For most of my life, I hated showing my toes. I have bigger feet (size 9.5/10-ish) that are wide, and sometimes, I can feel my toes spilling over the edges of sandals in ways I had never anticipated. It's made me self-conscious for as long as I can remember, and so I have kept my toe cleavage to myself for years.
Recently, though, showing your toes feels like a necessity. Peep-toe heels are on the runway (looking at you, Tory Burch). Flip flops are hot again. Thong sandals are everywhere. Showing your toes is actually… hot?
Here I am in the beloved Simone Rocha clear Crocs. This Khaite puff-sleeve top and big Sandy Liang skirt make me look like a goody two shoes princess but the Simone Rocha Crocs add a freak factor I really like.
When I look down at my feet in these and see my toes, I no longer feel fear. I just feel giddy—especially when I have a bold red pedicure that really pops.
I first had a change of heart this time last year, when Simone Rocha's collaboration with Crocs dropped. The designer had reimagined the plastic garden shoes as something that was still quirky but also ethereal. Rocha's Crocs were covered in oversized pearls and large jeweled Jibbitz. The pair I was most drawn to was entirely clear, so you can see your toes peeking through.
Online, the model had paired the shoes with a ruffled white wedding dress and a veil. And while I wasn't quite sure I would wear them to my wedding, I did feel like I needed them. Now, I don't even hesitate to wear them. I throw them on with sweatpants to walk my dog or a sundress for a picnic in the park. It turns out that clear is even more of a neutral than black or white. And showing your toes isn't all that scary.
Wearing a pair of clear Old Navy jelly shoes to give this otherwise plain outfit—featuring a Levi's tank top and pair of denim shorts—a bit of intrigue. Without the shoes, this look would be a bit too basic for me. But with the shoes, it feels just the right amount of weird.
Another example of wearing the clear jelly shoes with a simple outfit to make it feel more complex.
There's just something so fun about looking down and seeing my toes in this clear webbing. Not to mention these are comfortable and easy-to slip on. But best of all, they're clearness means they work with anything and can be worn for all seaside summer activities without the concern of ruining them.
That kind of clear shoe style isn't just a weird outfit fear I've gotten over, but a serious trend. Shoes that expose your toes through an opaque layer of mesh or webbed jelly, or shiny PVC, are inescapable. As someone who never thought she'd be a proponent of the look, I can confirm that they're worth getting over your fear of showing your toes. They're surprisingly easy to wear because mesh, jelly, or PVC materials go with anything, and the toe exposure feels perverse enough to add a little bit of freaky fun to any look (no matter how basic it seems at first).
Shop the clear shoe trend below:
