It's been a hot summer so far—excruciatingly so at certain points. This has resulted in pushing the limits in an attempt to figure out just how exposed our feet can be without making direct contact with filthy subway floors and piping sidewalks. We have our soles buffed, our pedicures done, and our feet ready to be put on full display—as such, the barely-there shoe trend is the most obvious (and stylish!) solution. This trend started with Chanel's Cruise 2026 show which, back in April, had us in our group chat happily stunned by models being nearly barefoot on the plush, carpeted runway.
I think the term "barely there" is pretty open to interpretation, but let's break down some of our criteria. We're thinking of shoes that are sheer, allowing the silhouette of the foot to be exposed, but we're also thinking of sandals with the daintiest of straps—so dainty that if you blink, you might miss them. Now that we’ve gotten that straightened out, here are a few of our favorite barely-there shoes.
Best Barely There Shoes:
1. Manolo Blahnik Ninfemu 50 Leather Sandals
These Manolo Blahniks feature some of the daintiest straps I've ever laid my eyes on. The slender straps are subtle, provide the perfect amount of gold shine, elegant and, yes, barely there.
2. Ancient Greek Sandals Eleftheria Braided Rubber Sandals
Can it get more "barely there" than a clear jelly strappy sandal? I don't think so. These Ancient Greek Sandals jellies feature braided straps and the slightest rubber platform for the sake of both style and comfort.
3. Khaite Loop Kitten Heel Sandal
These strappy Khaite sandals are barely there but there just the right amount—especially when in this black and cream snakeskin.
4. Reformation Britt Ballet Flat
I consider the term "barely there" open to interpretation and, to me, these Reformation ballet flats fit perfectly on this list. First and foremost, team Coveteur loves crochet. Second of all, the crochet construction results in a breezy, summery naked shoe.
5. Mango Rubberized Slingback Shoe
These Mango slingback shoes are jelly-like, nude, and leave the foot and toes a little exposed—so they check off everything I look for in a barely-there shoe.
6. Tony Bianco Dana Sandals
These are the ultimate chic summer kitten heels—and they're complete with two subtle straps, leaving the rest of the foot exposed. Easy to dress up or dress down, the barely-there nature of these Tony Bianco heels makes them easy to pair with anything.