Timeless, Chic and Classy—Every Fashion Person Has These Iconic Shoes On Their Wish List
The word "iconic" has been thrown around so much in recent years that it almost feels like the definition has lost all meaning. However, if there’s anything worthy of that description, it’s these shoes.
Just like how manners maketh the man, the same can be said for how shoes complete an outfit. What would Princess Diana’s famous revenge dress be without the Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps she teamed it with? Or Kate Moss’s festival-style-defining Glastonbury outfit from 2005 without her mud-stained Hunter wellington boots?
Style insiders know this firsthand, which is why it’s the case that footwear is the first thing people rush to buy upon the launch of a new designer collection or expensive-looking high-street collaboration. (Yes, even before luxury bags.) Whilst this may seem counterintuitive, given that shoes will inevitably encounter more wear and tear than other accessories, the most tasteful dressers are acutely aware that the investment is well worth it in the long run. And to put it plainly, you can’t leave home without wearing them, so why not choose the most impactful pair imaginable?
But what makes a shoe iconic? Well, they must be veritable objects of affection, meaning that their appeal is only outranked by their timelessness. On the latter, it must be said that the most iconic shoes are all unified by their designs, regardless of whether the style is half a century old, like the Chanel slingbacks, or has barely been around for a year, like The Row’s Dune flip-flops. Furthermore, their desirability must be compounded by their virality, with each being culturally significant in its own right.
From Christian Louboutin’s famous red bottoms to Carrie Bradshaw’s preferred heel, uncover the nine most iconic shoes of all time ahead.
The 9 Most Iconic Shoes of All Time
1. Christian Louboutin So Kate
Style Notes: Standing at a staggering 12cm high, Christian Louboutin's So Kate is the French fashion designer’s most iconic pair of red bottoms. Finished with a razor-sharp heel and equally tapered toe shape, the stiletto derives its name from iconic supermodel Kate Moss. "The Kate is a sharp style, simple and very complex at the same time," the eponymous designer explained in an interview. “If the line is not very perfect, you do not have any embellishment to hide it. It sounded so much like Kate Moss, simple yet very sophisticated. I felt this pump just had to be named after her, because it was so Kate."
More recently, it’s Zendaya who has done the most to enshrine the legacy of the So Kate as an iconic shoe, with the actress rarely spotted on a red carpet or press event without wearing the arch-raising shoe. After being trained by legendary stylist Law Roach to wear them for formal functions at only 14 years old, the actress has kept the shoe at the forefront of her most elegant looks ever since. Talk about putting your best foot forward…
