Heels aren’t comfortable, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves they are. Enter the kitten heel, the perfect conventional shoe that won’t leave you in pain. Say goodbye to towering heels and embrace a more practical, laid back style that won’t sacrifice fun for function.
Story by Reilly Lawrence and Kennedy Williams
The One with Minimal Height but High Impact
Once a 1990s and early 2000s staple, the kitten heel became taboo in the mid-2000s as slinky stilettos and platform heels were on the rise. However, kitten heels and block heels, the kitten heel’s chunkier, more practical sibling, are giving towering stilettos a run for their money.
Designers such as Rachel Comey and Mansur Gavriel have made these heels covetable, offering the styles in an array of craveable candy-colored hues. Iran-born designer Maryam Nassir Zadeh launched her brand in 2012, right on the cusp of the resurgence of heels with a lower height. Zadeh specializes in streamlined slip-on heels that you can walk the city in.
The One with Personality
Meet the party heel: the perfect accessory that laughs in the face of all the boring heels in your closet. In multiple shapes and sizes, the party heel transcends the conformity of the everyday solid heel and demands that her spunk be known. She loves attention so let her shine!
Whether the event is an A-list party or a chic apartment kick-back, pulling these babies out is sure to garner the exact reaction you’re looking for. These center-stage beauties may not be able to lift your GPA this semester, but they will lift you up (quite literally) this season.
Photos courtesy of Man Repeller
The One that Screams Awareness and Femininity
While kitten heels have commonly represented practicality and allowed wearers to be on-the-go while still being fashionable, their comeback is connected to broader societal shifts. The rise of the kitten heel mirrors the rise of athleisure and “cozy” clothes. Brands such as Balenciaga, Common Projects and Chanel are offering consumers their take on the sneaker, arguably the most practical kind of footwear. The A$AP Mob recently released the second of their “Cozy Tapes” albums, reflecting their passion for comfortable yet impactful pieces.
We’re also in a socio-political era in which women’s bodily autonomy is questioned. In Trump’s America, women are opting for footwear that allows them to be more flexible and adapt to their surroundings. According to the NPD Group, a market research company, heels with heights between 1.5 to 3 inches outsold heels that are 3 inches or higher in the fiscal year that ended in July. Trends in women’s footwear signals an increased need to be prepared and able to take on the world in a way that is both challenging and threatening. Today, expressions of femininity must be pragmatic yet stylish.
