Chic

I’ll admit it: I’ve always been a little wary of white heels. One wrong step onto grass or a light scrape against a wall and suddenly they look scuffed, tired and—dare I say it—cheap. Because of that, I’ve historically kept my distance. Still, I couldn’t deny that whenever I have spotted the style on someone else, I found myself admiring the fresh lift it brought to an outfit. In fact, no other shoe shade has quite the same ability to add instant lightness to an ensemble.

This week, Amal Clooney made the strongest case yet for divisive shoes. Arriving at the start of the Venice Film Festival, she stepped out in the very trend I’ve been debating for years: a pair of white slingbacks. Clooney styled hers with a butter yellow, calf-grazing dress, leaning into a soft and pretty palette that perfectly complemented her equally airy shoes.

Often reserved for brides, white heels, with their versatile neutral finish, prove surprisingly wearable beyond the aisle. Clooney’s look is proof, as the shoes held their own against the notoriously tricky shade of pale yellow. Beyond this pairing, this fresh shade pairs easily with classic denim, as well as black, warm browns and jewel tones.