Vibram’s toe-spreading styles are the ubiquitous side of a trend that can be traced back to 15th-century Japan
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hen it comes to summer style muses, Jane Birkin in a pair of woven sandals or plimsoll sneakers strolling around Provence was once the perennial reference. But change is afoot. This summer’s biggest footwear muses include kayakers and barefoot running enthusiasts.
The most surprising yet desired shoes in fashion right now include rubber flip-flops, neoprene slip-on water shoes and Vibram’s FiveFingers, a glove-like fitness shoe that punctuates each individual toe.
Last week, Lyst released a list of the most popular items being searched for and bought online in the second quarter of 2025. Six out of the 10 top items were shoes, including The Row’s £670 flip-flops (as worn by the Jurassic World actor Jonathan Bailey on the red carpet), faded suede boat shoes from Miu Miu, mesh-style jelly slippers and those aforementioned toe-pocketed shoes from Vibram, whose fans include the rapper Doechii and Blackpink’s Jennie.
