People With Cool Style Are Suddenly Wearing This Vintagey Heel Trend With Pants and Skirts
In slingback, suede, leather and more variations—the bow pump is here to stay.


I'm well aware that we talk about flat shoes a lot here on Who What Wear, but let's take a break from that and talk about a heel trend I've been spotting as of late. It's a walkable heel style (as in, not a stiletto or a platform), it's pretty, and two women with cool style just wore it: Alexa Chung and Michelle Monaghan.
The heel trend I'm referring to is ballet pumps with an oversize bow. They look like something you'd stumble across in a vintage shop (and immediately buy if you get lucky with the size). Recently, though, the trend has been brought back into the spotlight by the creative director who’s arguably the most inspired by vintage designers in the game: Alessandro Michele. Michele is currently the creative director at Valentino, and he designed several oversized-bow ballet pumps for the brand's current collection.
Chung happened to wear a slingback pair with baggy black pants while in Cannes, while Monaghan was photographed in NYC wearing her tan leather ballet pumps with a denim midi skirt and red tank. I think we can all agree that the vintage-y heels look equally cool with both outfits.
Keep scrolling to shop the new celeb-approved heel trend for your wardrobe.
WHO: Alexa Chung
WEAR: Dôen top; Valentino pants, Valentino Garavani Nellcôte Small Shoulder Bag in Suede with Fringes (£1750), and Valet Du Roi Leather Slingback Flats (£830)
WHO: Michelle Monaghan
Shop Oversize-Bow Ballet Pumps:

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater arts. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
-
Dakota Johnson Just Wore the Flat-Shoe Alternative to Sandals That Makes Skirts and Trousers Extra Polished
The perfect early-summer shoe.
-
Hold the Black Shoes—7 Fresh Alternatives That Are Just as Chic for Summer 2025
Some fresh options.
-
This Shoe Trend Used to Give Me the Ick—Dakota Johnson Just Made It Look Incredibly Chic
I didn't think it was possible.
-
Suddenly, The “Ugly” Sandal Trend Jennifer Aniston Wore Relentlessly in the ‘90s Is Back
It's about time if you ask me.
-
Suddenly, Fashion People Are Wearing The Comfy Shoe Trend That's Swiftly Replacing Flats
Your feet will be very pleased.
-
Every Season Has a Fun Heel Trend—This Is the One People Will Wear With Jeans This Summer
Dua Lipa is on board.
-
Dakota Johnson Just Wore the Specific Shoe Trend that Makes Black Dresses Much More Interesting
It's seriously effective.
-
Live From the Streets of New York: This Sophisticated Heel Is Making a Huge Comeback
Take a peep at this.