26Apr

Elle Fanning Wore Spring’s Most Unexpected Shoe Trend

This season’s publicly accepted shoe trends run the gamut from mesh flats to grandma pumps (or as I elegantly refer to them, court shoes), meaning that it would take a lot for people to be shocked by a footwear fad that enters onto the scene. We’re out here wearing leopard-print sneakers, patent-leather sock boots, and bright-green satin slippers on any normal day—it’s not like things are exactly casual. And yet, I have a pretty good feeling that the shoe trend I just spotted Elle Fanning wearing in a photo will take some by surprise, not to mention probably spark a controversy or two.

The shoes in question—which the actress wore with dark-wash cuffed jeans, a white button-down shirt worn open with a camisole underneath, and a Bottega Veneta crossbody bag while shopping around SoHo in New York City—came straight off of the runway at Miu Miu’s S/S 24 show. You may have owned something similar during your summer camp days, as the style I’m referring to is a rope sandal with a thong toe and slingback closure made entirely of colorful cord. Though Fanning chose the red pair, Miu Miu also offers the sandals in brown and black.

In addition to the kitschy, throwback nature of the shoe style, the way these particular sandals put your otherwise bare feet so close to the sidewalk is extremely controversial, especially in a city like New York. Many people swore off any flip-flop-adjacent footwear options years ago and will shamelessly call you out if they see you trying to bring them back. But, like any rule, this one is begging to be broken, and that’s exactly what Fanning just did. Scroll down to shop her exact sandals before they’re gone.