"Kitten heels" are the most worn shoes by celebrities

Ballet flats and biker boots are not the only It shoes of the season. The alternative is kitten heels with the characteristic slightly curved heel between three and five centimetres, so popular with the ladies of the 1950s. Less demanding than a pair of stilettos, they combine elegance and comfort in a timeless look that keeps returning to the catwalks and to the feet of actresses and divas. Now that major brands, from Dior to Prada, have been bringing them back into their collections for several seasons, more and more influencers and celebrities are choosing kitten heels to complete their outfits.

Short history

Kitten heels have been around since the time of Marie Antoinette. Back then, fans of the micro heel were mostly men, such as Louis XIV of France, who used them as a ploy to hide his own not-so-tall stature. But it was not until the 1950s that they got their name and cemented their myth. The term comes from the slang used at the time for this type of shoe, which was created ad hoc for young girls who had no experience with higher heels and became familiar with the stiletto precisely thanks to those few centimetres. Soon, adult women and divas like Grace Kelly in Rear Window or Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's also fell under its spell and felt its comfort. Remember her in that little black Givenchy sheath dress, wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and kitten heels on her feet? Credit for so much popularity goes to Roger Vivier, who invented the low comma heel, a classic that is still imitated today. After being out of fashion for a few decades, Oscar de la Renta reintroduced them in his 1988 show FW as part of a Renaissance-inspired collection. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the shoes made a comeback and became a must-have in the wardrobes of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista as well as Sarah Jessica Parker and Victoria Beckham. Then they fell into oblivion. Until Maria Grazia Chiuri created Dior's J'Adior slingbacks in 2017.

The kitten heels on the catwalk

Miu Miu, Prada, Gucci, Dior, Proenza Schouler, Bottega Veneta, Ulla Johnson, Khaite are just some of the brands that featured kitten heels in their FW23 collections. Some opted for loafers, others for slingbacks, still others for ballet flats or micro-heeled boots. Everyone brought their favourite model to the catwalk, but there are two features that all these proposals have in common: the pointed toe and the tights. Yes, because although there are different styles, it seems to be a must to wear "kitten heels" with socks or even better with coloured stockings. A combination that will probably stay with us for a long time, because it is also picked up again in the fashion month of SS24. Where have we seen them in the last few weeks? At Altuzarra, Erdem, Tod's, Givenchy and elsewhere.

The celebrities and influencers who have opted for kitten heels

From stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson to Rosalia, kitten heels have been seen on the feet of many influencers and celebrities recently. The Spanish star sat front row at Prada wearing a full look from the brand with a wool waistcoat, white shirt, long grey skirt and black micro heeled slingbacks. Scarlett Johansson was also seen at the same fashion show, wearing a black mini dress with a criss-cross neckline and black leather pumps with an extremely low heel and pointed toe from Prada's FW23 collection on her feet. But this shoe model also goes well with more casual outfits, as Jennifer Lawrence proved, pairing a pair from The Row with loose trousers, a T-shirt and an unbuttoned shirt for a stroll through New York City.