The High Heeled Renaissance

Ballet pumps and crocs. Ugg boots and sneakers. The footwear of the 2020s has been defined by a singular metric, comfort. The teetering heels of the late 2000s were trampled by track soles and soon enough Heritage Houses began introducing their versions of luxury sneakers. Chanel debuted their chic renditions at its AW14 show, paired of course, with matching mini tweed suits, while Louis Vuitton showed its iconic Archlight shoes during the SS18 show. As high street brands cottoned on, athleisure and sport style took off and of course, the covid-era of ‘WFH fits’, it’s safe to say we’ve developed a more lax approach to dressing, especially when it comes to footwear. As of 2024, the global sneaker market was valued at an eye-watering $94.1 Billion and while we’re no Forbes, we can certainly see that the industry continues to experience explosive growth and a growing culture of sneaker collectors and enthusiasts.

So, despite growing up during a more ‘comfortable’ period of fashion history, this year, a high-heeled renaissance is click-clacking its way onto the streets and into wardrobes, with Gen-Z’ers at the helm of this teetering takeover. Despite airing over 27 years ago, Sex and The City, with its ensemble of fabulous and flirty characters, to its iconic wardrobe moments, has yielded an enduring appeal and fostered a loyal fashion following. Across TikTok and Instagram, fans have remarked on the character’s stalwart dedication to their heels. Whether meeting for a cocktail or running after a cab, the only men these ladies stayed loyal to were their Manolos and their Jimmy Choos. Inspired by this dedication, a growing movement online and on the streets has sought to waylay the call of comfort and instead opt for a high (heeled) risk, high (heeled) reward approach to daily dressing. 

Now of course, we’re not suggesting you risk daily ankle breakage or invest in a family pack of Compeed, however, if you are looking to elevate (quite literally) your personal style, or explore a more impactful approach to your fashion, heels are always a good place to start. As they return to the runways in all their varied forms, with Miu Miu’s SS25 peep toes or more recently, Marc Jacobs bulbous black platforms, fear not gentle reader, there are plenty more options before you commit to the knife-sharp stiletto immediately. 

While intimidating at first glance and certainly divisive, the enduring appeal of the heel is perhaps down to the universality of the shoe. Whether you’re a goth or a corporate girl, a Y2K diehard, or an Indie Sleaze head, the high-heel has been adapted for all aesthetics. Despite their blistering qualities and innate inconvenience, heels do have the power to uplift outfits and moods, giving wearers a boost of height and confidence. They signal a considered way of dressing and translate into a soupçon of effort made. We’re not suggesting that fashion has to be at the forefront of your mind when you wearily open the wardrobe every morning, however, there’s something to be said for an easy switch that invites experimenting with your style and teasing you out of a lull that relies on nothing but ease. Whether you start small with a pair of kitten heels on a Monday or can brave a run to the corner shop in a pair of platforms (consider it part of your training), small implements are a good place to start. If you’re looking to branch out but not fork out, scroll through Vinted and you’ll be sure to find a good “tester” pair for under £10, break your ankle, not your bank, shop smart and stay safe!