Margaret Qualley's 'Barefoot' Red Carpet Shoes Spark Viral Outrage
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Margaret Qualley attended the London premiere of her new film, The Dog Stars, on August 20. She arrived alongside director Ridley Scott and co-stars Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin .
Qualley's ensemble featured a classic black Chanel dress. The focus of attention, however, was her unconventional footwear. She wore controversial "barefoot sandals" from Chanel's Cruise 2027 collection .
The shoes, designed by Matthieu Blazy, feature only a leather heel cap and laces. They leave the wearer's soles, toes, and the majority of the foot completely bare . The design was first presented on a runway in Biarritz, France, in April . Critics have described the style as an "oxymoron" in fashion, resembling jewelry rather than practical footwear .
The appearance sparked immediate widespread criticism on social media. Users expressed confusion and amusement, questioning the design's purpose. Comments included criticisms such as, "Can we all agree that this is a horrible design," and "I feel like that's the wrong part of the foot to cover" . Another user compared the shoe's construction to the fable of "The Emperor's New Clothes" . Some observers noted that the shoes require impeccably groomed feet to wear .
The specific variant worn by Qualley was black and featured two strings tied around the foot and a heel cap adorned with a gold Chanel monogram . This marks one of the first major red-carpet debuts of the controversial footwear since its introduction . The specific retail price of the shoes has not been made public .
More context
Timeline
- On April 2026 Chanel presented Cruise 2027 footwear designs during Biarritz fashion showcase.
- On August 20, 2026 Qualley wore Chanel barefoot sandals at London premiere.
- On August 20, 2026 Fashion outlets reported widespread debate about unconventional footwear choice.
- On August 21, 2026 Additional coverage examined Chanel’s experimental heel-cap design concept.
- On August 28, 2026 The Dog Stars scheduled theatrical release follows premiere attention.
- Future: Chanel may continue showcasing experimental accessories through celebrity appearances.
- Future: Designers may use unusual footwear concepts to generate fashion discussions.
- Future: Consumer adoption remains uncertain because practicality concerns remain significant.
- Future: Red-carpet appearances may influence luxury fashion trend conversations.
- Future: Chanel’s response could determine commercial availability of sandals.
Why it matters
Immediate US impact: Celebrity fashion debate increases luxury footwear visibility among American consumers. Long-term US impact: May influence experimental fashion trends and luxury marketing strategies. Most affected groups: Fashion brands, designers, celebrities, consumers, and luxury retail audiences. Reader priority: Compare verified reporting against viral reactions across social media platforms.
Coverage notes
Left: Evidence insufficient for a distinct left-leaning framing pattern. Center: Coverage focuses on verified fashion event details and public reactions. Right: Evidence insufficient for a distinct right-leaning framing pattern.
Primary report
“That’s the wrong part of foot to cover”
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
