If 2024 was the year of the kitten heel and the ballet flat renaissance, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the stiletto’s structural sister: the flared heel. She’s a little bit ’70s and a little bit Art-Deco – equal parts retro glam and futuristic chic. Because, hey! We really can have it all. Distinguished by unexpected proportions and subtle scoops, these playful styles are popping up on both runways and red carpets.
The flared heel has its roots in the 1970s, an era known for bold fashion choices and disco-ready footwear, and while the halcyon days of Studio 54 have been replaced by nights in spent watching “evening routine” TikToks, the decade’s style has returned, with designers blending nostalgic references with cutting-edge design. Amina Muaddi has been spearheading this particular trend for seasons with her signature geometric heels, but now the look has gone fully mainstream, with the likes of Bottega Veneta and Jimmy Choo offering up sculptural heels.
The flared heel has already racked up plenty of A-list endorsements, when Sabrina Carpenter joined Taylor Swift on the Eras tour in New Orleans she was wearing a sculptural pair that added a few extra inches to her “five feet to be exact” stature.
On the movie star front, Nicole Kidman turned heads at the Venice Film Festival wearing a sleek black pair that her Babygirl character, business-casual Romy, would surely take to the dancefloor in at a Brooklyn warehouse rave. Chrissy Teigen is another flared heels devotee, having sported them everywhere from the set of Celebrity Family Feud to a series of Instagram fit checks. Meanwhile supermodel Bella Hadid, who can always be relied on to opt for eye-catching footwear (platform Uggs, we’re looking at you) was spotted in New York City rocking an exaggerated pair from NYC girl fave, Sandy Liang.
For those looking to dip a toe (or rather, their heel) into the trend, there’s no shortage of designers delivering their own take on the silhouette. From JW Anderson’s tan tassel leather mules to Dries Van Noten’s silver slingback heels, alternatives to simple stilettos are everywhere. Shushu/Tong and Simone Rocha have also embraced the flared heel with their signature romantic flourishes, and let’s not forget Phoebe Philo’s Club Loafers, a sculptural take on librarian chic.
This story first appeared in Vogue.co.uk
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