When you have a closet like Kaia Gerber's, it only takes three pieces to build a memorable holiday party outfit and dial up a major winter shoe trend by several degrees.
The model and Saturday Night star attended a premiere after-party for A24's Babygirl on Dec. 11 dressing to land on the nice list this winter. For reasons unknown to this author, the Chateau Marmont festivities involved a photo-op with Santa Claus in front of a Christmas tree, which Gerber and a friend gamely participated in. She was snapped sitting on her friend's lap in a Tom Ford micro-mini halter dress with a bow detail at the neck and a completely open back. Underneath, she dipped her toes into a rising winter shoe trend by layering open kitten heel sandals over nearly-sheer black tights.
It was the definition of a minimalist outfit formula: Those three items—LBD, heels, and tights—were all Gerber was spotted wearing to the party. And yet, her black-on-black-on-black trifecta confirmed other signs I've seen of a tights and heels renaissance.
As Kaia Gerber was pairing her Tom Ford mini with anonymous black heels and stockings in one corner of LA, Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande were coordinating Chanel outfits with the same low-key styling hack. Gomez, hours before revealing her engagement ring, emphasized her white double-strap peep-toe Chanel heels with black tights underneath. Meanwhile, Ariana Grande created a mixed-texture effect with black pointed-toe heels and black tights.
The winter shoe styling trend had previously gained some momentum in both New York City and Los Angeles celebrity street style: Sabrina Carpenter tried it with micro-shorts and a leopard blazer, while Kristen Stewart paired her sheer stockings and peep-toe heels to knit hot pants and a cardigan.
Tights, heels, and optional socks aren't necessarily a revolutionary combination. In 2023, a surge in women wearing sheer red stockings led to creative pairings with patent black heels. Still, Kaia Gerber and her It-girl cohort make a compelling case for getting back to black when everyone else is wearing red and green—and putting their open toed shoes in storage.
