There was once a time when split-toe tabi shoes stood for pure and utter freakdom, when a single cleft in footwear was all it took to telegraph a wearer’s avant-garde edge to the world. Originating from traditional Japanese split-toe socks known as jika-tabi, the design was famously brought to the high-fashion runway by Maison Margiela in the late 1980s, instantly polarizing the style community. For decades, wearing them required a certain level of bold defiance against conventional aesthetics. Today, however, with their alternative status firmly a thing of the past and mainstream adoption shifting their cultural footprint, it takes a little bit more ingenuity to truly pervert and reimagine everyday footwear.
Enter Zendaya, an ardent tabi fan herself, who is currently on a continuous quest to funk up her ever-expanding collection and keep the silhouette’s subversive spirit alive. Fresh off her appearance at the Louis Vuitton spring 2027 ready-to-wear show in Paris earlier this week—where she thoughtfully rewore one of her memorable press tour looks from her upcoming project The Odyssey—the acclaimed actor and style icon has stuck around the French capital to enjoy a bit of downtime. Amidst the whirlwind of the fashion calendar, Z and her longtime assistant, Darnell Appling, were spotted making a casual yet high-impact stop at Merci, the renowned French concept store located in the historic Haut-Marais district. It was there, amidst the curated design goods and bustling Parisian shoppers, that the actor managed to elevate a classic, understated daytime look into a masterclass in modern styling.
Zendaya’s base layer for her afternoon outing was as classic as they come, relying on wardrobe essentials that form the backbone of off-duty dressing. She opted for a pair of relaxed, light-wash denim jeans paired with a crisp, simple white shirt, embodying a relaxed elegance that is effortlessly chic. But clearly ready to transition her wardrobe and break out her heavier fall pieces ahead of the changing season, she layered a striking black leather Prada duster coat sourced from the Italian luxury house’s iconic fall 1999 collection over the top. The Matrix-esque coat, with its tough, midnight-hued leather, structured lines, and distinctly futuristic touches, demanded a footwear pairing that could match its heavy architectural energy. Zendaya found precisely what she was looking for in her wardrobe arsenal, reaching for a pair of Maison Margiela tabi wedge heels.
While her expansive closet already houses various iterations of the divisive design—including split-toe flats, classic ankle boots, and even tailored loafers—Zendaya specifically selected the black leather tabi wedge heel for her Parisian stroll. The choice highlights a fascinating footwear trajectory. The summer of 2026 already proved to be a major renaissance period for the humble wedge sandal, bringing sculptural soles and elevated heights back into regular rotation across the fashion capitals. Now, through styling choices like this one, Zendaya is signaling her hope that the wedge silhouette will successfully follow her into the brisk autumn months, bridging the gap between heavy outerwear and elevated, statement-making footwear.
The pairing of the vintage Prada leather duster with the avant-garde lines of the Maison Margiela tabi wedges demonstrates why the actor and her longtime creative partnerships continue to dominate global style conversations. By anchoring a minimalist foundation of light-wash denim and a white shirt with heavy-hitting archival outerwear and experimental footwear, she turned a simple afternoon shopping trip into a major street style moment. As she continues her stay in Paris following the spring collections, Zendaya proves once again that even the most casual outings are an opportunity to push the boundaries of contemporary fashion.
