Yahoo LifestyleThese Valentine’s Day Shoes Give You All the Excuse to Splurge on Festive, Fun, and Flirty Footwear
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Valentine’s Day is coming up, and while the most romantic holiday is about celebrating love and filling hearts with chocolate, roses, or jewelry, it’s also about stylish Valentine’s Day outfits. Most of the year, an outfit equation may center around a designer handbag or a statement coat, but Valentine’s Day shoes take the cake for this holiday.
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Each year, shoppers eagerly await for designer shoe brands to roll out special silhouettes that commemorate Valentine’s Day and give them the perfect excuse to add a new pair of luxury shoes to their footwear rotation. These Valentine’s Day shoes can range from heart-embossed sneakers to similar iterations of Elle Wood’s costume Heart-Shaped heels from Legally Blonde or Christian Loubiton’s Petal Sandals that Carrie Bradshaw responded, “Hello, lover” to in Sex and The City. However, most, if not all, are usually just inspired by Valentine’s Day aesthetics so shoppers can make their investment worthy and wear them year-round.
This year, Valentine’s Day-inspired dressing has been more relevant than ever. First, we saw a wave of pink and red hues hit the catwalks, declaring that post-lockdown looks are heating up and celebrating love through fashion is timeless. For example, for fall/winter 2022, designers like Alaia, Bluemarine, Giambattista Valli, Versace, Max Mara, Bottega Veneta, and more took the meanings of these romantic colors — adrenaline, alarm, drama, attention — and translated them into striking head-to-toe numbers.
Additionally, we saw the style set embrace ‘Lovecore’ — the appreciation or incorporation of the visual aspects of romance and affection. Everyone from Rihanna to Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian has been spotted in pinks, reds, hearts, florals, and cherries, convincing us that these style choices aren’t just for Valentine’s Day — they’re more about constantly feeling the love from the pieces you wear.
So without further ado, we’ve rounded up the best Valentine’s Day shoes that any footwear fanatic is sure to appreciate. Trust us — one is bound to be your ‘solemate.’
The Top Valentine’s Day Shoes for 2023
Best for a Night of Burlesque: Tamara Mellon Galactic Heels
Best for a Night at Home: Olivia Von Halle Contessa Feather Pom-Pom Slippers
Best for a Romantic Getaway: Amina Muaddi Lupita PVC Heels
Best for a Casual Dinner: Aquazzura Love Me Pavé Heart Pointed Toe Shoes
Best for a Pre-Fix Dinner: Valentino Valentino Garavani Tan-Go 100 Patent-Leather Pumps
Best for a Pizza Date: The Row Leather Ballet Flats
Best for a Club Night: Jessica Rich Racy Mules
Tamara Mellon Galactic Heels
Best Valentine’s Day Shoes for A Night of Burlesque
Size range: 5-12
Colorways: Dark Pink, Black, Yellow Maille
Headed for a night of lavish surprises? Tamara Mellon’s Galactic Heels will keep you comfortable and stylish as you eat, drink, and dance the night away. These shoes feature the brand’s signature luxury cushioning, which is a pillow top insole that offers 8 mm of memory foam that softens in response to body heat and molds to the foot. Of course, we can’t forget to mention the rich velvet material, crystal embellishments, and sleek ankle strap, all of which add a flirtatious and fun vibe to your plans.
Buy Now at Tamara Mellon
Jimmy Choo Flaca Sandals
Size range: 34.5-41
Colorways: Red/Red, Candy Pink/Red
Jimmy Choo was founded in 1996 by Malaysian-Chinese couture designer Jimmy Choo and British Vogue’s accessories editor, Tamara Mellon, focusing on luxury handbags, shoes, accessories, and beauty products. More than anything, the brand is known for its shoes because of the skillful Italian craftsmanship and ultra-feminine designs that go into them. The brand’s Flaca Sandals are a go-to for the romantic holiday and beyond, thanks to their playfully elegant bows, ruched velvet fabric, and square-toe heel that offers a striking yet effortless evening look.
Buy Now at Jimmy Choo
Buy Now at Neiman Marcus
Buy Now at Mytheresa
Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue
Olivia Von Halle Contessa Feather Pom-Pom Slippers
Best Shoes for Valentine’s Day at Home
Size range: 37-42
Colorways: Pink, Peach
A stay-at-home Valentine’s Day is a great way to stay far from the February chill and celebrate more affordably and memorably. Of course, chocolates, caviar, and champagne are must-haves, but so are Olivia Von Halle’s Contessa Feather Pom-Pom slippers. These shoes upgrade the definition of cozy, making them impossible not to fall in love with. They’re designed in a second-generation family-run factory in Tuscany and created with luxe silk and ostrich feather pom-poms this slipper — what more could you want in a woman’s slipper?
Buy Now at Olivia Von Halle
Buy Now at Neiman Marcus
Buy Now at Bergdorf Goodman
Loewe Balloon Embellished Leather Pumps
Size range: 5-11
Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe loves to balance the traditional and the avant-garde, whether with bags, sweaters, sandals, or these pumps. The brand’s Balloon Embellished Leather Pumps are one of its latest offerings from its Fall ’22 collection, and they’re true to creative director Jonathan Anderson’s conceptual humor. While these pumps don’t feature real balloons as the brand’s Spring/Summer 2023 shoe does, they have a 3D balloon-shaped heel inspired by surrealist art, an elongated pointed toe, and a V-cut upper that will make you look like a runway star.
Buy Now at Mytheresa
Amina Muaddi Lupita PVC Heels
Best Shoes for Valentine’s Day On a Romantic Getaway
Size range: 35-39
Colorways: Pink, Blue
Romanian-Jordanian footwear designer Amina Muaddi has become the industry’s buzziest name. While she’s known for her party-ready statement heels and products that regularly sell out at top-tier retailers, best of all, she was named Footwear News’ Designer of the Year 2022. Her pink Lupita PVC Heels arrive in a colorway that lets anyone live out their Barbie dreams. These sandals boast an open square toe and leather sole, helping you to keep your grip on the dance floor. An extra-special detail comes in the form of the trademark “martini glass” heel, which is transformed with a transparent neon finish.
Buy Now at Farfetch
Buy Now at Intermix
Buy Now at Saks Fifth Avenue
Buy Now at Mytheresa
Aquazzura Love Me Ballet Flats
Best Valentine’s Day Shoes for a Casual Dinner
Size range: 5-12
Aquazzura is an Italian label almost synonymous with all things shoes. Their unique silhouettes have become a favorite among the style set for their distinctive shapes and decadent detailing. Crafted with style and comfort in mind, you can wear these shoes all day with the confidence that discomfort won’t arise and you will always look stylish. So it’s no wonder that Kate Middleton is a fan. The label’s Love Me Pavé Heart shoe is the perfect example. It delivers on elevated elements that make an impact, thanks to the addition of the crystal heart charm on the PVC lining and an overall enduring aesthetic that makes them stick around for years to come.
Buy Now at Aquazurra
Valentino Valentino Garavani Tan-Go 100 Patent-Leather Pumps
Best Shoes for a Valentine’s Day Pre-Fixe Dinner
Size range: 35-42
Colorways: Black, White, Pink
For Valentino’s fall/winter 2023, the label designed a specific custom shade, pink, in collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute to showcase the garments’ singularity and intricacy. Ever since then, pink has been enjoying a renaissance. People worldwide took notice and started implementing the color — especially pink Valentino heels into their wardrobes. Valentino’s Garavani Tan-Go 100 Patent-Leather Pumps are one of the shoes part of the collection that embodies elegance and optimism. They feature the label’s ‘VLOGO’ monogram on the straps, pointed toes, stiletto heels, and dramatically tapered ankle collars. Whether you wear them with an all-pink outfit as done on the runway or as an accent piece to a simple black dress, your Valentine’s Day dinner will instantly be taken to the next level.
Buy Now at Net-A-Porter
Buy Now at Moda Operandi
Magda Butrym Leather-Trimmed Satin Sandals
Size range: 6-11
For those familiar with Magda Butrym, it may not be surprising that the Warsaw-based, influencer-loved brand was born to make everyday dressing more elegant and sophisticated. Defined by its cool and modern approach to dressing up, the label is a favorite among women like Emily Ratajkowski, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who want to look polished, and feminine and feel special for any occasion. From floral appliques to bold shoulders, Maga Butrym is a true women-for-women brand. Hence why her Leather-Trimmed Satin Sandals are true head-turners, intended to make any woman feel bold, confident, empowered, feminine, and flirtatious. They feature a 105mm heel and long strappy ankle ties adorned with two 3D flowers — one detachable flower at the front and a fixed flower at the heel — delivering a modern vision of romanticism.
Buy Now at Mytheresa
The Row Leather Ballet Flats
Best Valentine’s Day Shoes for a Pizza Date
Size range: 35-42
Colorways: Red, Maroon, Black
If you’re heading out for a pizza date with eyes on finding a heart-shaped pie, these ballet flats are the second-best companion. The brand by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen is known for its exceptional leather goods, and of their shoe line-up, these minimalist flats are bound to be your new, everyday staple. True, the ballet flat is still very much on-trend, but what we appreciate about The Row’s approach is their timelessness that’s top of mind.
Buy Now at Mytheresa
Jessica Rich Racy Mules
Best Valentine’s Day Shoes for A Club Night
Size range: 35-42
Colorways: Green, Pink, White, Noir, Leopard, Yellow, Snow Leopard, Gold
Even if you aren’t the biggest fan of Valentine’s Day, it’s still a fun excuse to celebrate with your girlfriends and head out on the town for some fun. Take Jessica Rich’s Racy Mules out with you, and you’re guaranteed to have a night you’ll never forget. Not only did Jessica Rich win the Emerging Talent award at the 2022 FNAAs, but also she is the one that creates the transparent PVC-inspired sandals and pumps spotted on A-listers like Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, and Kylie Jenner. Her Racy Mule is a classic style with an easy slip-on design, luxurious satin fabric, pointed toe, and a sleek, gold 120 mm stiletto heel. This shoe will have your back when you don’t feel like putting a lot of effort into dressing up.
Buy Now at Jessica Rich
Meet the Author
Nikki Chwatt is the Style Commerce Editor for WWD and Footwear News, where she both writes and edits stories on the latest clothing, accessory, and shoe must-haves. As a city dweller, she’s garnered a love for all types of shoes — sneakers, heels, mules, ballet flats, boots, and sandals — since each is necessary for the different seasons and occasions that she encounters. In her spare time, Chwatt keeps up with street style and designer launches to understand which accessories are highly coveted by the style set.
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