Margaret Qualley turned heads at the London premiere of The Dog Stars on August 20, but her dress was not what had people talking.
The actress stepped onto the red carpet wearing Chanel’s unusual “barefoot” sandals, a design that leaves most of the foot completely exposed.
While some fashion fans loved the strange look, others couldn't understand why anyone would pay thousands for something that barely resembles a shoe.
Highlights
- Margaret Qualley turned heads in Chanel’s unusual $3,000 “barefoot” sandals.
- The barely-there shoes sparked hilarious reactions online.
- The premiere also marked Qualley’s first red carpet since her reported split from husband Jack Antonoff.
One person joked, “So she paid full price for only a quarter of the shoe.”
The appearance also marked Qualley’s first red carpet since her split from Jack Antonoff.
Margaret Qualley’s Chanel “barefoot” sandals left almost her entire foot exposed
At the London premiere, Qualley wore a dramatic black Chanel gown with a plunging V-neckline and fringe details that moved as she walked.
Her hair was worn straight, and she kept her makeup simple with rosy-brown lips, soft blush, and black eyeliner.
But her bizarre footwear became the talking point.
The Chanel design has been described as a “barefoot” sandal. Instead of covering the foot like a normal shoe, it has a small leather heel section and thin straps that wrap around the ankle.
The toes and most of the sole remain completely uncovered.
The shoes cost around £2,200 or roughly $3,000.
Qualley is a Chanel ambassador and has had a long relationship with the French fashion house. She first walked for Chanel at 17 and later appeared in the brand’s Haute Couture shows.
The unusual sandals first appeared during Chanel’s Cruise 2026/2027 show in Biarritz, France, on April 26.
Chanel explained that designer Matthieu Blazy wanted the shoes to feel like something a woman might wear after coming out of the beach or sea. The fashion house described them as shoes that “almost look like jewelry.”
For some people, the explanation worked; however, others were still confused
A fashion commentator praised Qualley’s look and said he was “deeply obsessed” with the sandals. But his followers were much less impressed.
One person wrote, “Shoes? They’re heel pads at best,” another said, “Totally unusable. I get the whimsy, but these aren’t it.”
Someone else raised a more practical concern, writing, “Not healthy for foot care.”
One more person called the shoes “unsanitary.”
Not everyone hated them, though.
Stylist Kim Russell defended the unusual design, writing, “Everyone’s so close-minded. Can’t people have fun, weird, hideous shoes anymore?!”
Another supporter called the look “just fabulous.”
A reporter at the event also could not resist commenting on Qualley’s footwear.
In a clip shared on Instagram, GMA reporter James Longman asked her, “Are you barefoot?”
Qualley replied, “I am! I’ve got a little Chanel.”
Longman then joked, “So you’re Chanel barefoot, I’m from London, I mean Leicester Square barefoot is a choice!”
“This has to be a social experiment,” one person wrote.
Another joked, “Capitalism really needs to end, companies are gonna start selling parts of a shoe at whole shoe prices.”
Someone else was more concerned about hygiene, writing, “Feet gonna be dirty as hell.”
One person added, “If you're rich, you could wear a literal trash bag with matted hair and dirty feet, and people would say it's a ‘statement piece’ and ‘homeless chic.’”
The premiere was also Qualley’s first red carpet since her split from Jack Antonoff
The Chanel sandals were not the only reason Qualley’s appearance drew attention.
The premiere was also her first major red carpet appearance since her marriage to musician and producer Jack Antonoff ended.
Qualley and Antonoff reportedly separated in July after nearly three years of marriage. Their relationship had started in 2021, and they married on August 19, 2023, in New Jersey.
The actress also appeared to confirm that she had moved on from that chapter by appearing without her wedding ring.
Reports about the separation came after Antonoff attended Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding with his sister. At the time, Qualley was reportedly filming Possession.
A representative for Qualley later confirmed the split to TMZ, saying there was “no infidelity” and “no trust issues” behind the breakup.
However, the pair had previously appeared very certain about their relationship.
In a 2024 interview with Elle UK, Qualley said she knew almost immediately that Antonoff was the person she wanted to marry.
“I’d met Jack probably two weeks before, but I was head-over-heels in love right away,” she said.
She added, “I had a sure, knowing feeling that he was my husband.”
Antonoff had a similar story.
During an appearance on The Howard Stern Show, he said he knew he would marry Qualley the “second” they met.
“I saw her, and it was like a f*ing Hallmark movie that doesn’t seem believable,”** he said. “When I met her, I started imagining things that I’d never even imagined, like marriage.”
The couple's wedding in 2023 was a star-studded affair, with Taylor Swift, Cara Delevingne and Lana Del Rey among the guests.
“We paying to walk barefoot now and it’s fashion,” wrote one viewer
