Let the People Wear Kitten Heels in the Club

Being online in 2026 means enduring plenty of discourse around the wearing of heels. From whether or not someone can actually walk in them, to how they are fitting (don’t you dare throw a toe over the frame), it feels like there’s no winning. And then, you get to the kitten heels conversation. Whenever I tread into the comment sections of the people chatting about kitten heels, I’m catching strays. The people hate them, feel like they are an epidemic—all because they’re just a little shorter.If it’s not clear, I’m a kitten heel defender. There’s no question whether I am biased here, because I am going to wear a tiny heel, as is my right!Before we wade any deeper into the kitten-heel level water, let’s get informed. Kitten heels—measuring anywhere between 1.5 and 2 inches—were created in the 1950s as a “training heel” for teenage girls who weren't yet ready for stilettos. The style became a massive mainstream trend when Audrey Hepburn wore the height in films like Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's. In the 1990s, it returned via luxury runways with designers like Prada and Manolo Blahnik. Now, as the eye-rollers of the internet have pointed out, they’re also everywhere: at the club, dinner, happy hour. And they’re on the feet of all our favorites, from Bella Hadid to Kendall Jenner, and the everyday working (and socializing) woman.Ricky Vigil M//Getty ImagesBut like most fashion trends, once a style peaks, we’re bound to have a swarm of people rioting against it, which is only fair. People love to hate on things that become beloved. It’s a tale as old as time. Kitten heels are the latest cool-girl shoe option, especially for large, walkable (!!), fashion-scene cities. Next to capri pants (and especially paired together), this is the trend I’ve seen most in my day-to-day.Today’s kitten heel arrived out of necessity, in my opinion, in a post-pandemic world. After several years indoors during the COVID-19 outbreak, many people have started to prioritize comfort without compromising on style. So, grabbing a low-heeled shoe that’s easy to walk in, but still has the same kind of clean lines a stiletto is known for is a no-brainer.Jean Catuffe//Getty ImagesIn kitten heels, I can run, jump, dance, and strut all day, which completely alters my mood along with the outcomes of my social outings. Yes, you can argue that you should carry a pair of flats in your bag to switch into, but why carry two pairs of shoes (not to mention a bag big enough to accommodate the other pair), when one will suffice? Kitten heel wearers are practical and logical.The greatest debate online right now surrounding kitten heels is people not wanting to see them in the club. Maybe it’s because I stand barefoot at 5-foot-10, naturally towering over the girls in five-inch heels, but I don’t think there’s harm in wearing a chic kitten heel while you’re out on the town. There are already so many blanket statements surrounding Gen Z. Apparently, we don’t party, don’t drink, don’t dance. If you’re complaining about that and kitten heels, you are a hypocrite, I’m sorry to say! A kitten heel means a get-down kind of night. No sitting in the corner in my nerve-pinching stilettos or tiptoeing around because blisters on my feet won’t let me walk properly.MEGA//Getty ImagesAnd while I am a firm believer in traditions and knowing our roots, I don’t think the hill (or heel) to die on is kitten heels in the club. There are so many videos about Gen Z not committing to painful stilettos like the women who came before them, but I can’t be the only one who thinks spraying potions and sticking bandaids on your feet just to survive the night doesn’t seem worth it. Especially in our current culture where everything is filmed. I am not trying to be in the background of someone’s OOTD, walking around like a newborn giraffe.If everyone is watching, why wouldn’t I put my best foot forward? Why wouldn’t I choose comfort and stability so I can walk normally and live pain-free?Aeon//Getty ImagesDo I personally wear kitten heels all the time? No, but they are an every-event kind of shoe in my eyes. Do I think you should wear kitten heels to the club? Well, it depends on the club and your personal style. Maybe not a major metropolitan club with promoters and bottle service, but at the bar? Absolutely. I’d much rather see a tiny heel than a clunky sneaker with a dressy outfit. (That, in itself, is the true sartorial epidemic of our time—and we must all join together to defeat it.)Aiyana Ishmael is the style editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In her work, Aiyana focuses on the culture of fashion and how it intertwines and shapes the zeitgeist. She is an award-winning journalist from Miami, Florida, and a graduate of the historically Black university, Florida A&M. She is a 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30: Media honoree, and her debut romance novella PASSING GAME is set to release March of 2027 (831 Stories/Simon & Schuster).