Flat shoes may be having a major fashion moment (with sales up 20 percent in 2023 over 2022, according to Net-a-porter), but on the red carpet, heels still rule.
They don’t have to be uncomfortable, however — at least not according to stylist Elizabeth Stewart, who has launched a collection of evening shoes with U.K.-based Sole Bliss just in time for awards season.
“It’s just a fact, the height and the way heels make you stand looks better for the red carpet,” said Stewart, who is dressing nominee Elizabeth Olsen and presenter Amanda Seyfried for the Golden Globes on Sunday.
Handmade in Italy and Spain, Sole Bliss was launched in 2017 by self-proclaimed “bunion sufferer” Lisa Kay, a 30-year veteran of the luxury shoe industry, with a patent-pending triple-layer cushioning system and a hidden stretch panel to accommodate bunions and wide feet without altering the shoe silhouette. The brand has been worn by Stewart’s clients Julia Roberts, Viola Davis and Rebel Wilson, as well as dozens of other celebs and British royals Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Queen Camilla.
“It was super organic, I found them online searching for a lot of clients. I have those who are willing to suffer for beauty but a lot who want to be comfortable. So I use their shoes,” said Stewart of how the relationship started. “We decided to do a collab so I could make them a little more red carpet, and they are really comfortable, it’s significant.”
Julia Roberts wearing a Sole Bliss shoe.
Variety via Getty Images
Together, she and Kay designed two heels available in 10 colorways. The Royalty ($399) is a sexier version of the brand’s bestselling platform sandal, a silhouette loved by Roberts. The Premiere ($349) is a stiletto with a 4-inch heel available in neutral hues and on-trend red. The Elizabeth Stewart x Sole Bliss collection is available now on the brand’s website.
“I love Elizabeth’s style and the way she knows how to make her clients feel confident and comfortable in what they’re wearing. We’re very aligned in that respect,” said Kay. “I think special occasions do call for high heels. Heels can make you feel confident, powerful, more glamorous. But only when you feel comfortable wearing them.”
