With their amphibian-looking design, toe shoes have never been particularly flattering, let alone stylish. The last thing I expected was for them to become a bona fide fashion trend.When barefoot running, a practice that urged runners to do away with traditional cushioned sneakers, became popular in the 2000s and 2010s, toe shoes also emerged as a meaningful segment of the footwear market. (By 2011, barefoot-style footwear had become a $1.7 billion industry.) The main toe shoe of choice for runners was Vibram’s FiveFingers, which launched in 2006. The shoes quite literally fit like a glove, and thanks to their rubber soles and toe pockets, they give the impression that the wearer is truly barefoot.Now, toe shoes have jumped into the fashion world, with brands such as Coperni and Balenciaga also making their own toe-shaping shoes. But it’s Vibram’s FiveFingers line that continues to thread the needle between fitness and fashion, dominating the trend’s second coming.In January, Vogue declared FiveFingers the must-have “freaky-chic shoe” of 2025. Attendees at Copenhagen Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week styled them with everything from maxi skirts to sweatpants. Searches for Vibram’s FiveFingers spiked by 110% during the second quarter of 2025 on Lyst, the fashion search engine and marketplace. Vibram’s V-Soul, a Mary Jane–style model, was the fifth hottest product of Q2, according to Lyst, alongside items from high-fashion labels The Row and Prada.The buzz piqued my curiosity. A Copenhagen Fashion Week attendee in pink toe shoes. Edward Berthelot/Getty ImagesTrendy toe shoes for yoga and beyondVibram V-SoulOne of 2025’s top trending shoes, the V-Soul is a comfortable, flexible, and somewhat stylish shoe that you can wear everywhere, from the office to physical therapy.$120 from VibramSo, writer Hannah Frye and I put the V-Soul shoes through more than 30 hours of everyday wear: styling them for work, weekend fun, and errands. And it turned out that one colleague, outdoors writer India Edwards, can speak to the V-Soul’s longevity and versatility, as she has worn them “just about every other day” for nearly two years, for both work and light fitness activities. “I wear them so often, I keep them by the front door permanently,” she said.It was no surprise that the shoes were ultra comfortable. But Hannah and I were stunned to find ourselves actually enjoying working them into our wardrobes, even though we’re both not necessarily inclined toward the avant-garde. They’re comfortable, unique, and versatile enough to blend aesthetics and practicality with ease.Here’s why they worked for us.