Kitten Heel Slingbacks Are the Shoes Missing From Your Spring Wardrobe

When spring comes, one of the first things we do is trade our heavy boots for lighter, more streamlined footwear. After stuffing our toes into fur-lined, thick-soled boots, it’s liberating to put on a delicate shoe that reveals the ankle. In the case of this season’s kitten heel slingback, we also get to expose a bit of heel.

Following the steady rise of V-cut shoes and last year’s obsession with mules and Gucci (or Gucci-like) loafers, kitten heel slingbacks have emerged as a popular shoe style favored by the runways and street style stars. Nevermind kitten heels’ twee reputation and the shoe of choice for dowdy women from decades gone by, trust us, you’re going to want to invest in a pair stat.

Kitten heels had a small resurgence in Spring 2015, continuing through Spring 2017. Brands including Celine, Christopher Kane, Balenciaga, Christian Dior and Kenzo have all experimented with the baby heel silhouette, serving up everything from mules to V-cut versions to patterned varieties and even boots. After the Fall 2018 shows, it was clear that the slingback version was the style of fashion month.

Proenza Schouler showcased leg-lengthening pointed-toe varieties with contrasting straps, Lacoste embraced the shoe’s preppy aesthetic with pastel colorways and Emanuel Ungaro provided plenty of styling inspiration by pairing bright, clear vinyl-accented kitten heels with bejeweled fishnet socks. Two favorite styles on the streets include Chanel’s two-toned design with a sturdy-but-still-small block heel and Dior’s black logomania version where the white slingback is decorated with the brand’s logo and topped with a bow.

Still having reservations about the shoe style? Kitten heel slingbacks are delicate, flattering to the foot (yes, really) and easy to walk in. The kitten heel means you can actually wear them from morning to night without throbbing foot pain, while the slingback provides security that mules and backless loafers cannot offer. That means there’s no chance of shoes falling off when dashing across the street. Kitten heel slingbacks are also less divisive than grandpa sneakers. What more could you ask for?

There’s no need to wait to try the trend. Make like fashion It girls and embrace kitten heel slingbacks now by shopping our favorites in the gallery.

[ Next: Shop Spring’s Must-Have V-Cut Shoe Trend for Every Budget ]