Would You Wear Mar 9, 2009 @ 2:22pm

Would You Wear Split-Toe Shoes?

sarah jessica parker likes to boot up like a horse.jpg Horses have hooves for a reason. We do not. But if Martin Margiela has anything to do with it, that may change. Ok, not literally - he’s not planning on changing our anatomy, but his Tabi shoes and boots, at left, have a split between the big toe and the rest of the foot, making the wearer look a bit too equine to be seen outside of the Kentucky Derby.

The shoe, which has been spotted in multiple styles on SJP lately, is supposed to be modeled after the traditional Japanese tabi shoes, but we can’t help but think of the toe-socks that were all the rage in middle school.

If you’re interested in trying the ancient look, you’ll have a lot to choose from: Margiela made the style in flats, pumps, and boots, starting at $775.

But honestly, we don’t quite get it. Is it purely for looks? For fun? Is there an orthopedic function at work? Or is Margiela just horsing around (hah!) and getting the best of Hollywood’s wallet?

—CARSON GRIFFITH

« So Where Was Caroline?

Fashionista Main

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 2:50PM

don't get me wrong- i love sjp, but should someone with a, how do i put this delicately?, LONG face really be sporting those?

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 2:54PM

Similar shoes were around about 8-10 years ago. I thought they were really ugly then and I think they are really ugly now.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 3:05PM

#1- exactly what i thought... maybe she has an awesome sense of humour and is poking fun at the name calling

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 3:06PM

this is topic is so old, I'm coughing up dust.

posted by bastylefilegirl

Mar 09, 2009 3:21PM

I do have a couple pair of Nike Air Rift's which are super comfortable I love the. I'm not sure about leather split toe boots...and that price is insane!

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2981789?refsid=167081_6&refcat=0%7e2376778%7e2372808%7e2377035%7e2379515&SourceID=1&SlotID=1&origin=related

posted by darcykins

Mar 09, 2009 3:22PM

they had boots like this in japan 10 years ago, i think they are a common thing there.
Also horses don't have cloven hooves.
They have a single hoof on each foot; This looks more like the foot of an even-toed ungulate like a cow, pig, deer or goat.

posted by darcykins

Mar 09, 2009 3:24PM

like these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jika-tabi

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 4:03PM

I think they make you look less like a horse and more like a dinosaur

posted by joiji

Mar 09, 2009 4:23PM

it's not inspiring, it's not even very imaginative, and it's just not pretty.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 4:24PM

I've seen this split-toe construction before (on a pair of hiking "socks"/shoes)... other than orthopedic reasons (if there are any), I don't see the point. Plus, they're ugly.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 4:47PM

#2 i also remember seeing a ton of shoe styles similar to this years back in a bunch of small boutiques in soho- i actually tried a pair on just to see if it would feel weird

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 5:53PM

this is soooo old. margiela has been making the tabi shoes for years, they're classic. a stylist at interview once rocked a different pair every time i saw her, and she looked amazing. sjp's the wrong example for showing off the shoes.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 6:21PM

just an fyi, horses don't have split hooves, that would be a deer, elk, or some other sort of wild creature with horns.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 6:32PM

not cute.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 6:49PM

barf!

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 8:36PM

I saw someone wearing them today(not SJP)

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 8:55PM

Well, horses don't have cloven hooves (like goats or deer), so they aren't divided like those shoes.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 8:57PM

oh, sorry #13! Samesies.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 9:10PM

i think sjp, tries way to hard when it comes to fashion; and she desperately fails.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 9:39PM

I think the shoes depicted here are more flattering, but I don't know the designer:

http://www.notcot.com/archives/2009/02/artecnica_2009.php#more

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 9:43PM

amateurs. mmm has been making these boots for about 15 years. guest # 11, you saw them in one boutique in soho, IF.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 10:16PM

word to all the commentors calling out that this shoe design is an OLD, CLASSIC MMM ICON. it's part of what makes MMM, MMM, and sets it apart from all the other brands out there.

the fact that this site is only discussing this now shows how out of touch it is with STYLE as well as fashion design history.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 10:40PM

they are gross no matter who is making them.

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 11:02PM

22, they probably knew they existed since they were made, i think they're wondering if anyone would actually ever wear these things... i certainly would not.

posted by LeMagnifique

Mar 09, 2009 11:04PM

Why do you bother with this played out post ?
It was even on Perez Hilton two weeks ago...

posted by guest

Mar 09, 2009 11:24PM

japan did it first and they didn't look bad on them but spj, no no no sweetie! A decade to late

posted by etoilee8

Mar 09, 2009 11:48PM

I definitely have two pairs of Air Rifts as well BAstylefilegirl . . . don't you just love them? They are so comfy!

posted by lentil

Mar 10, 2009 12:21AM

Air Rifts were super fun. And comfy.

posted by Theclearblu

Mar 11, 2009 12:50AM

Visible toe forms and boots to do not work well together, especially in terms of fashion.

Gazing at these shoes reminded of the evolutionary time line of horses I learned in my biology class not too long ago.

posted by guest

Mar 12, 2009 1:04PM

Morons...

As #17 said, horses don't have split hooves - goats do.

And these shoes have been around forever. Are you just seeing them for the first time?

posted by guest

Oct 12, 2009 3:38PM

The design makes for a good athletic shoe. My friend and I used to rock climb, and I tried my air rifts once when I went; worked really well, much more stable footholds. I bet runners would like them too. I don't know about them as a fashion statement, tho :)