Every time I think we’ve moved on, I see a pair of Margelia Tabis clopping down the street and suddenly I’m 100% back on board with this strange sillouette. Back in 2023, Vogue called them “a cornerstone of celebrity style,” (but have also referred to them as “one of the freakiest shoes in the history of mankind,” which is also a fair assessment).
Here’s my honest take: they’re not going anywhere. Yes, simplicity and quiet luxury had its moment this year. We all tried to do perfectly pressed trousers and anonymous loafers. It’s cute. Respectable. A little beige. But cashmere sweaters and soft power can only take us so far. Culture is starting to swing back to maximalism- just not the 2020 version where we dressed like a Pinterest board bonfire. This time it’s louder and smarter. But the culture right now? It wants personality. It wants a plot twist. And Tabis are literally a plot twist for your feet.
I don’t think quiet luxury will kill them; but it will certainly change how we style them. Instead of full-look weird girl, I’m seeing more people wear Tabis with very clean, almost uptight outfits- a crisp shirt, perfect trousers, then hoof shoes. There is something enticing about a split toe on a classy loafer or ballet flat. The contrast feels very 2025. It says, “Yes, I pay my taxes, but I also have a wild side.”
And fun shoe shapes in general? Absolutely the future. As tech and AI keep pushing design, shoes are becoming little wearable sculptures. Split toes today, alien arches tomorrow. I’d bet good money that in a few years, classic pumps will feel almost… basic.
So my verdict: Tabis are staying, just not as a hype shoe- more as a personality trait. In 2026, we won’t just see more fun styles, but more brands will start adding their personal flare to the silhouette (I’m waiting for you, Isabel Marant). We’re entering a chapter where taste isn’t measured by how invisible you can look, but by how specific and unique you’re willing to be. Shoes are just the opening line. Today it’s split toes, tomorrow it’s something even more delightfully absurd that we haven’t seen yet. And honestly, that’s the fun of it. I’m excited to watch 2026 trends lean into that playful, experimental mood, and even more excited to see what wild little contraptions we’ll all be strapping to our feet next.
