Slingback Shoes: Celebrities Love the Classic Style of Heel [PHOTOS]
The slingback is a shoe silhouette that stretches back years but its most famous iterations coming about in the 1950s. Still, more than half a century later the style is still seeing success cropping up on runways, worn by celebrities and by everyday women as a trending and often considered classic style.
One of the most famous slingback styles, the two-tone version, was created by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, herself. In 1957, working with the shoemaker Massaro Paris, Chanel created her first slingback. It included a block heel of about two inches and was two-tone. Much of the upper was beige but it also featured a black cap-toe. This was to create an optical illusion: the beige upper and heel would lengthen the leg as the beige would be close to the skin tone of many of its wearers. Conversely, the black toe would give the illusion of a smaller foot. The relatively short height of the heel underscored the Chanel ethos which was chic but wearable and utilitarian. Massaro Paris, which the Chanel company later purchased, was responsible for the idea to add elastic into the slingback for even more ease.
More from Footwear News
Of course this was not the invention of the slingback as a silhouette. In the 1950s it was a popular style with Jackie Onassis, Bridget Bardot and more wearing it. One of the most famous images from the period was Marilyn Monroe in 1955 in an image from “The Seven Year Itch” wearing white Ferragamo slingback heels featuring a small buckle. Still, the Chanel version has become a classic icon.
Over the past few years, the slingback has been seen worn by celebrities all over. Worn in a variety of heights and styles by designers like Saint Laurent, Gucci, Roger Vivier, Miu Miu and Gianvito Rossi, it is making its case as a wardrobe staple. Whether open-toe or closed, in matte fabrics or slick, the sandal offers many options to fans.
Best of Footwear News
Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Celebs Wearing Slingback Shoes in 2024
Actress Chloe Fineman wearing a silver short-sleeved Christian Cowan dress and custom silver Aeyede slingbacks during an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, December 19, 2024 — (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
Celebs Wearing Slingback Shoes in 2024
Jodie Turner-Smith wears The Attico’s Venus slingback pump in dark brown outside ABC Studio on November 26, 2024 in New York City.
Celebs Wearing Slingback Shoes in 2024
Katie Holmes wearing blue denim and leather Cinq a Cept slingback heels was spotted out and about wearing head-to-toe Cinq à Sept on Nov. 20, 2024, in New York.
Celebs Wearing Slingback Shoes in 2024
Heidi Klum wears Jimmy Choo’s Tabatha slingback sandal to the Blauer Panther TV & Streaming Award 2024 at BMW Welt on October 23, 2024 in Munich, Germany.
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show – Arrivals
Angel Reese wearing a lace dress with Gianvito Rossi Ribbon slingback shoes at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show held at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on October 15, 2024 in New York, New York.
Celebs Wearing Slingback Shoes in 2024
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wearing a red Carolina Herrera dress and red Aquazzura So Nude slingback stilettos at the 2024 CHLA Gala held at the L.A. Live Event Deck on October 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California
Celebs Wearing Slingback Shoes in 2024
Julianne Hough wearing a black Jonathan Simkhai dress featuring fringe and the black suede Schutz Boris slingback heel at her book signing on August 12, 2024 in New York, New York.
Solve the daily Crossword
