Footwear in all its forms – trainers, loafers, even an Astro Boy big red boot – is integral to any outfit. Especially if you're going outside. But some of the sartorial rules learned in toddlerhood are being overlooked. And it seems that a shift is happening, one where men are going shoeless.
It first started on social media – a natural platform for WTF behaviour. The Cut unearthed this picture of Jacob Elordi from 2021 traipsing around L.A barefoot... Sure, the fit is good, but why has he publicly displayed just how flat his feet really are? And what of the dirt? Still, with over 50,000 likes on the pic, the Euphoria actor has more interactions than Jared Leto cat-cosplaying at the Met Gala – the latter arguably just as weird, but somehow easier to digest.
Most recently, full frontal feet-ity has infiltrated Sean Mendes’ crew, too. Dubbed the “smoothie squad” on Twitter, musician Mike Sabath was out and about with the popstar wearing a cropped white tee, pyjama-esque trousers and holographic toenails. A quick scroll of his Instagram and you’ll find more unfiltered evidence of him being shoeless – and almost always topless... but that's another topic.
Could these be the most 'L.A' scenarios ever? They are both residents, after all. Somehow, they both manage not to look particularly unhinged – falling high on the attractiveness scale probably helps that, too. Maybe it's a woo woo way of levelling up their Erewhon memberships. Across the pond, I suspect it’ll translate to Broadway Market’s Planet Organic shoppers shortly; see it as a way of grounding to the earth while doing a supermarket sweep – wellness and fashion (or rather, lack thereof) in one.
Big Business Bros are part of the hype too. During the most recent episode of Succession, Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) walked from his private jet into Shiv’s (Sarah Snook) without a slipper or slide in sight. Even in Air, the film’s lead and producer Ben Affleck kicks his feet up onto the desk sans Air Jordans.
Exposing a few toes seems a sure way of asserting dominance – no one wants to mess with someone confident enough to unexpectedly get their tootsies out. Scrap the power suit (so 2009), dressing for business is all about being barefoot. Tread carefully if you happen to stumble across such in an IRL corporate scenario, as bulldog behaviour is it to be expected.
While the two camps – off-duty celeb in search of iced beverages vs. money-hungry CEOs – are different, they have a shared desire for dressing down. Deeeeep down. Strict design codes have been eschewed for a 'fuck it' energy, where unabashed comfort in formal and casual settings take precedence.
And don't expect to see them rosy-cheeked with embarrassment, these guys are intentionally reacting against the fleeting trends of our post-pandemic world. They don't really care about what's next after quiet luxury, they just want to wiggle their toes without constraint or judgement. And, well... don't we all? Going against what fashion and social norms expect of us is refreshing, especially when the last few years have hardly been normal. So, maybe we all say goodbye to standard shoes and hello to feet freedom!
Realistically, London's pavements aren't well kept enough to go safely from A to B on trotters alone, so get some nice shoes that flirt with with the idea of nudity. Classic Birkenstock Bostons are just as comfortable as going au naturel, and these Brunello Cucinelli flip flops are great if you want to feel the sun on your skin. Not quite as revolutionary, but it will save you from having to get an extra tetanus shot.
