Because the coronavirus vaccine continues to roll out and we begin taking tentative steps into the world, is it potential these steps is perhaps in stilettos?
It’s a query I requested myself final week as I attempted to determine what to put on to my first dinner out in 14 months. Through the pandemic, I cocooned myself in probably the most snug items in my wardrobe—sweatpants, saggy clothes, clogs, Birkenstocks. My heels have been relegated to the again of my closet. And I wasn’t alone: In 2020, gross sales of excessive heels dropped 71%. However by the point I obtained vaccinated, I used to be prepared for a change. So for my first night time out in town, I swapped my Danskos for a pair of gold Gucci block heels.
Across the nation, heels appear to be making a comeback. In line with Google Trends, searches for “excessive heels” have been going up for the previous few months. Retail analysts and pattern forecasters have additionally seen a spike in gross sales of heels and different extra formal footwear. (Crocs is even getting in on the game.) Heels had been on the decline for years earlier than the pandemic, as shoppers looked for extra snug footwear (learn: sneakers and flats). It’s unclear whether or not heels will ever return to their heyday of the early and mid-Twentieth century.
However within the post-pandemic world, heels seem like greater than only a footwear alternative. They’re imbued with new symbolism and symbolize change—a return to a world the place folks have events and elegance issues as a result of we’re seen in public as soon as extra. They could possibly be our model of the flapper clothes that have been all the fad in the course of the Roaring ’20s, the years that adopted the 1918 flu pandemic.
For those who’re desirous to throw your ergonomic quarantine footwear apart for a pair of fabulous heels, right here are 5 new kinds that may enable you to reimagine every thing a excessive heel might be.
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Futuristic sneaker
United Nude, Area Kick Summer time, $320
United Nude’s strappy platforms have all of the consolation and look of a sneaker however the 2.6-inch heel offers them a special-occasion really feel. Plus, the fabulous colorways—animal prints spliced with metallics—will make an announcement as you go about your thrilling post-pandemic life.
Heels that really feel like flats
Marion Parke, Leah Tie Sandal, $595
If you’re nervous about transitioning back into heels, designer Marion Parke is here to help. She’s a former podiatrist who used her extensive knowledge of women’s feet to create a line of luxury shoes that are so comfortable you won’t know you’re wearing heels at all. These ankle-tie sandals are ideal for the hot summer months and are designed to keep the foot stable, which makes walking easier.
A silhouette to recollect
Amina Muaddi, Lupita Zebra Mule, $645
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Amina Muaddi launched her eponymous label final yr and has shortly develop into a favourite of celebrities like Rihanna and Kendall Jenner. Certainly one of her most distinct seems is a mule with a large, triangular heel that makes it very straightforward to put on because it distributes weight higher than your typical stiletto.
An elevated clog
Tamara Mellon, Grass Roots, $795
Did you get overly connected to your clogs in the course of the pandemic? Tamara Mellon has an answer. She’s designed a pair of architectural picket clogs with gold studs. At 4.3 inches, these heels are excessive, however they’re additionally embedded with foam padding to alleviate strain factors.
Sky-high boot
Off White, Sponge Boots, $1,100
If high-heeled boots are what you’re after, don’t miss Off White’s Sponge Boots, which appear to be they have been designed for intergalactic journey. The only real has a sponge-like texture, and there’s a cool partition that leaves solely a few of your toes uncovered. At 5 inches excessive, these boots aren’t precisely made for strolling—however that’s okay. You’ll most likely be seated in your spaceship anyway.
