankle, while the toes and soles remain uncovered. The design was created by Chanel artistic director Matthieu Blazy for the house’s Cruise 2027 collection, first presented in Biarritz, France, in April 2026.
Margaret Qualley Made It Viral
The unusual footwear moved from runway curiosity to red-carpet spectacle when Margaret Qualley wore the black pair to the London premiere of The Dog Stars on August 20. The Chanel ambassador paired the sandals with a black fringed Chanel dress, making the exposed-foot design impossible to miss. Photos from the event quickly spread online, bringing renewed attention to the footwear.
The Internet Had Questions
The sandals have received a mixed response online, with some fashion fans praising the daring design while others questioned its practicality. Fashion parody creator Angelica Hicks even recreated the look using black face masks after seeing Qualley’s red-carpet appearance. Other online reactions focused on everything from hygiene to the possibility of stepping on rough or sharp surfaces.
So, How Much?
Reports have circulated that different versions could cost between $1,500 and nearly $3,000, with the higher figure equivalent to roughly ₱175,000, depending on the exchange rate. However, the price of the specific barefoot sandal has not been officially confirmed by Chanel, and some reports indicate that the design is not yet commercially available. Chanel’s official website currently lists other sandals from its collections, but not this particular barefoot design.
More Than One Version
The black version keeps the design relatively restrained, with a leather heel section and Chanel’s recognizable CC branding. Another runway variation features a metallic, sculptural detail around the heel, giving the barely-there footwear a more dramatic appearance. Both versions follow the same basic idea of leaving most of the foot uncovered.
Fashion or Bare Feet?
The design raises an interesting question about what qualifies as footwear. Unlike conventional sandals, the Chanel version provides little protection between the foot and the ground. That makes it less about practicality and more about the visual idea of appearing barefoot while still carrying the Chanel name. The result is a piece that can start a conversation even before anyone notices the rest of the outfit.
A Very Chanel Debate
Luxury fashion has never been limited to making clothes and accessories practical. Designers regularly experiment with proportions, materials and familiar objects to create pieces meant to provoke a reaction. Chanel’s barefoot sandals take that approach to an extreme by removing the part of a sandal most people expect to be there. Whether shoppers eventually embrace the look remains to be seen, but the design has already achieved one thing luxury fashion values: attention.
The Price Is Still the Catch
For now, the widely reported ₱175,000 figure should be treated as an estimate rather than an official Chanel retail price. The Cruise 2027 collection is expected to become available in stores later in 2026, but availability and pricing for this particular design remain unclear.
Would You Wear Them?
Chanel’s barefoot sandals may look strange at first glance, but that may be exactly why they have become so popular online. Margaret Qualley’s red-carpet appearance turned a runway experiment into a global fashion conversation within hours. Whether the design becomes a genuine trend or remains one of fashion’s most unusual moments, it has already proved that sometimes the easiest way to make people look at a shoe is to leave most of the shoe out.
