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We had plenty of options when it came to It shoes this year. During the summer, the Adidas Sambas took over, and everyone from Hailey Bieber to Kendall Jenner wore the comfy cool sneakers. In the fall, Femme LA’s sexy strappy stilettos were all the rage with stars such as Tracee Ellis Ross, Sydney Sweeney, and Lori Harvey. And those are cute and all, but there’s a more polarizing footwear choice that defined 2023. Here’s a hint: They’re split-toed and resemble hooves. Yes, the notorious Margiela Tabis.
If you’re unfamiliar with the genius that is the Tabi, allow me to school you on its origin story. Belgian designer Martin Margiela first debuted the style during his very first show in 1988. The split-toe silhouette drew inspiration from a Japanese worker’s shoe dating as far back as the 15th century. “The split-toe design was thought to promote balance through the separation of the big toe—a holistic reflexology strategy that promotes a clear mind,” wrote Ssense. Today, Tabis are a Margiela signature: The label now does the split-toe silhouettes in all sorts of styles, including boots, loafers, and even ballet flat versions.
Now, the Tabi isn’t a shoe for everyone. They’re a shoe that makes passersby do a double take. But even if they’re polarizing, you can’t deny they give an outfit an instant cool factor. They demand a certain amount of fearlessness and boldness to pull them off. And this year, clearly, celebrities were willing to take the risk—and it paid off.
Some of the stars who dared to wear them? Last month, Dua Lipa emerged in New York City wearing a black Mary Jane Tabi with an oversized black coat. In the fall, Cardi B wore a tan boot version and paired it with a distressed leather jacket. It’s kind of surprising how versatile the Tabi is. I mean, Pedro Pascal even wore it on the red carpet: His loafer style paired well with his silky pants and robe jacket.
It’s not just celebrities who are embracing the trend, either. The Mary Jane topped the Lyst Index for Q3, which ranks the most popular brands and items based on online shopping searches and sales (helped, no doubt, by the Tabi Swiper saga that stole every fashion lover’s heart this September). Clearly, the Tabi is no longer such a scary shoe to attempt. It’s become a mainstream favorite that can be styled with, well, just about anything. If 2023 had one style mantra, it was this: Long live the Tabi!
Below, see more stars who rocked Tabis this year.
