This Fall, Freaky Footwear Is Here to Stay

Have you noticed something different about fall footwear this year? Something… odd? Something… unsettling? Something… freaky?

Fall 2025’s biggest shoe trends are far from the sweet and coquettish ballet slippers and pastel sneakers of the past. Instead, they’re, well, a little weird—heavily studded, pierced, even cloven. So if you’re bored with your New Balances, Repetto ballet flats, and Doc Marten boots, it may be time to let your freak flag fly… especially where your footwear is concerned.

The Trend

The “freaky shoe” concept can be traced to fashion writer Mandy Lee, who is an avid collector of the shoe style and went viral on TikTok and Instagram while showing off her favorite freaky shoes. She’s such an expert in all things freaky shoes that she even curated her favorites for The Real Real and earned the nickname “CEO of Freaky Shoes.”

“Ugly” shoes are not a new concept, though in the past the term was typically relegated to sneakers, less so flats, heels, and sandals. But now, every shoe category is getting in on the fun and our wardrobes are the better for it. There’s nothing like putting together a great outfit, then adding an unexpected shoe to give it an edge. Have you seen Schiaparelli’s Trompe L’Oeil “feet shoes?” Those are not for the faint of heart! 

The king of all freaky shoes is, of course, the Tabi, the split-toe design that has absolutely exploded in popularity over the past few years; even Steve Madden made one, and Jeffrey Campbell took the weirdo factor to the next level with a jelly Tabi. But there’s a whole new batch of weird shoes coming for the Tabi crown! The guiding principle when shopping for your fall shoes: the weirder, the better.

Take, for instance, Sandy Liang, with her signature sporty-coquette aesthetic. The brand’s Paw Mary Jane has roots in Tabi-world, but instead of a split toe, it’s shaped like a dog or cat paw—though subtly so, so you could easily walk past someone on the street and they’d think you were wearing a simple pair of Mary Janes. 

Where to Find Freaky Shoes

Though Tory Burch is still best known for its round-toed Reva flat, the line is home to some surprisingly freaky shoes, most notably the “pierced” mules, sandals, and heels. They come in a variety of styles, like the Mule with its reversed sole design, the Mule Wedge with a bold cutout that leaves a large portion of the foot bare, and the Pierced Pump, with a curvy heel and chunky metallic “piercing” over the toe.

Italian fashion house Marni often embraces the “ugly” in its designs, and their Fussbett clogs, made of long-hair calfskin, will make you feel like a creature in a storybook—in a stylish way, of course.

For something a bit more subtle, take a peek at Miu Miu’s Èlan Nappa Leather Pumps and Ballerinas, which are more grandma-chic than fairytale character. Or lean into the grandpa vibes with Birkenstock’s Naples Clogs, a driving loafer-inspired clog that is currently going viral—probably because it’s one of their more polarizing styles. If you’ve got money to burn, the Row’s Hudson Suede Slide Mules are a very luxurious take on flat suede clogs… with a price tag to match. Chloë Sevigny, who loves a freaky shoe, is a fan of ECCO’s (currently sold out) Biom lace-up sneaker, which takes the sweet ballerina style, flips it on its head, and encourages it to get a little weird.

Why not follow suit? Add some shoes to cart and get your freak on.