Dua Lipa, Olvia Rodrigo, and Lady Gaga all posed in the Marc Jacobs Kiki platform boots, and upon first glance, my reaction was always the same: I wonder what it's like to actually walk in those 7-inch heels? Well, reader, I tried the vertiginous heels on myself and at the most non-opportune time, too. I had just completed a 16-mile run before stepping into these monstrous shoes, which might have been foolish, but I had no other choice since I'm in the midst of training for a marathon. Nevertheless, I'm always up for a challenge, and I'd like to think strapping into these puppies with a giant blister on my big toe qualifies as such.
It is a costume shoe built for a celebrity — one who is spotted by body guards or assistants, and employs a driver to transport them from door to door.
To be candid, wearing this version of the infamous Kiki, which first debuted on the runway in 2016 and boasts a 4-inch platform (you do the maths), is not easy. Though they're equipped with five buckle straps, the thin strips of leather across the upper and around the ankle are no match for the 5-pound blocks they're dragging along. The Kiki style is so tall (the tallest in Marc Jacobs platform history), that once you're standing in them, the inevitable realisation hits you: if you were to fall, you'd twist and probably break your ankle. Upon recognising that fact, I immediately reached for support from the wall beside me — and also the ceiling. Because my tiny attic apartment would have it that, in the Kiki, I was a giant whose head skimmed the roof.
Ahead, see how I styled this viral, celebrity-favourite shoe, despite my fear of tripping and squashing one of my cats. Then, keep scrolling to shop it for yourself.
Walking in the Marc Jacobs Kiki boot
As I took tiny baby steps toward the closet to construct the rest of my outfit, my legs felt heavy and sluggish — and that's not because I was tired from my run. In fact, when I stepped out of the boots momentarily, I felt significantly lighter. I quickly understood why the Kiki is not the type of shoe you commonly see on pedestrians walking down the street. It's no casual Adidas Samba [2]; it is a costume shoe built for a celebrity — one who is spotted by body guards or assistants, and employs a driver to transport them from door to door. From a practicality standpoint, I frankly think I'd be more comfortable on stilts.
Above outfit: Zara Cropped Vest [3] ($40), Zara Parachute Pants [4] ($50), EBY Sheer Mesh Bralette [5] ($50-$52), Coach Coachtopia Ergo Bag in Checkerboard Upcrafted Leather [6] ($350), and Marc Jacobs Kiki Leather Five-Strap Platform Pumps [7] ($2,400)
How to wear the Marc Jacobs Kiki boot
However, there's simply no denying that the Kiki boot is a work of art. It's a masterpiece dreamed up by none other than Marc Jacobs [8] — one of the most celebrated American designers of our generation (he's a 9-time CFDA winner in both the womenswear and accessory categories). He has crafted his own signature brand of grunge, and these platforms are right in line.
While, for me, they could easily be dangerous, as I'm known for being quite clumsy, I actually appreciate their style and how versatile they are — at least when compared to the Versace Medusa, which I have also tried [9]. While those shoes emitted glamour and seemed to call for an ultra-feminine look, the Kiki paired well with everything from a strapless pinstripe skater dress to a sporty tracksuit replete with parachute pants. For going out, I even put them on with leather Bermuda shorts, an open-back top, and bejeweled socks, making for an ensemble that was both edgy and playful.
Above outfit: Zara Jewel Chain Knit Top [10] ($46), Belle Poque High Waisted Shorts with Pockets [11] ($34), Zara Jewel Trim Socks [12] ($13), and Marc Jacobs Kiki Leather Five-Strap Platform Pumps [13] ($2,400)
How celebrities wear the Marc Jacobs Kiki boot
It may just be that I needed more practice walking in the Kiki boots, but I definitely wasn't lacking for inspiration when it came to building outfits around them.
Lipa, 28, most recently sported this exact version of the Kiki with a sleeveless lace minidress [14], chainlink earrings, and dark sunglasses for a retro '60s moment. Coordinated by her stylist, Lorenzo Posocco [15], the Marc Jacobs team confirmed to POPSUGAR that the look was expedited from New York to London for a fitting upon request. But Rodrigo, 20, uses them to play up the '90s-inspired dark academia aesthetic [16] she's become synonymous with. She wore her taller iteration with a camouflage skirt [17] and micro knit sweater, but has also teamed them with a plaid spaghetti strap minidress [18] and pigtails, lest you forgot her favourite fashion decade [19] to channel. Meanwhile, Gaga, 37, has been stomping around in Marc Jacobs heels for years, even confidently debuting the croc-embossed platforms on the runway. This klutz could never! That being said, it may just be that I needed more practice walking in the Kiki boots, but I definitely wasn't lacking for inspiration when it came to building outfits around them.
Above outfit: Zara Striped Strapless Dress [20] ($50), Princess Polly O'mealy Belt Black [21] ($25), Marc Jacobs The St. Marc Mini Top Handle Bag [22] ($395), and Marc Jacobs Kiki Leather Five-Strap Platform Pumps [23] ($2,400)
Shop the Marc Jacobs Kiki Platform Boots
Marc Jacobs The Croc Embossed Kiki Ankle Boot [24] ($550)
Shop the Heaven by Marc Jacobs Kiki Boots
Heaven by Marc Jacobs Multi Buckle Kiki Boot [25] ($595)