Brides, Just Buy the Pointed-Toe Slingback
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While there’s a lot of energy and money spent on the wedding dress — there are appointments and hours spent browsing Pinterest — wedding shoes are often a second thought, left until the last minute. Shoe shopping often kicks off a scramble, if not outright settling for whatever option ships the fastest. But what if you just purchased an option you knew would look good regardless of the dress, would be comfortable, and could be worn again? What if you just wore a pointed-toe slingback?
The shoe, which dates back to the 1940s, is almost a pump but not quite and comes in a wide array of heel heights, fabrics, and colors. It’s one of those shoes that looks fancy on the foot, while also being two inches off the ground — hard for any other silhouette to do. Another nice thing: It covers your toes. Open toes can feel less formal, and a closed toe removes the need for a pedicure or for worrying about whether you like your toes (when you’re a bride, there’s a lot of ruminating on typically unremarkable body parts). Pointed-toe slingbacks also look nice regardless of price point. I spent $40 on my wedding shoes, and they were comfortable and looked great in photos—no one would guess I didn’t spend hundreds more.
It’s becoming an increasingly popular silhouette. When I talked to seven brides, all of whom got married in the last five years, they all wore a variation of a white satin slingback. Their reasons for choosing the silhouette echoed mine: comfort, “timelessness,” and the ability to wear them again. While no one wore the same shoe, one did come up often as a reference point: the Manolo Blahnik Carolyne. The classic style debuted 35 years ago and was inspired by Carolyne Roehm, a fashion designer, author, and beloved Manolo customer. It comes in three heel heights — 50-mm., 70-mm., and 105-mm. — has an almond-shaped toe, and has been worn by everyone from Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy to the Olsen twins. It’s also very expensive, which explains why only one bride wore these shoes on her day (and they were a gift).
Below, the slingbacks they did wear, along with some pairs I would buy if I were getting married next month.
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“I knew from the start that I wanted something comfortable and elegant, ideally three inches or lower so I could move easily throughout the day,” saysTrina Chan, a vice-president of brand strategy at Casetify. That criteria led her to the Manolo Blahnik Carolyne, which she wore in white satin and red suede throughout the weekend. She tried on five other pairs but kept coming back to these: “None of them felt quite right. Some didn’t match the material and aesthetic of my gown; others had uncomfortable straps, or they simply lacked that special feeling I wanted for my wedding day,” she says.
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PhotographerNaima Greenalso wore Manolo Blahnik heels, though hers weren’t exactly a slingback. She wore these d’orsay-style heels designed in collaboration with wedding-dress designer Danielle Frankel, which have a four-inch heel and crystal bracelet anklet for a strap. “I wore the shoes at every fitting; they felt effortless,” she said. “Once I get locked in on something, it’s hard for me to deviate — I couldn’t imagine the dress with anything else.” While these aren’t exactly the same as a slingback, there are lots of similarities, mainly the front profile. Both styles share the pointed toe, though notably, this one goes straight across the foot rather than creating a C- or U-shape.
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Trina’s sister, Priscilla Chan, also wore a pair of white slingbacks on the day. “My main concern was comfort and danceability,” she says. “I also needed a block heel since our wedding was outdoors in Tahoe and on the grass.” Before landing on theStuart Weitzman Pearlita heels, she tried on theJimmy Choo Saeda, a delicate, pointy-toed shoe with a bracelet strap, but decided against it because it was too painful to wear for the whole day (she wore the shoe for her civil ceremony). Another reason she opted for the Stuart Weitzman heels was the price. “I was splurging on my gowns, so the shoes were a bit of an afterthought, and because I knew they wouldn’t really be seen much, I didn’t mind not going for a top designer shoe in exchange for cost and comfort.”
Editor’s note: Priscilla’s exact shoe is sold out, so we are sharing a similar shoe from the same brand.
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Lauren Valenti, a beauty director atInStylewho got married in November 2024, wore these now-sold-out shoes from Meggan Morimoto. They have a U-shaped toe box and a softly flared two-inch heel, which Valenti says gave her look a subtle retro touch. “On my wedding day, they felt just right — unfussy yet sleek and chic, peeking out from beneath my dress exactly as I’d imagined,” she says.
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“They had just enough charm, sparkle, and structure to carry me through the day and look incredible in photos,” saysAsiah James-Cannon, a creative strategy lead at Pinterest who got married in April 2024. She wore these Miu Miu slingbacks in blush pink, a color she chose so she could wear them again. She nearly went with a foot-baring Bottega heel before deciding she wanted something fully covered. “It felt a bit more formal and balanced the look, especially since my gown had some revealing elements. The Miu Miu pair gave me that contrast I didn’t know I needed,” she says.
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Madison Utendahl, writer of theBurntnewsletter, went with two slingback styles from Neous — the Moriah and the Irena. The Moriah has a squared-off heel, is slightly higher than the Irena (2.5 inches versus 1.5), and has a more tapered, pointy toe, a shape Utendahl describes as “cooler.” She also ordered the Manolo Blahnik Carolyne heels, which she ultimately returned: “I don’t think they’re worth the price.”
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Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid wore these white-satin slingbacks from Barney’s house line for her ketubah signing the Friday before her ceremony. “I found them on Poshmark for 40 bucks,” she says. They were much cheaper than the Manolo Blahnik Carolynes, which she felt were too expensive. “I can’t spend $800 on something I’m going to wear once,” she says. And if you’re curious about her ceremony shoe, Reid opted for an open-toe sandal: the Loeffler Randall Alice.
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Reid also wore a similar style to these from Mango for her bridal shower. “I ended up having to walk a mile to the bridal shower, and they were surprisingly comfortable,” she says.
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These are my wedding shoes. They’re the perfect creamy off-white, which paired well with my dress, a color somewhere between pearl and Champagne. I wore them for three hours, and despite my feet swelling from the heat, they were very comfortable — so much so I decided to rewear them the following day, instead of wearing other pairs I’d purchased.
OtherslingbackheelsI’veseen
Under $150
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Quince, which makes some of our favorite percale sheets and affordable cashmere, also sells these well-priced slingbacks. Made from Italian leather, these three-inch heels have cushioned insoles and come in a nice off-white called “bone.”
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This lace pump comes with Betsey Johnson’s signature blue sole and goes up to a size 13.
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Naturalizer 27 Edit Elaine
Naturalizer is known for its ultracomfortable heels, ideal for a day spent dancing and standing. The front of these come up higher than most other styles on this list, creating a glovelike silhouette.
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These are a near-dupe for the Jimmy Choo Vinnie heels and a fraction of the price.
Under $500
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While shopping around, I briefly considered a pair from Larroudé, then decided against it because of the thin strap and my wide feet. I think that’s actually one of its best features and gives it a little more visual appeal.
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I like that this pair has a slightly wider back strap, which feels a little more secure, and comes in a peachy cream.
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This pair from Dolce Vita has an architectural column heel and a thin strap that creates a cutout look.
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For a shoe with a slight gleam, these have a patent-leather finish and interesting-looking straps.
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While warm whites are having a moment right now, I really like these dove-grey slingbacks, which have a ruche on one side and minimal straps to show off the foot.
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