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Margaret Qualley has once again demonstrated her willingness to challenge conventional fashion after arriving at the London premiere of her new film, The Dog Stars, wearing one of Chanel's most unconventional creations.
The 31 year old actress attended the August 20 premiere in a black Chanel dress featuring a plunging neckline and dramatic fringe. However, it was her footwear that attracted the greatest attention.
Qualley wore Chanel's controversial barefoot sandals, a design that provides the appearance of a shoe while leaving much of the foot exposed. The unusual footwear features only a heel carrying the Chanel logo and a strap wrapped around the foot, leaving the toes and balls of the feet uncovered.
The sandals were first presented in April when Chanel creative director Matthieu Blazy unveiled them as part of the fashion house's Resort 2027 collection. The pieces generated considerable discussion because of their unconventional construction and were reportedly not made available through Chanel's website, suggesting that they remained highly exclusive.
Qualley's decision to wear the footwear publicly quickly divided fashion observers. Some fans questioned the practicality of walking around in shoes that offered so little coverage, while others used humour to express their disbelief.
One social media user questioned what would happen if the actress needed to use a public restroom, while another joked that inflation had affected fashion so severely that designers could no longer afford to make an entire shoe.
Despite the criticism, Qualley has previously had an unusual relationship with fashion and public attention surrounding her feet. Her feet featured prominently in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, where her character famously displays them during a scene involving Brad Pitt's character.
The moment was initially a source of anxiety for Qualley, who had spent years as a ballerina and was particularly self conscious about her feet. She recalled telling Tarantino that she believed showing them on screen was a bad idea because years spent dancing en pointe had affected their appearance.
Qualley said she, Tarantino and Pitt had a discussion about the scene, with the actress repeatedly insisting that her feet were not suitable for public display. Eventually, she agreed to film the sequence and later developed a more accepting attitude towards them.
Her latest appearance therefore represents more than an unusual red carpet choice. It also demonstrates the actress's willingness to embrace unconventional fashion while maintaining a playful approach to public scrutiny.
Whether Chanel's barefoot sandals become a lasting fashion statement remains uncertain. For now, however, Qualley has ensured that the controversial design has received another significant moment in the spotlight.
