Are Margaret Qualley's Chanel 'barefoot' shoes the wildest red carpet look of 2026?

Margaret Qualley made Chanel's footwear the centre of attention at ‘The Dog Stars’ premiere in London this week

Margaret Qualley has once again given the fashion world something to talk about after arriving at the London premiere of The Dog Stars wearing one of Chanel's most unconventional footwear designs yet.

The actor attended the world premiere on August 20 in a black Chanel dress covered in delicate fringe, styled with soft waves, understated jewellery and dark nail polish. However, it was her footwear that immediately became the focus of attention.

Qualley wore Chanel's so called barefoot sandals, a design created under creative director Matthieu Blazy for the fashion house's Cruise 2027 collection. Rather than covering the foot like a conventional shoe, the design leaves the toes and the majority of the foot completely exposed. A small leather section sits around the heel, while thin straps secure the design to the foot.

The unusual shoes had already attracted considerable attention when they appeared on Chanel's runway earlier this year. Qualley became the first major star to take the divisive design from the catwalk to a high profile red carpet, giving the footwear a very different setting from its original runway presentation.

The look divided online opinion almost immediately. Some viewers questioned the practicality of wearing footwear that leaves so much of the foot exposed, particularly at a busy London event. Others appreciated the deliberate shock value and argued that the unusual shoes worked with Qualley's dramatic black ensemble.

The choice also carried an unexpected connection to the film she was promoting. The Dog Stars, directed by Ridley Scott, is set in a post apocalyptic world after a deadly pandemic has devastated humanity. Qualley plays Cima, appearing alongside Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Guy Pearce.

The film is based on Peter Heller's 2012 novel of the same name. Its story follows Hig, played by Elordi, a pilot living in isolation with his dog and Bangley, a military survivalist played by Brolin. A mysterious radio transmission gives Hig a reason to leave his isolated existence and search for signs of other survivors.

That bleak setting made Qualley's almost barefoot appearance particularly striking, although the connection appears to have been largely visual rather than part of the film's narrative.

Qualley's relationship with Chanel also makes the choice less surprising. She has previously worn the French fashion house on major occasions and has worked closely with the brand, making her a natural candidate to introduce one of Blazy's more experimental designs to the red carpet.

The response has also highlighted the growing role of unconventional accessories in celebrity fashion. Red carpet appearances increasingly function as promotional moments for films and fashion houses alike, with distinctive looks often generating discussion before audiences have even seen the project being promoted.

For Qualley, the Chanel shoes certainly achieved that effect. Whether viewers see them as inventive high fashion or an elaborate way of appearing barefoot, the design has succeeded in becoming one of the most talked about details from The Dog Stars premiere.

The Dog Stars is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on August 26, while 20th Century Studios lists August 28 as the film's release date on its official US page.