Elle Fanning Wore Spring's Most Unexpected Shoe Trend With Cuffed Jeans
This season's publicly accepted shoe trends run the gamut from mesh flats to grandma pumps (or as I elegantly refer to them, court shoes), meaning that it would take a lot for people to be shocked by a footwear fad that enters onto the scene. We're out here wearing leopard-print sneakers, patent-leather sock boots, and bright-green satin slippers on any normal day—it's not like things are exactly casual. And yet, I have a pretty good feeling that the shoe trend I just spotted Elle Fanning wearing in a photo will take some by surprise, not to mention probably spark a controversy or two.
The shoes in question—which the actress wore with dark-wash cuffed jeans, a white button-down shirt worn open with a camisole underneath, and a Bottega Veneta crossbody bag while shopping around SoHo in New York City—came straight off of the runway at Miu Miu's S/S 24 show. You may have owned something similar during your summer camp days, as the style I'm referring to is a rope sandal with a thong toe and slingback closure made entirely of colorful cord. Though Fanning chose the red pair, Miu Miu also offers the sandals in brown and black.
In addition to the kitschy, throwback nature of the shoe style, the way these particular sandals put your otherwise bare feet so close to the sidewalk is extremely controversial, especially in a city like New York. Many people swore off any flip-flop-adjacent footwear options years ago and will shamelessly call you out if they see you trying to bring them back. But, like any rule, this one is begging to be broken, and that's exactly what Fanning just did. Scroll down to shop her exact sandals before they're gone.
On Elle Fanning: Miu Miu Riviere Cord & Leather Sandal ($895); Bottega Veneta Bang Bang Vanity Case on Strap ($2200)
Shop Miu Miu's controversial rope sandals in more colors:
Shop more sporty sandals:
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
-
Gwyneth Paltrow Just Channeled Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, But Swapped Her '90s Sandals for *This* Shoe TrendA bold choice that paid off.
-
Not Black, Not Brown: The 2026 Boot Color Trend That Makes Every Outfit ElegantJust like that.
-
If Parisians Walked Around in Leggings Like It Girls in NYC and L.A. Do, They'd Choose This Expensive-Looking Color TrendHint: It's not black or brown.
-
I'm a Fashion Editor—6 Elegant Shoe Color Trends I'm Buying This Winter and 6 I'm SkippingTake note.
-
*Not* Black—6 Legging Color Trends Everyone Everywhere Will Be Wearing in 2026Everything you need to know about wearing leggings next year, all in one place.
-
From Luxe to Unexpected: I Speculate Celebs Will Ask for These Holiday GiftsYou heard it here first.
-
Suddenly, This Revealing Dress Trend Is Popular Again—These Are the Shoes That Make It Look TastefulJ.Lo knows how to dress both sophisticated and sultry.
-
Jennifer Aniston Just Wore Wide-Leg Jeans With the Only Sneakers That Are Never at Risk of Going OutA forever style that fits in every wardrobe.
