This ‘Ugly’ Footwear Trend is the Ultimate Sign of Quiet Luxury
This ‘Ugly’ Footwear Trend is the Ultimate Sign of Quiet Luxury
Madison RexroatTue, May 5, 2026 at 8:27 PM UTC
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Glove Shoes Are the Ugly Shoe Trend You Need, StatAlessandro Viero
Of all the major happenings of the past few runway seasons, perhaps one of the biggest—or rather most wearable—trends to emerge was the glove shoe. From Chanel to Stella McCartney, the use of glove shoes told a story of chic minimalism and a dance-adjacent obsession with clean lines and effortless subtlety.
For those not familiar with the glove shoe, it’s a straightforward style to learn: a sleek silhouette, supple-but-durable leather, and usually flat, like a ballet or jazz shoe (though depending on your preference, there are also ultra-fashionable heeled styles).
The glove shoe is meant to move with your foot, a more comfortable alternative to stiff loafers or barely-there ballet flats. A grown-up version of the mesh flat, the style is now the must-have chic shoe of the season. Ready to shop? Find our favorite takes on the trend below.
Heeled Styles
Chanel spring/summer 2026Alessandro Viero
A heeled glove shoe is a wonderful juxtaposition of practical elements. You have the minimalist, foot-hugging leather on one side, balanced by a sleek heel of any height, giving an elevated feel to an otherwise subtle shoe.
Collapsible Heels
Tove spring/summer 2026Alessandro Viero
A collapsible glove shoe is the underdog among perfect everyday summer shoes. Whether you wear them with the edge up or down, this style keeps you comfortable and cool and pairs well with any outfit.
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Lace-Ups
Sportmax spring/summer 2026Armando Grillo
Half glove style and half derby, a lace-up jazz shoe is the perfect meet-in-the-middle for someone after casual footwear that also feels put-together. If you need a classic closed-toe shoe but don’t want to feel too sporty, let these styles replace your sneakers this summer.
Neutral Tones
Issey Miyake spring/summer 2026launchmetrics.com/spotlight
With the glove shoe’s dance-adjacent nature, it only makes sense that neutral colorways would be so prevalent in this trend. White, beige, and dark brown were absolute hits from Chanel’s spring/summer 2026 shoe drop—yes, the drop that caused an in-store frenzy—and come fall, a further expansion into stripes and metallics will hit stores.
Classic Black
Emporio ArmaniArmando Grillo
You can never go wrong with a simple black leather shoe, and glove shoes make that case even stronger. Ultra-sleek and minimalist, an all-black glove shoe is the ultimate understated accessory.
Non-Leather Materials
Stella McCartneylaunchmetrics.com/spotlight
While soft leather is definitely the most popular material when it comes to the glove shoe trend, let’s not forget the start of said trend: the mesh flat. Mesh, neoprene, nylon, satin, suede, and metallic materials are all perfectly wearable alternatives to classic leather if you choose to branch out. As long as they hug the foot and create a clean line, they’re absolutely on-trend.
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