Barbie's influence goes far beyond the Barbiecore fashion aesthetic [1] — the doll has seemingly inspired a trend we're dubbing "Barbie-foot heels." As the nickname suggests, these are sandals or platforms with clear straps that give the illusion you're not wearing shoes and instead have permanently arched soles like a Barbie doll. Some call them "naked heels," as a parallel to the naked-dress resurgence [2], but to that we say: why not give Mattel and Greta Gerwig a little credit?
Gerwig's "Barbie" movie [3] has a scene that offers a close-up look as Margot Robbie slips off her character's fuzzy pink mules to reveal pointed feet. Seeing as the moment became instant meme fodder following the trailer's release, it's not too far-fetched to assume folks are itching to mimic the look in real life. Barbie-foot heels not only elongate the legs and visually give you a few extra inches [4], but they also match with just about any outfit. What's not to love?
Of course, to officially declare a trend, a significant amount of people need to be behind it — and the Barbie-foot-heel bandwagon has been steadily gaining supporters ever since summer. While shoes with transparent straps have cycled in and out of style, last popping up around 2018, the recent revival has the approval of celebrities like Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Chlöe, and yes, even Margot Robbie. Plus, popular brands like Gianvito Rossi, Amina Muaddi, Schutz, and Stuart Weitzman are fueling the obsession with recent releases, and affordable dupes are all over TikTok.
Read ahead to see how stars are styling their own Barbie-foot heels on red carpets, Instagram, and beyond.
Hailey Bieber Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of her skin-care brand, Bieber paired a custom Vivienne Westwood minidress [6] with transparent Gianvito Rossi mules, making for quite the Barbie-approved look.
Doja Cat Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
At the 2023 MTV VMAs, the rapper styled her spiderweb-inspired Monse dress [7] with transparent, pointed-toe Amina Muaddi heels.
Margot Robbie Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
Our favourite onscreen Barbie wore a pair of see-through, silver-trimmed sandals during the movie's lengthy and stylish press tour [8].
Kim Kardashian Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
At Pharrell Williams's first Louis Vuitton menswear fashion show [9], Kardashian finished her pixelated separates with clear-strap sandals featuring a black sole.
Jennifer Lopez Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
The multihyphenate took Barbie-foot heels to new heights in six-inch Valentino heels [10] for a press day in New York City.
Kendall Jenner Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
Jenner went monochromatic at a FWRD pop-up opening, pairing a one-shoulder top and skirt by Rick Owens with a white baguette handbag and clear sandals.
Chlöe Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
The singer attended the premiere of her film "Praise This" [11] wearing a vibrant yellow dress and pointed-toe PVC heels.
Heidi Klum Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
At the Cannes Film Festival in May, Klum paired her showstopping Zuhair Murad gown [12] with translucent heels that made her legs look miles long.
Kelsea Ballerini Wearing Barbie-Foot Heels
Ballerini made her red carpet debut with boyfriend Chase Stokes [13] at the CMT Music Awards, where she paired a grey corset dress with pumps featuring both clear and crystallized straps.