I Hate High Heels, But I Love This Trend

It takes a lot to get me in a pair of heels. Since it's not unusual for me to rack up well over 10,000 steps a day crisscrossing New York City, anything taller than an inch or two just doesn't work out. But since I can't resist a little bit of fun, all the cool sculptural heels I've been eyeing might just convince me that sore calves and a blister or two are worth it. While unusual, artistic, and straight-up gravity-defying high heels aren't a new trend, there are so many brands offering up their own takes on the trend right now.
While I'd have to point to Jacquemus and J.W.Anderson as the leaders of the quirky-cool heel aesthetic, they're not the only brands currently sitting in my shopping cart. Below I'm highlighting 21 pairs of sculptural heels that just might convince me to swap out my sneakers and sandals for the coming months. From subtle to seriously over-the-top, this is a trend that you can tailor to your aesthetic. Read on to shop the best of the best now.

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Hold the Sandals—This Is the Shoe Trend to Wear With Dresses in September
As seen on Alexa Chung.
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Move Over, Jelly Shoes—I Predict *This* Chunky Shoe Trend Will Be Everywhere Come Fall
Gen Z discovers boho chic.
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If You Want Prettier Outfits, Swap Black Pumps for This Dated Color
Even Serena Williams is making the switch.
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This Is the "Dated" Heel Trend to Buy Instead of Basic Pumps If You Want Cooler Outfits This Fall
Sophie Turner is making the switch.
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Hailey Bieber Just Said This Classic Print Looks So 2025 When Paired With This Unconventional Shoe Color
Unexpected, yet so chic.
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Forget Mules—*These* Are the Classic Anti-Flats L.A. It Girls Wear for Dinner at Giorgio Baldi
Good food, great footwear.
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FYI: Every Fashion Person Is Buying This Pretty Shoe Color Instead of Black Right Now
Count us in.
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Forget Sandals—This Is the Heel Style That Makes Halter Dresses Look Elegant
It's a tried-and-true.