Ashley Graham Brings Back the 90s in Clear PVC Mules at a Harper’s Bazaar Cocktail Party in New York
Amina Ayoud
Assistant Digital Editor
Ashley Graham attended a Harper’s Bazaar cocktail party held yesterday as part of New York Fashion Week wearing a pair of the Gianvito Rossi Elle pointed-toe mule. Other notable attendees included Tracee Ellis Ross, Solange Knowles, Precious Lee, Naomi Campbell, Lucky Blue Smith, Nara Smith and Natasha Lyonne, among a slew of other top stars.
Bringing back a popular trend from the 1990s, the model sported a pair of clear mules. The Elle style featured clear PVC uppers, creating an illusive appearance. Elle is a signature style for the brand, which features a sophisticated pointed-toe mule with a 105mm stiletto heel. The style is crafted from leather and soft see-through Plexi.
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The open-pointed toes gave way to short 2 to 3-inch stiletto heels, offering Graham a subtle boost in height. The runway regular’s footwear pick is not unlike choices from Amina Muaddi, Paris Texas and Melissa, among others.
No matter the style, clear heels have been around for decades now, coming back into style every now and again. The high-impact silhouette was first introduced in the 90s, often worn by exotic dancers, club kids and pole dancers.
In 1993, under the direction of the late Gianni Versace, Versace released a collection of see-through shoes with clear PVC straps that became an instant hit. Dsquared2, Prada and Fendi also showed clear shoes on the runway back in 2010. Even Christian Louboutin got in on the PVC trend, creating the ever-popular Illusion pump featuring leather accents and clear uppers akin to Cinderella’s glass slippers.
Graham paired her clear footwear with a champagne gold halter dress in a maxi length. The garment was crafted of shiny silky fabric and featured a plunging neckline and intricate draping, giving the dress both volume and shape.
Graham’s footwear wardrobe ranges from sporty to slick. For formal occasions, the model often wears strappy sandals or pointed pumps in colorful tones and metallics from luxury brands including Christian Louboutin, Bottega Veneta and Gianvito Rossi. On the casual front, she can also be seen in sharp mesh, sturdy canvas and leather sneakers from Vans, Adidas and Jordan Brand.
