The "Ugly" Shoe Trend Everyone Will Wear at New York Fashion Week

last updated 13 August 2019

Kitten heels have to be one of the most hotly debated items in fashion history. Are they cool, yes or no? It’s one of life's eternal questions, and we sit on the ‘cool’ side of the fence. Traditionally defined as a stiletto ranging from 3cm to 4.5cm, the kitten heel is often accused of being an ‘unflattering’ shoe choice as it doesn’t technically do what most heels do, which is lengthen your leg. What it does do though, is give you the opportunity to play with something new—and isn’t that what fashion is all about?

We’re days away from New York Fashion Week, and we’re predicting shoes with this heel height will rule the streets. Leandra Medine helped kickstart the resurgence during last season’s shows, and since then we’ve spotted the widely disliked heels everywhere (proof below), leading us to think that maybe they actually aren’t as ‘widely disliked’ as they once were? Especially since designers such as Balenciaga and Miu Miu are helping champion the resurgence of the kitten heel, and smaller designers like Shoes of Prey are catching on, too.

If you’re not yet on board, you will be after you keep scrolling and peep some of our favourite kitten heel moments. Then, you can shop for your favourite style below.