I Can't Wait for People to Quit Flats and Bring Back This Elegant Shoe Trend
Flats might feel better on your feet, but let's face it—no shoes make an outfit look chicer and more elegant than a pair of classic stilettos. Whether you opt for a kitten-heel version or go full Zendaya with a 100-millimeter heel, it doesn't much matter as long as the lifting option you choose is as skinny as a pencil and the toe at the other end is pointed.
I, for one, can't wait for people to get their act together, and by that I mean put their flats into storage and bring back fashion's most timeless shoes. Fortunately, I don't think I'll have to wait long. For starters, I just returned from Milan Fashion Week, where classic stilettos were the shoes of choice for showgoers and locals alike. At the Gianvito Rossi presentation for fall/winter 2025, the Italian designer displayed his signature pumps in over 30 shades of suede, leaning into the tried-and-true silhouette for the season ahead. Trendsetting ready-to-wear brands like Prada and Saint Laurent are, too, opting for simple and refined skinny-heeled pumps in supple satin (Prada) and patent leather (YSL).
Another reason for this style's comeback? Angelina Jolie, of course.
On Angelina Jolie: Dior bag; Manolo Blahnik BB 90mm Suede Pumps ($825)
The Maria actress was spotted outside of Atelier Jolie—her New York City atelier (featuring a boutique, customization workshop, and café) located on Great Jones Street in the former home of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat—wearing a very Angelina Jolie ensemble: a black suit with a white scoop-neck top underneath, paired with a Dior St. Honoré bag and Manolo Blahnik suede pumps. She's the latest in a slew of stiletto sightings this year, and she won't be the last. Scroll down to shop the chicest and most anti-trend shoes, well, ever.
Shop stilettos:
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
-
Hailey Bieber Applies This $20 Korean Jelly Blush on Top of Her Rhode Ones (so Now I Will Too)
It gives her soft, matte, and cloud-like skin.
By Kaitlyn McLintock
-
I Called the Cuffed Jeans Trend—7 Shoes Fashion People Are Wearing With the Chic Denim Style
Style the jeans like a fashion person.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
I Called the Cuffed Jeans Trend—7 Shoes Fashion People Are Wearing With the Chic Denim Style
Style the jeans like a fashion person.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
Jennifer Lawrence Keeps Swapping Her Jeans for This Anti-Denim Pant Trend
It's not hard to understand her obsession.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
Emma Roberts on the Denim Trend She's Reviving and Her Secret to Surviving Boots All Day
Spoiler alert: Her style is the definition of effortlessly chic.
By Sierra Mayhew
-
I Hate Ballet Flats But Love These Elegant Anti-Heel Alternatives
All the elevation with none of the pain.
By Eliza Huber
-
High Sport's Viral Candy-Cane Pants and 8 More Non-Basic Bottoms to Buy This Summer
Jump right in.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
Spotted on Hailey Bieber: The Chicest Shoe Trend to Wear With Pedal Pushers This Summer
Period.
By Eliza Huber
-
Yes, Jelly Sandals Are In, But There's Only One Color Stylish Women Are Wearing Them In
It's not red.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
6 Celebrities I'd Really Like to Go Shopping With
First stop: The Row.
By Allyson Payer