3 Ways to Wear Kitten Heels in 2024
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As we have spent the last seasons perched on our Babies with XXL heels, a return to the almost-flat seems to be in the works for the coming months. After a resurgence of ballet flats, with the ballet core trend, a new mid-height trend is currently making waves: kitten heels! Combining comfort and elegance, these iconic shoes from the 60s are making a strong comeback. Let’s discover 3 ways to wear them in 2024.
Where does the kitten heels trend come from?
While kitten heels had disappeared from our radars since the early 2000s, retro heels seem to be writing a new chapter in their story in 2024. We need to go back to the 1960s to rediscover the excitement that this small heel had for all fashion enthusiasts. Offering a new feminine silhouette, designers proposed shoes that combined glamour with comfort. Measuring between 3.5 cm and 5 cm, kitten heels appealed to both novices in heel-walking and women looking to create more comfortable outfits.
After Roger Vivier and Christian Dior, other designers have managed to bring popularity back to these small heels in the 1980s and 1990s. Notable mentions include Prada, Manolo Blahnik, and Gucci, which again presents itself this year as one of the trendsetters for kitten heels.
How did Audrey Hepburn and Emily Ratajkowski become style icons?
Similar to the Mob wife aesthetic trend we analyzed last week, the passion for kitten heels is also partly due to style icons from the 7th art. Audrey Hepburn, who was a significant source of inspiration for women, notably made small heels a staple in her wardrobe. Alongside her, other women who significantly influenced fashion, such as Jackie Kennedy, helped popularize kitten heels.
Today, the new generation of style icons approaches them with just as much elegance. Hailey Bieber thus swaps ballet core for kitten heels, like Emily Ratajkowski or Kendall Jenner, making this shoe model the IT piece to have for 2024.
How are kitten heels taking over the 2024 fashion week runways?
After igniting passions with its half-moon bag, The Row embraces trends by launching its own pair of kitten heels. Prada, Miu Miu, Gucci, Alaïa, Coperni, and Jil Sander also present their models of boots, pumps, or slingbacks with small heels. Designers are closely followed by brands like Mango and Stradivarius that are also riding the trend, anticipating a surge of orders in the coming weeks.
While some pairs are rooted in classic tones of black and white, others adopt the dual trend of intense red, which has captured the hearts of fashionistas for several months now. Patterns are also making their way onto pairs, alongside models in metallic shades, heralding the anticipated arrival of metal pieces and accessories.
How to wear kitten heels stylishly?
Kitten heels make their appearance on various styles of shoes, including pumps, mules, babies, or even boots. They can be found in sleek styles or, conversely, adorned with multiple straps. Slingbacks are currently trending and seem ready to replace ankle boots with the arrival of warmer days! Here are some pieces to shop on Modalova:
Photos: Pinterest / cover: [email protected]
