The trend that makes foot fetishists happy From earthing to high fashion, this summer it's all about feet

First Jacob Elordi spotted barefoot wandering the Australian coast (as is customary in the land of surfers), then Rick Owens launches an OnlyFans channel to sell photos of his feet. First the sock shoes from Yeezy and Bottega Veneta, then the flip-flop trend floods even cities far from the sea (see Milan). This summer, all fashion eyes are focused downwards, way down, to the tip of each outfit, because after the winter trend of thin-soled sneakers, it’s time to remove all barriers and expose the foot as much as possible. Over the past year, searches for flip-flops and shoes like Vibram's FiveFingers have increased by 57% and 50% respectively on Google. Fetishism aside, in 2025 the concept of «foot pics» has reached a whole new level, with thousands of users on TikTok and Instagram sharing FiveFingers styling videos for fun. The confirmation of the global success of bare feet in fashion came this month, with New York Times journalist Emilia Petrarca, who titled one of her trend-focused articles It’s a great time to be a toe. And who could disagree with her?

Before listing the myriad of brands and designers embracing the trend of bare feet as accessories, it’s worth explaining why so many consumers are going crazy for this type of shoe and sandal. As often happens with today's trends, the phenomenon has to do with both physical and mental health. Physically, walking barefoot activates the entire sole of the foot, a part of the body with a high concentration of nerve endings, thus more muscles in the legs (which usually stay dormant with other types of shoes) and back are engaged, and posture improves. Additionally, walking in contact with the earth helps people feel more connected to the surrounding nature, a practice known as grounding or earthing, common among many ancient civilizations and, in 2025, humorously linked to the trend «go touch grass» (a phrase used for people constantly online). The Washington Post explains that earthing improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and lowers stress levels, sometimes to the point of causing a true state of euphoria as described in Patti Smith’s song Dancing Barefoot, and in Earthing, The Most Important Health Discovery Ever (2014), where author Clinton Ober writes that «living in close contact with the Earth’s natural surface charge discharges and naturally prevents chronic inflammation in the body.»

Every brand and consumer is embracing the barefoot sneaker trend in their own way. Some are inspired by the aesthetic of late '90s and early 2000s mall rats, wearing flip-flops with long jeans, others try to elevate the footwear with colorful silk or tailored pants, and of course, some wear FiveFingers in the mountains for intense earthing experiences. At Fashion Week, the trend was everywhere, on the feet of all models regardless of gender or season. Prada created flip-flops in blue and acid green leather for SS26 menswear, while for recent Bottega Veneta collections, Matthieu Blazy revived the leather-knit sock shoe. Meanwhile, Vibram finalized new collaborations with Suicoke, Brain Dead, Balenciaga, 1017 Alyx 9SM, and many others who wanted to add toes to their sneakers. Exposing the feet seems to have won everyone over, with brands like Ferragamo, Proenza Schouler, Alaïa, and Chloé choosing to interpret the trend by adding heels to flip-flops. The prize for most inaccessible slipper goes to The Row, which released ordinary rubber and leather flip-flops that went viral because they cost between €850 and over €1000, while Demna and Balenciaga win for originality thanks to the Zero, shoes that embrace only the big toe and the heel, also worn by the creative director at his last bow for the maison. In short, whether walking around fully barefoot (certainly the least expensive look), wearing a pair of FiveFingers, rubber flip-flops, or another luxurious and unattainable iteration, this summer all eyes are on the feet. Not due to some strange perversion, but because we all need to reconnect with reality.