Margaret Qualley has given one of Chanel's most controversial footwear designs its biggest real-world fashion moment yet, stepping onto the red carpet in the label's barely-there 'barefoot cap heel' shoes. The actress wore the divisive flats at the London premiere of The Dog Stars on 20 August, pairing them with a dramatic black Chanel gown.
The unusual shoes have already attracted plenty of attention since making their runway debut earlier this year. With little more than a heel covering protecting the foot, the design leaves the toes, ball and arch exposed, creating the illusion that the wearer is walking barefoot. Qualley's decision to wear them to a major film premiere has turned the polarising design from fashion-show spectacle into a celebrity red-carpet statement.
Margaret Qualley Makes the Barefoot Shoe a Red-Carpet Moment
Qualley, 31, opted for a V-neck black Chanel gown with layers of fringe, letting the striking silhouette provide drama without competing with the unusual footwear.
She kept the rest of her accessories relatively restrained, wearing stud earrings and a ring while letting the shoes become the talking point. The result was a look that felt deliberately unconventional rather than simply glamorous.
She attended the London premiere of The Dog Stars, the post-apocalyptic drama in which she stars alongside Jacob Elordi, who took a more traditional approach, wearing a pinstriped Bottega Veneta suit with black dress shoes.
The contrast made Qualley's choice even more noticeable. While her co-star embraced classic red-carpet tailoring, she appeared to be testing one of Chanel's most experimental ideas in front of the cameras.
Chanel's 'Freaky' Shoes Caused a Stir on the Runway
The shoes first appeared during Chanel's Cruise 2026/2027 show in Biarritz in April, where designer Matthieu Blazy explored the fashion house's historic relationship with the French seaside.
The collection drew inspiration from the relaxed feeling of a woman coming out of the beach or sea, with the show staged to evoke a sandy shoreline. Chanel said the unusual footwear was meant to look almost like jewellery, which helps explain why the design prioritises visual impact over conventional protection.
The collection featured the barefoot shoes in several colourways alongside other playful accessories, including high-fashion swim caps, coral-inspired earrings and oversized bags.
But the footwear quickly became one of the most talked-about elements of the show, with its unusual construction prompting questions about whether it was intended as a serious shoe or an artistic fashion statement.
Fashion Fans Are Still Divided
The fashion world's reaction has been mixed. The New York Times described the concept as 'irrational, nonsensical luxury', while Vogue questioned the 'freaky' nature of the footwear. Elle took a different view, calling the design 'flat-out subversive'.
That debate has only made the shoes more interesting from a fashion perspective. Luxury houses routinely use runway collections to push boundaries, but designs that appear almost impossible to wear can struggle to make the transition into everyday wardrobes.
Qualley's appearance changes that conversation slightly. By wearing the shoes at a major premiere rather than simply modelling them on a runway, she has shown how Chanel's experimental footwear can fit into a full celebrity look.
A Bold Design, But Is It Practical?
The biggest question surrounding Chanel's barefoot shoes is whether they can work beyond the red carpet.
The exposed construction leaves much of the foot uncovered, making the design considerably less protective than a traditional flat or sandal. That may be part of the appeal: the shoes are designed to look unexpected and challenge conventional ideas about what footwear should be.
For Qualley, however, the setting was carefully controlled. A film premiere offers a very different environment from navigating busy pavements or spending an entire day walking around a city. That tension between fashion fantasy and practicality could ultimately determine whether the shoes become a genuine trend or remain one of Chanel's most memorable runway experiments.
Will Chanel's Barefoot Shoes Become a Trend?
Qualley's appearance has certainly given the design another burst of attention, but one major question remains: will Chanel actually make the controversial shoes widely available?
Pieces from the wider Cruise collection are expected to reach boutiques in November, potentially giving shoppers a chance to see whether the collection's most divisive footwear can make the leap from runway curiosity to coveted luxury accessory.
For now, Qualley has proved that the 'barefoot' shoe can command attention far beyond the catwalk. At The Dog Stars premiere, Chanel's strangest new footwear was no longer simply a fashion experiment—it was the star of the red carpet.
