Hello Kitty

This year we're seeing shoe styles from the 1990's coming back with a bang. Especially kitten heels with those extra pointed toes. It's a confusing trend as the height is not high enough to elongate the body (5cm approx.) and yet not flat enough to walk too far in comfort. Regardless, they are very present this Summer in the High Street shops, on the catwalk and pages of fashion magazines.

In the 1960's, Audrey Hepburn was responsible for the popularity of kitten heels following her movies such as ‘Breakfast At Tiffanys’ and ‘Funny Face’. In the 90's this trend made a resurgence as I remember well from my shoe selling days, the shelves were lined with kitten heel shoes and mules, often suede with a ornate diamante embellishments.

Roll on another thirty years or so, this feminine chic style is back again, this time in many varied forms including open-toe, t-bar, mules and slingbacks. Last week I tried on a pair of black slingbacks in Dunnes Stores (see picture). Wearing denims at the time, I found them to be quite flattering for the short length of time I hobbled around in them. As I had just sprained my ankle, I decided to put them back on the shelf not wanting to topple over again so soon. But they are definitely earmarked for my shoe collection at a later date this Summer.

Other styles that are making a comeback this year are the low block heels and ballet pumps. 

For more shoe trends S/S 2025, visit here. (ELLE Magazine - May 2025 edition)