Throwing it back to August 2014: Vanessa Hudgens, best known for her boho-chic style, surprised fans when she embraced the ugly shoe trend on a casual Whole Foods run in Studio City.
While her lacy crop top and fringe skirt stayed true to her signature LA-girl aesthetic, it was her chunky lug-sole sandals that turned heads and proved she wasn’t afraid to experiment with fashion’s most polarizing footwear fad.
Vanessa Hudgens rocks a boho-chic outfit with a lacy crop halter top, fringe skirt, and silver lug-sole sandals while shopping at Whole Foods
From Trendsetter to Rule-Breaker: Vanessa Embraces Anti-Appeal Footwear
Her ugly shoe of choice was a pair of heavy, thick-strapped, lug-soled sandals. Her lacy crop halter top and For Love & Lemons “Bandit” skirt were still in her signature LA-boho style, but the sandals were definitely not the usual classic and sexy shoes that we know she prefers.
Maybe Vanessa was just living up to her title as the 2014 Young Hollywood Awards’ Trendsetter of the Year, but we think she also wanted to balance the sexiness of her outfit with the unappealing look of her sandals.
That’s what the ugly shoe trend is known and loved for — its ability to give a relaxed, effortless “I don’t care” vibe even to the most skin-baring of looks. Its anti-appeal is its appeal, and Nessa is just one of the very many who have fallen for it.
Vanessa Hudgens showcases her boho-chic style in a lacy crop halter top, fringe skirt, and silver lug-sole sandals while shopping at Whole Foods in Studio City on August 8, 2014 (Credit: WENN)
Aside from her trendsetting style, Vanessa flaunted her sculpted arms on that grocery run. Check out those guns — transferring shopping bags to the trunk of a car has never looked sexier:
Vanessa Hudgens flaunts her toned arms and trendy boho-chic outfit while transferring groceries at Whole Foods in Studio City
And she did that with super-long nails. This was Vanessa’s nail art Instagram photo last week, and it’s incredible how she’s kept them looking this good for so long:
Vanessa Hudgens showcases her intricate white nail art with geometric designs and a striking black accent nail (Credit: Vanessa Hudgens’ Instagram)
It remains to be seen whether Vanessa will keep championing the ugly shoe trend the way she has long nails, but her Whole Foods outing was hardly an isolated moment.
The “ugly-chic” footwear movement has been embraced by numerous celebrities, demonstrating that clunky sandals and unconventional silhouettes can garner just as much attention as classic heels.
More Celebrity Ugly Shoe Moments
👟 Explore “Ugly Shoe” & Offbeat Sandal Trends on Your Next Shoes:
- 📌 5 Ugly Shoe Trends You Need to Embrace This Summer — A roundup of the clunkiest and most “ugly-chic” styles, from Birkenstocks and pool slides to gladiator sandals and sneaker-style sandals.
- 📌 These 38 Shoes Are So Ugly, They’re Actually Kind of Awesome — An editorial list celebrating outrageously unattractive shoes that paradoxically spark style fascination.
- 📌 From Ugly Duckling to Fashion Swan: How Leather Slides Made a Shockingly Stylish Comeback — Celebrities like Mena Suvari prove once-“ugly” leather slides can look effortlessly chic.
- 📌 Are These Pheasant Feather Sandals the Ugliest Shoes Ever? — A playful critique of Sophia Webster’s feather-embellished sandals and their over-the-top aesthetic.
A close-up of Vanessa Hudgens’ silver lug-sole ankle-strap sandals, embracing the trendy ugly shoe style
From boho-chic street style to bold red-carpet risks, Vanessa Hudgens continues to prove she’s never afraid to experiment with fashion and footwear. Her evolving shoe choices highlight why she remains a style icon worth watching.
More Vanessa Hudgens Shoe and Fashion Highlights
👠 Explore Vanessa Hudgens’ Standout Shoe Moments on Your Next Shoes:
- 📌 Vanessa Hudgens Is the Queen of Street Style—And Her Shoe Collection — A showcase of her street-style flair, featuring platform mules, Givenchy slides, and Prada sandals in everyday looks.
- 📌 Vanessa Hudgens’ Vera Wang Look and Shoe Style — Highlights her red-carpet elegance including platform sandals that complement her bridal and premiere fashion.
- 📌 How Vanessa Hudgens Embraces Her Heritage in Fashion — Celebrates her Filipino and European roots through a bold, culturally inspired fashion lens.
- 📌 Vanessa Hudgens Rocks Miu Miu and Valentino Shoes — A deep dive into her standout footwear at Paris Fashion Week, from chunky Miu Miu platforms to sleek Valentino pumps.
- 📌 Vanessa Hudgens: Rocking the Mini Dress All Summer (and Beyond!) — A flashback to her summery style pairing mini dresses with bold ankle-strap heels.
- 📌 Vanessa Hudgens’ Gigi Broadway Debut (and Saint Laurent Sandals) — Glamorous red carpet moment styling Saint Laurent “Jane” sandals with her musical debut.
- 📌 Pastel Princess: Vanessa Hudgens Stuns in Stuart Weitzman ‘Myex’ Sandals — A yellow Monique Lhuillier pantsuit paired with nude strappy sandals for a chic, boho-inspired red carpet look.