I’ve always hated kitten heels, when I hear the two words it sends a shiver down my spine. I cannot imagine myself ever conforming to the 90’s trend.
Don’t get me wrong, I love low heels, when I saw J.W. Anderson’s ballerina style pumps on the AW16 runway, I fell in love. The cylinder heel is only 2.5 inches but they’re one of the coolest shoes I’ve ever seen and they’ve been on my wishlist ever since.
When I think of kitten heels, I picture the old fashioned 1 inchers you can imagine your granny wearing. The thought of wearing a plain black kitten heel baffles me, they’re incredibly safe and dull and that’s not what fashion should be about.
Originally designed as trainer shoes in the 1950's for young women who were yet to master high heels, they first became popular on a mainstream level after Audrey Hepburn wore them. Theresa May also employs the style as her shoe of choice, although hers have always been slightly weird and wonderful.
Fast forward to Spring 2017 and I have been fully converted. Maria Grazia Chiuri’s opening collection for Dior included the conventional style, but with a delicate J’adior embroidered ribbon slingback, turning the basic court from mumsy to must have. The real game changer for me was Prada. Miuccia’s offerings were fun and completely bizarre, with leather slingbacks being secured with sporty, rubber straps – almost like a heeled pool shoe! This year’s kitten heels are amusing yet serious, practical yet stylish, and they may possibly be my favourite trend thus far.
