Balenciaga has once again caught the internet's attention with a pair of heels that can make someone look barefoot at first glance. A photo of the fashion house's unusual foot-shaped shoes is spreading online after a Japanese X user shared a picture of someone wearing them on an escalator.
According to the post, the person ahead appeared to be barefoot until the user realised they were actually wearing shoes. However, the strange heels are not a new Balenciaga release. The design appears to be the brand's Anatomic heels from Balenciaga's Autumn/Winter 2023 collection.
Balenciaga's Barefoot Illusion
The Anatomic heels were designed to mimic the shape of a human foot. The front features moulded toes, while the silhouette follows the curves of the foot closely enough to create a barefoot effect from a distance.
前の人裸足かと思ったら靴履いてたww pic.twitter.com/zVNJOL6A5H
— ﾕ ﾐ ☁️ (@LondonPala48112) September 22, 2026
That effect becomes even stronger in the nude version of the shoe. British Vogue described the style as Balenciaga's 'Anatomic heels' and said its moulded-toe design resembled the anatomy of a naked human foot.
The viral image shows how convincing the illusion can appear at first glance. According to the Japanese X post, the wearer appeared to be barefoot before a closer look revealed the unusual shoes.
Huppert Wore Them First
The Anatomic heels had a major celebrity fashion moment more than three years before the latest viral post. French actress Isabelle Huppert wore a nude pair to the Killers of the Flower Moon premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 20 May 2023.
Huppert paired them with a black Balenciaga lace gown and the label's Pantabodysuit. British Vogue noted that although her feet appeared bare, she was actually wearing Balenciaga stilettos designed to create the unusual illusion.
The shoes were part of a wider period in which Balenciaga played with the shape and idea of conventional footwear. The brand has continued experimenting with that concept through designs including its Zero shoe, an ultra-light 3D-moulded style that leaves almost the entire foot exposed.
Balenciaga's Toe Shoe History
The Anatomic heel was not Balenciaga's first attempt at turning toes into a fashion statement. In 2020, the label worked with Italian sole specialist Vibram on the Balenciaga Toe collection, which separated all five toes in a design inspired by Vibram's distinctive FiveFingers footwear.
The collaboration included sneaker styles and a high-heeled model. The Heeled Toe featured a moulded heel and individual toe compartments, while the collection incorporated recycled-knit uppers.
Balenciaga later pushed the barefoot idea even further with the Zero. Its Fall 2025 collection notes described the Zero as an ultra-light 3D-moulded EVA sole held to the foot by a heel cup and toe groove, bringing footwear 'as close as possible to being barefoot'.
Why Are the Shoes Going Viral?
The latest attention appears to come from the visual trick rather than a new Balenciaga launch. According to the Japanese X post circulating with the image, what initially looked like someone's bare feet turned out to be a pair of shoes.
That makes the older Anatomic design particularly suited to social media, where the illusion can be difficult to spot without looking closely. It also comes after barefoot-inspired and anatomically shaped footwear has become increasingly visible in fashion.
Balenciaga itself has repeatedly returned to the idea. From its Vibram collaboration to the Anatomic heels and almost-bare Zero shoe, the label has continued experimenting with how closely footwear can resemble, expose or follow the natural shape of the human foot.
