An Ode to the Classy, Adaptable Kitten Heel 

I will admit, high heels are sexy. And yes, they make you look taller, leaner and do magical things for the lift in your behind and the sashay of your hips.  And there is no denying that when I throw on a pair of 4-inch heels, I do feel a little bit more confident.  High heels are also the celebrity shoe-du-jour and have been for many, many years.

Given all of this high heel hype, what’s a girl to do? What if you are like me and like to wear your shoes for an entire event, or heaven forbid, an entire day? What if, again like me, you don’t want to have incredible back pain and toes that end up looking like deformed, corn-covered semblances of feet? My answer is, bring back the kitten heel!

Definition:  kit·ten heel (n.) – a short, slender heel, typically between 1 and 2 inches in height. [See above: Audrey Hepburn’s famous kitten heels from Breakfast at Tiffany’s]

The Demure Allure of Kitten Heels 

Kitten heels are the perfect in-between of the oh-so-cute-and-comfy flat and the oh-so-sexy-and-painful stiletto.  Their mere presence on the foot sends a message of, “Yes, I am grown, feminine and stylish,” without disrespecting your tootsies and body through pain betrayal. They are usually 1-2 inches in height, and favor the same silhouette of their taller cousins, while being much closer to the ground – they are slim, sleek and curvy heels on a sometimes very pointy toe-box.

These heels came into fashion in the 1950’s era when the clothing style of that time tended towards full skirts, slim tops and tight waists. They were a perfect juxtaposition to the high heel, but eschewed that  aggressive, confident spin, and matched better with the decorous nature of 1950’s ladies’ frocks.  This style became wildly popular for girls and moms alike; the ability to still align to the requirements of the 1950’s fashionable and properly dressed lady – but be comfortable as well! — was too attractive to pass up.

The kitten heel got a huge boost from celebrities like Audrey Hepburn, who wore them in iconic movies like Sabrina, and then again in Funny Face and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  It separated Hepburn from screen sirens from the time such as Marilyn Monroe, who donned the more sexy stilettoes. Hepburn made it okay to be stylish and comfortable, as well as sexy in a whole different way. She had such an impact on the style that it often is referred to as the “Sabrina heel.”

Modern Day Devotees

The style has come back around and for good reason!  Our style-conscious first lady, Michelle Obama, has brought the kitten heel back in vogue and has teamed it with fashion of all kind. Designers such as Jimmy Choo have always featured them, and makers like Valentino and Louboutin have begun bringing back the kitten in their lines.

If all of this, however, has left you needing still more convincing, below I highlight the benefits of the kitten heel:

Comfort: Being a shorter height than a traditional stiletto, 1-2-inches tall, it puts less pressure on the balls of your feet, and keeps your back in the right alignment.  This, in turn, puts less pressure on the toes and causes less pain in the toe-box. Think about it: your feet, even when walking in tennis shoes, absorb a ton of shock from every stride. This becomes even more prevalent when wearing heels, since your foot is cast downward, reducing its amazing, natural, shock-absorbent ability.  I’ve been to weddings where I’ve watched many of my sisters donning those “hot heels” go barefoot an hour in — while I am still looking demure and stylish in my comfortable kitten heels. Not judging – just liking to keep my toes protected on the dance floor. ‘Nuff said.

Style:  Everything you wear with flats or stilettos can be worn with a kitten heel. For those outfits that would call for a flat, a kitten heel dresses it up and pumps up the elegance. And for those occasions when you would die without being in a stiletto, a kitten heel can keep the fashion factor high while giving you some additional sophistication. I have found that these little beauties look great with jeans, full skirts, work pants, walking shorts and are especially fitting with slim, pencil skirts. You don’t get sexier than a pencil skirt — and the kitten heel takes nothing away from it, while actually adding a little ladylike spice to all that flavor.

Confidence:  In the same way that the kitten heel would work in place of a higher-heeled cousin, it can still make you feel confident, put together and altogether stylishly genteel. The chunky heel and platform heel of late are great, but personally, I feel that they are a little more on the masculine side.  The kitten can help the more assertive of us still embrace our femininity while rocking the business world.

Before you pass up the kitten heel on its face, I encourage you to go out and buy just one pair – basic black – and give them a try. Find a pair that is comfortable, ideally with a longer, pointy toe box and curvy heel. This will give your toes a little more room to live, and make your leg look long and lean.

Bottom line: I’ve never worn a kitten and regretted it. I’ve worn a stiletto and in putting it on, resigned myself to an evening of pain, justifying it with the phrase, “Beauty is pain.” To this, I say, no…beauty is the kitten heel. Happy wearing!

Feature Photo: Publicity shots for Breakfast at Tiffany’s taken by Howell Conant