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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Chloe Mac Donnell

Provocative? Polarising? Or just plain weird? Welcome to ugly shoe summer

closeup of feet in black five-toed sandal
Fia Hamelijnck in her Vibram's FiveFingers shoes. Fans of the shoes include the rapper Doechii and Blackpink’s Jennie. Photograph: Chloe Mac Donnell/The Guardian

When 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.

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