It’s not just ballet flats and boots that are making waves in this season’s favorite footwear list. There’s also the return of the super-pointy kitten heels, reclaiming their throne as the “queen” of the 1950s. From Spanish singer Rosalia to American actress Scarlett Johansson, many celebrities are particularly enamored with this accessory.
Content Summary A Brief History of Kitten Heels Making a Legendary Comeback Celebrities’ Craze for Kitten Heels 15 Comfortable Kitten Heels To Buy This Holiday Season Kitten Heels Return with a Variety of Styles, Setting the Celebrity World Abuzz With a height ranging from 3 to 5 cm, wearers feel more comfortable while maintaining elegance, suitable for any occasion. Kitten heels offer a timeless look and are always a top choice for runway performances. Recently, their appearances have become more frequent.
A Brief History of Kitten Heels Kitten heels are considered the darlings of renowned luxury fashion houses like Dior and Prada. They have made numerous comebacks throughout the seasons, catching the attention of many. However, few know that these ultra-pointy heels date back to the era of Marie Antoinette, the last queen before the French Revolution.
In history, ultra-pointy heels were designed for men But there’s a difference with their modern-day version: back then, kitten heels’ primary clientele were men. During France’s Louis XIV era, they were used as a means to conceal not-too-tall stature.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that kitten heels truly reached their legendary peak. Launched with a mission to help girls ease into higher heels, they excelled in their task and received free endorsements from many celebrities, such as Grace Kelly in Rear Window or Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Despite their past fame, they couldn’t escape being deemed “outdated” for a few decades. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, ultra-pointy heels showed signs of returning to the fashion scene.
And the brand that revitalized the reputation of kitten heels was solely due to the efforts of Oscar de la Renta. During the Fall/Winter 1988 presentation, he drew inspiration from the Renaissance for his designs.
Since then, they became a must-have in the wardrobes of stars like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Victoria Beckham. But that trend was quickly replaced by countless other accessories. That was until Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative director of Dior, unveiled the J’Adior slingbacks in 2017.
Making a Legendary Comeback
Slingbacks by Chanel, Prada, Miu Miu, Gucci Miu Miu, Prada, Gucci, Dior, Proenza Schouler, Bottega Veneta, Ulla Johnson, Khaite, are just a few of the fashion houses introducing kitten heels in their Fall/Winter 2023 collections. While some have transformed them into flat-soled shoes, others prefer the slingback design or higher platforms.
Revived on the catwalk but under various styles, they all have one thing in common: the rounded toe becomes pointed and is paired with stockings. This interesting combination is expected to continue appearing in the Spring/Summer 2024 collections, such as in the looks of Altuzarra, Erdem, Tod’s, Givenchy, among others.
PRESENTING SPRING-SUMMER 2024 COLLECTION Slingbacks in Roger Vivier’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection
Celebrities’ Craze for Kitten Heels
Singer Rosalia at the Spring/Summer 2024 collection launch event From fashion designer Gabriella Karefa-Johnson to Rosalia, ultra-pointy high-heeled shoes have been worn by them when appearing before the public. For example, the Spanish star returned to the front row of Prada with this accessory, embodying the brand’s poetic essence.
Actress Scarlett Johansson at the Spring/Summer 2024 collection launch event Scarlett Johansson also attended this fashion show. She wore a short black dress and a pair of very low-heeled leather shoes with a pointed toe from the Fall/Winter 2023 collection by Prada.
American actress Jennifer Lawrence And when Jennifer Lawrence wears them, we can see that kitten heels are not limited to casual outings. She wore a pair of shoes from The Row with wide-legged pants and a button-down shirt layered with a black jacket in New York City.
