Margaret Qualley Chanel shoes: Actress bamboozles the world with ‘barefoot heel caps’ at The Dog Stars world premiere

It’s the philosophical conundrum nobody saw coming on a Friday morning: what defines a shoe? And when does a shoe cease to be considered as such?

You can thank Margaret Qualley for prompting these ridiculous questions, having emerged on the red carpet in a truly perplexing pair of Chanel… somethings. (“Barefoot heel caps”, according to the French fashion house.)

The unusual (to say the very least) sandals originally caused a splash in April when they were unveiled on the runway at the Chanel cruise 2027 show in various colours. The internet promptly erupted in discourse over this new era of ‘naked’ footwear.

Now, the design has made its real-world debut at the premiere of The Dog Stars in London, and the public reaction has only intensified.

Qualley, a longtime celebrity ambassador for Chanel, teamed a black version of the alleged shoes with a black tasselled dress.

From front on, you’d be forgiven for thinking she was on the red carpet in bare feet. The design features two ankle straps and a heel ‘cap’, and… that’s it. The sole ends there.

This has, naturally, sparked some debate about what a shoe really is.

“A shoe MUST protect the whole foot from touching the floor,” one nine.com.au reporter declares, while another said the Chanel creations are “definitionally not a shoe”.

People are also horrified by the very concept of one’s entire foot being exposed, both for aesthetic reasons and for cleanliness.

It must be said: Qualley has undoubtedly stoked this reaction on purpose.

After all, the movie’s name is The Dog Stars, and ‘the dogs are out’ is popular slang for someone baring their feet and toes (usually a source of horror for the person using the phrase).

Given the actress has her ‘dogs’ out, and co-star Jacob Elordi hit the red carpet with an actual dog… you see what’s going on here.

Regardless, Qualley’s shoes(?) are part of a wider trend taking over the footwear world.

From the explosion of Tabis to Curtsy Toes’ five-toe-post sandals to Havaianas’ new ‘toe cap’ kitten heels, shoes have gone in a strangely toe-forward direction over the past few years.

Aussie brand Alias Mae has also entered the fray with their Isobel design.

The pointed front of the slingback heels feature a clear panel, exposing a narrow strip of the foot and middle toes.

The unusual silhouette has divided opinion, drawing comparisons to “pig trotters” and Narnia’s Mr Tumnus.

However, they seem to have as many fans as they do detractors.

At this point, we’re excited to see what could possibly come next in the evolution of the humble shoe.