Tabi Heels

Tabi heels — the split toe, on a heel. Everything Maison Margiela's 1988 silhouette does for a flat, done for evening: the toe reads as a deliberate design decision rather than a quirk, and the heel gives it somewhere to go.

What counts as a tabi heel

Any shoe that keeps the cloven split-toe construction and puts a raised heel under it. In this edit that covers tabi slingback heels, tabi block heels, ballerina pumps and low-heel styles — from about 4cm up. If you want the same toe with no heel at all, that lives in tabi flats.

Tabi slingback heels

Tabi slingbacks solve what closed heels never do: they hold the foot without gripping it. Daria Black Tabi Slingback Heels and Claudia Tabi Slingback Heels both put the split toe on an open-back silhouette, which keeps them wearable through a full day rather than a single dinner.

Black tabi heels

Most people arrive here looking for black tabi heels, and it is the right instinct — black is where the split toe reads cleanest. Amelora Black Leather Tabi Heels take the structured route; Evelyne Black Satin Tabi Heels do it in liquid satin for evening. Both are fully vegan, no leather anywhere despite the name.

Other finishes

Amelora Suede Tabi Heels in plum bring colour without shouting about it. Rosie Tabi Ballerina Pumps sit at the balletcore end — the lowest heel in the edit and the easiest entry point if you have only ever worn tabi flats.

Are tabi heels hard to walk in?

Less than you'd expect. The split toe changes how the front of the shoe sits but not the mechanics of the heel — a tabi block heel walks like any block heel. The structured toe box actually holds shape better than a standard pointed heel, which means less slipping forward. Start with a low heel or the slingback styles if you are new to the silhouette.

How to wear them

Monochrome is the easy answer — all black, and let the toe be the only detail anyone registers. Beyond that: wide-leg trousers with a visible break so the toe peeks out, a midi skirt with opaque tights, or barrel jeans if you want the proportions doing the work. Tabi heels are loud enough that the rest of the outfit can be plain.

Sizing

True to size for most feet. If you are between sizes or have a wider foot, size up — the split toe box runs slightly narrower than a standard round toe.

Browse the wider tabi heels and tabi flats collection, see all kitten heels and slingback heels, or go flat with balletcore flats.

Every pair is 100% vegan — no leather anywhere. Sizes EU 35–42. Free worldwide shipping on orders over $70.