This year marked my third Met Gala as a Vogue staffer. In the days that followed, the question I was asked most was, unsurprisingly, “What did you wear?” Given the “Heavenly Bodies” theme, I decided on a sweet off-white ruffled silk dress by Simone Rocha, which touched on the religious art and fashion in the exhibition but still felt party-appropriate. That said, my shoes were an even more important decision, considering I would spend the whole night on my feet (we were there to work, after all). With small feet like mine, squeezing into a sample is not an option, so finding the right pair was a tall order: I needed shoes that would not only look presentable in a sea of well-dressed celebrities, but would also complement my romantic dress and withstand hours of walking, standing, and occasionally running. Since I purged every stiletto and pump from my closet after graduation, there was a serious void for evening shoes in my closet—one I needed to fill stat.
Despite the Met Gala’s reputation as “fashion’s biggest night out,” I can’t get behind the idea of wearing ill-fitting, sky-high heels that don’t match my style (even for just one evening). I learned this the hard way after my first Met, where my heels caused the kind of pain no pedicure massage could fix. For my second Met, my shoes were similarly brutal, though I was at least mentally prepared for the hours I would spend wearing them. This year, I decided to dedicate my time to searching for shoes that were truly comfortable—and would still fit the theme, of course.
It turns out, the answer was right in front of me—or rather, below me. The shoes I wore the most this spring were my kitten-heel slides from the glitzy yet accessible label Nina. Sound familiar? It’s the special-occasion accessories brand typically found at department stores, beloved by teenagers and young women who wear Nina shoes to homecoming, prom, and weddings. But I’ve discovered that the nearly 60-year-old New York brand is worth a second look. When I was searching high and low for the right Met Gala shoe in April, my infatuation with sexy, diamanté-encrusted (read: impractical) shoes was also growing—fast! It felt like every brand was tempting me with a pair, but none were as gentle on my wallet as Nina’s. I decided Nina’s three-inch Avalon sandals would satisfy my craving for sparkly shoes that didn’t cost a month’s rent, but they also became a top contender in my Met Gala search.
The first time I tried them, I impulsively went to the office without a backup flat or sneaker for my commute. Foolish, I know—but I didn’t regret it. My feet were pain-free the whole day. It was a win-win: The flash of sparkle on my toes dressed up my laid-back pinstriped suit and shoelace belt, and they gave me confidence as I walked to and from meetings. I couldn’t go anywhere without being stopped for a compliment. These shiny, strappy, not-quite stilettos were the comfy-glam heels I’d been looking for! There was no way they weren’t coming with me to the Met. On the big night, the rhinestones picked up the embellishments on my dress and barrettes, and they lightened up the look of my otherwise all-black sandals (which were fully visible under my ankle-length dress). The thicker heel and ankle straps provided the extra support I needed to get through the long night, too. Needless to say, I made it to the after-party!
That first Monday in May feels like ancient history at this point, but with the holiday season quickly approaching, we’re about to find ourselves in need of festive, comfortable party shoes once again. In fact, my Met Gala-approved sandals are still out there—and they’re on sale for under $50, rhinestones and all. Run, don’t walk—and in these, you actually can!—to get a head-start on your party look now.
