A trend that’s showing absolutely no signs of slowing down right now: sculptural heels. They’ve been seen on runways and red carpets for many years, and now the artsy footwear being spotted on street style stars cannot be ignored.
Thanks largely to the influx of abstract shapes and styles that can be found everywhere from Bergdorf to Zara, suiting all budgets, sculptural heels have recently gone from niche to need-to-have.
Consider it fashion’s elevated answer to the sneaker-strong seasons we’ve been seeing as of late. For recent collections, designers have swung the style pendulum back to height and form, reimagining heels in some seriously dreamy and daring silhouettes. As at home in your living room, these objects d’art come in the form of geometric stacks, wooden pebbles, gold orbs, and Picasso-inspired spheres.
Leading the charge for unconventional heels, Jimmy Choo raised the #shoefie game with stacked wooden heels for the Cruise 2015 collection, closely followed by Vetements with its rebel-girl cigarette lighter boots for SS16. And who could forget those killer YSL logo heels in SS17, which were possibly one of the most ‘grammed pair of shoes of all times?
Paving the way for more contemporary brands to take the sartorial baton and run with it, minimalist sculptural styles have now become synonymous with the recent rise of fashion brand, Jacquemus. London-based Korean designer Rejina Pyo is also hot on the heels with her abstract and architectural take on the trend. Not to mention JW Anderson’s repeat-sell-out signature cylinder ballet shoes and mules.
So why the surge in popularity? Despite their artistic appearances, they tend to be among the more comfortable heel options, thanks to their solid silhouettes. Easy to wear and even easier to style, sculptural heels dress your outfit from toe to top, a little like statement jewelry for the feet. Slip on a pair with cropped, wide-legged jeans for an instant outfit pick-me-up, or wear them with an asymmetric skirt or midi dress for dressier occasions. Just keep hemlines and pants raised to ankle-skimming lengths or higher to really let the shoes shine.
Plus, with fall fast approaching, the new season’s crop of ankle boots throws its own shapes into the mix, updating the silhouette with a little fun and flair perfect for weathering the chilly months in style. Put your best foot forward with our pick of sculptural heels at all price points.
