Barefoot Shoes Are the Surprisingly Chic Way to Stay Grounded This Summer

These stylish and comfortable shoes are the closest you can get to going barefoot. Read the "Glamour" guide to barefoot shoes and how to style them for summer....

25 Mayıs 2026 yayınlandı / 25 Mayıs 2026 04:36 güncellendi

Barefoot Shoes Are the Surprisingly Chic Way to Stay Grounded This Summer

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It’s a bit strange to think of barefoot shoes as a relatively new trend considering they’re something of a return to our ancestral origins, when humans used to walk barefoot. Now that every silhouette imaginable is available to us, it seems the only thing to do is go back to the beginning.

For the unfamiliar, barefoot shoes recreate as much as possible the conditions of the foot when walking barefoot. You’ll know these flats by the superthin sole that adapts to the foot (and not the other way around) to protect it. While this style of shoe has been around for a while, we’re only now seeing versions stylish enough to work with the rest of our closet.

More and more brands are adding barefoot sneakers, ballet flats, and sandals that we not only could see ourselves actually wearing, but are actively adding to cart.

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What are barefoot shoes?

The simplest way to define barefoot footwear: These are shoes that imitate the sensation of going barefoot, with all that entails. Some things to look for:

A wide toe: The idea is to allow the foot to move and adapt to the terrain, freeing the toes and allowing them to expand. This design is focused on improving stability, balance, and posture, helping to create a stable and supportive base as well as favoring the natural alignment of the body.
A thin sole: Thin and flexible is a must because it promotes better adaptation to the ground. Barefoot shoes also lack plantar arch support, platforms, heels, or excessive cushioning. The quickest way to know if a shoe meets this requirement if you are able to bend and twist it completely.
Flexible materials: This aspect is important for any type of footwear, but in the case of barefoot shoes, it’s a necessity, as it allows the foot to move and adapt without restrictions.

The benefits of barefoot shoes

The first and most obvious benefit is a sense of liberation—like the feeling you get when you arrive home and finally take your shoes off. As soon as you try these flat shoes on, you should notice absolute comfort; though they may take some getting used to at first while walking. Barefoot-friendly footwear really shines in the long run: It helps activate your muscles, strengthens the foot, and improves your balance and posture.

Barefoot-shoe brands

The list of brands like Xero and Vivobarefoot that specialize in barefoot shoes is getting longer and longer. You’ll also find more and more barefoot-shoe options at major retailers; everyone from Nordstrom to Zappos to Amazon has wearable options, some of which we’ve included below.

Barefoot sneakers

Courtesy of brand

Adidas Tokyo Sneakers

$90

Nordstrom

Courtesy of brand

Lucky Step Thin-Sole Sneakers

$40

Amazon