I wore ‘freaky’ five-finger shoes to the office — and had my colleagues doing double takes

Nobody could have predicted the hot girl shoe of the summer would have five fingers, but Vibram’s FiveFingers are having a moment.

They’re basically a glove for your feet, with a separate space for every single toe. Not up your street? I’m afraid to tell you that you’re falling off trend.

These freaky toe shoes are designed for barefoot running enthusiasts, but more recently, they’ve been appearing on the feet of A-listers and attendees of New York Fashion Week.

They’re plastered all over social media as the must-have shoe this year, with fashion girlies even wearing them to work. So after getting hold of some, I decided to give them a whirl for my 8-5.

I was initially too embarrassed to put them on, so I let a poll on my Instagram story, titled ‘Should I wear Vibram five-finger shoes to the office?’, make up my mind. And after the majority (71%) voted yes, I had no choice other than to be brave and slip on the controversial footwear.

Getting them on took much longer than I had anticipated – around 10 minutes to slot each toe into the individual spaces – which almost made me late for work.

The experience was off to a less-than-perfect start, but I got there on time after a surprisingly speedy commute — something I’m prepared to credit to the shoes’ lightweight and minimalist design.

That said, I felt strangely uncomfortable throughout most of the journey.

At least four people checked out my toes for much longer than a glance. They couldn’t look away, as if they’d never seen a girl wearing gloves on her feet.

The reception for the shoes was no better from my colleagues once I arrived at the office. One called them ‘creepy’, another said ‘toes freak me out’, while a third, very unconvincingly, said, ‘they look cool’. At least they all agreed the pink colour was nice.

It was hard not to be self-conscious with so many strong opinions floating around. I felt shamed into taking the stairs back down for lunch, desperate to avoid the staring – or, heaven forbid, having to defend my choice of footwear – in the lift.

But after taking a quick break and walking around the park, I realised two things: these shoes are actually really comfy, and the cynics are severely missing out.

Those unwilling to embrace them are not just lacking comfort, but fashion taste too. At least, according to social media anyway.

Influencers are desperate to get their hands (feet?) on some, including one who claimed ‘they’re the comfiest shoe I’ve ever owned’. Meanwhile, others have lamented the fact they can’t find them anywhere due to the recent spike in popularity.

Vibrams have been around since 2006 though, and this isn’t their first shot at the limelight.

Back in 2012, actress Shailene Woodley wore a pair to the Golden Globes after-party. The distinctive shoe was pictured pointing out under her floor-length black velvet dress, and sparked a similar wave of public confusion at the time. Scarlett Johansson and David Beckham have also been papped sporting them.

But aside from that brief 15 minutes, they’d mainly kept a clientele of middle-aged male runners. Until now, that is.

Chris Wilson, chairman of Charles Birch Ltd, which owns Vibram UK, tells me ‘barefoot is back,’ as I try on a pair of the shoes in its Shoreditch HQ.

Despite this, he can’t believe the renaissance Vibrams are experiencing. They’re flying off the shelves and into the baskets of 20-something women who want to show them off online, with Chris estimating that He tells me around 70% of their purchases nowadays are from young women. And it’s evident in the shop.

One customer I met had travelled all the way from Milan to the London location to buy a pair, reluctantly dragging her two friends – who are yet to convert to the style – along. ‘I love them,’ she proclaimed in defiance.

According to Chris, one of the brand’s most popular styles, a ballet-like slipper, has appeared on the feet of popstars he’s ‘never even heard of’, and he says they’ve sold out of their next two orders.

However, even if it looks like a trend at fever pitch, barefoot footwear has been on the rise for a while.  

The idea behind these shoes is to mimic the experience of walking or running au naturel, while providing some kind of protection for the feet. They usually have a thin, flexible sole and a wide toe box to allow your toes to naturally spread.

It started largely as trend for health-conscious consumers, but fashionistas began promoting barefoot shoes online, and more and more brands followed suit with their own spin.

Balenciaga collaborated with Vibram in 2020 to create a heeled version of the shoe, later dropping a $350 3D-moulded barefoot sandal called ‘The Zero’, which barely covered the big toe.

Maison Margiela Tabis are another controversial barefoot shoe which have boomed in popularity over the past couple of years, retailing for between £820 and £1,190 online.

Featuring a split between the big toe and the other four, they resemble a cow’s hoof, and are inspired by the traditional 15th-century Japanese sock of the same name designed promote balance and stability.

But even though loyals have been banging the barefoot drum for the best part of two decades, not everyone is ready for this style of shoe to go mainstream — as the reactions of both my colleagues and those online will attest to.

TikToker @emmahopeall shared a video wearing Vibrams on the Tube, saying that everyone was ‘laughing’ at them. It didn’t help matters though, as commenters declared them ‘terrifying’ and said wearing them outside was ‘diabolical.’

While others had real concerns – including one who wrote: ‘I’d just be scared someone will step on my toes’ – for the most part, the response was trepidatious. Having felt the fear and worn them anyway however, I can safely say I’m a convert.

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