Are Kitten Heels Spring 2018’s Most Wearable Shoe Trend?

The Square Mary Jane

This signature Rothy's shoe (seriously, it's all over our FYP) features a flexible, stretchy woven upper layer – and it's so comfy. These Mary Janes boast a square toe for added chicness and an attached strap for wearing them with ease. No buckles or buttons here! Each pair is fitted with durable outsoles that easily tolerate city walks and park strolls. It won't even feel like you're wearing flats.

The Square Mary Jane goes for $159 and is available in 10 different colors.

The Ballet Flat

The bows on these ballet flats are the perfect size, TBH. They add an air of cuteness that any summer 'fit could benefit from! These shoes feature a very trendy rounded toe and a mesh construction that adds breathability to each and every step. Rothy's promises "no break in period, ever" with the cozy insole you can enjoy wearing all day long.

The Ballet Flat is shoppable for $145 and is available in 18 different colors and patterns.

The Point II

New office shoes, incoming! These pointed babies give some real sophisticated vibes – the pointed toe is signature of slingbacks, too, but this version is way more comfortable. The Point II from Rothy's is essentially an upgraded version of their OG The Point shoe. According to the brand, this new iteration has a "more spacious toebox, added elastic, sculpted outsoles and our innovative In Love Insole™ for outrageous all-day comfort." The mesh material on this pair makes for the perfect summer shoe since it's very elastic-like, moving accordingly with your step.

The Point II costs $155 and is available in a whopping 29 different colors and patterns.

The Espadrille

A more elevated style than the aforementioned shoes, these espadrilles are a great go-to for more formal summer occasions. The upper's made from a breathable hemp fabric that supplies a lightweight feel to the feet. Rothy's promise for these slip-ons is that they have an "unbelievably cushy footbed." The ankle ties pictured above are removable, so there's a good amount of styling possibilities with this Rothy's shoe.

The Espadrille is shoppable for $139 in 8 different colors.

The Lightweight Wedge Sandal

For a slight boost in height (that's still wickedly comfortable), call on The Lightweight Wedge Sandal. The layered heel height measures about 2.25 inches, and feels like an absolute dream! The stretchy straps atop these Rothy's shoes are stitched on, so you're not left messing with any finicky buttons, clasps, or buckles (or chafing, for that matter). The thicker platform ends in the brand's signature durable outsole for practical reasons – walking, strolling, skipping, or even dancing in the summertime. Whatever floats your boat!

The Lightweight Wedge Sandal costs $179 and is available to shop in 3 different neutral colorways.

The Weekend Slide

This cheetah print just oozes trendiness. The slide-on fit of these Rothy's sandals makes outings so easy, you won't want to wear anything else. The thick duo straps made of hemp provide some good coverage on top of the foot, so you'll feel fully fitted. The footbed is made from a durable contoured rubber, still has some softness to it for walking purposes.

The Weekend Slide costs $139 and is shoppable in 5 different colors and patterns.

The Casual Clog

This ultra-cool girl clog is available in 3 hemp colors and 5 Merino wool colors for cooler weather, but no matter the time of year, they're gonna look gorgeous. They boast a ribbed outsole for added traction, and they're fully free of any extra bells and whistles. The very simple outer layer meets a contoured footbed with some lovely arch support to encourage a cozy step.

The Casual Clog goes for $159.

Naturalizer Jayla Low Heel Slingback Pumps

Naturalizer makes such comfy shoes, and these slingback pumps are no exception! They're made of leather, so you can be sure they'll hold up to years of walking and wear. The square toe and chunky heel give them a very approachable feel, which you can style casually or for more formal occasions. They're crafted with responsive cushioning on the soles for shock absorption and impact protection – which essentially makes walking worlds easier for all-day comfort.

The Naturalizer Jayla Low Heel Slingback Pumps are shoppable in 5 other colors for $110 on Amazon.

Youngshow Comfort Slingback Pumps

You don't have to mess with a single buckle with these slingback shoes. The wide heel on them means no missteps, trips, or slips – just downright comfort. The woven upper material is soft and stretchy, plus it's available in tens of different colors and styles. We adore this one because of the contrasting toe color. It makes for a playful outfit addition!

The Youngshow Comfort Slingback Pumps go for just $27 on Amazon.

Coutgo Slingback Kitten Heels

The sophisticated woven faux buckle detail on these heels is everything. Crafted with leather on the outside and a soft padded foot bed on the inside, you'll enjoy wearing these short, concave kitten heels just as much as you like looking at them. These slingback shoes can work with any ensemble – from jeans, dresses, shorts, and skirts, they'll give your look an added air of luxury.

The Coutgo Slingback Kitten Heels come in several other colors and are shoppable for $50 on Amazon.

Steve Madden Graya Slingback Pointy Toe Flats

For some edgier footwear, these slingbacks bound in silver hardware are the way to go. If you find yourself reaching for your Doc Martens more than your Nike sneaks, these flat-footed shoes will be an instant fit in your wardrobe. The two wide straps on top are adjustable by buckle to suit your step.

The Steve Madden Graya Slingback Pointy Toe Flats come in 3 other colors and are shoppable for $120 at Nordstrom.

Franco Sarto Racer Slingbacks

Make like cool girl Brie Larson and rock some butter yellowshoes for summer! They're your one-way ticket to looking uber-trendy for the season, plus you can wear them in so many different contexts. These Franco Sarto shoes are made from partially recycled materials, but give off a smooth leather effect. More than anything, the dramatic pointed toe will take your look to the next level. The heels measure about 2 inches, so you won't have too hard a time stepping out in these slingback shoes.

The Franco Sarto Racer Slingbacks come in 5 other colors for $115.

Jeffrey Campbell Rayna Slingback Heels

These are not your average slingback shoes! They boast a very sleek, but very chic shape that's finished off nicely with a slim kitten heel. Each shiny patent leather shoe is as strappy as can be, with 5 different adjustable straps sprawling on top of the foot. They secure on the side with small silver buckles, too.

The Jeffrey Campbell Rayna Slingback Heels are $178 at Free People and come in two other colors and fabrications.

Genshuo Low Kitten Heel Slingbacks

Metallic shoes are huge right now, so you'll be perfectly on-trend when you snag these slingbacks. Comfort is at the core of these patent leather and faux suede cuties – there's a soft padded insole and the outsole is made from wear-resistant rubber for an easy strut.

The Genshuo Low Kitten Heel Slingbacks come in 10 other colors for $40 on Amazon.

Bibi Lou Suzy Slingback Heels

These shoes are like a hybrid between ballet flats and slingbacks. And they're perfect. The toes are giving more ballet flats, while the heels feel especially kitten heel. You'll enjoy the coverage at the toes with an adorable square toe and cutesy bow tie, but appreciate the comfort levels even more, as the heel measures only 2 inches high.

The Bibi Lou Suzy Slingback Heels also come in black for $160.

Chinese Laundry Rozie Denim Slingbacks

These slingbacks easily let you live out your Barbie dreams, all while looking super stylish! The bright pink color (made from a denim material) just screams summertime, and you'll def be toting around in these all season long, thanks to their cozy fit. The block heel is easy to step in, plus the back strap is rid of all buckles or clasps for easy on and off!

The Chinese Laundry Rozie Denim Slingbacks also come in blue for $70.

Franco Sarto Khloe Slingback Pumps

If you wanna feel like the main character (you already are, but you might as well dress the part!), these red-hot heels are *the* slingback shoes for your vibe. The harsh pointed toe tells everyone that you are that girl. The thin, Mary Janes-esque top strap is adjustable with an elegant gold buckle, but the back strap is simply elastic so you can put 'em on with ease.

The Franco Sarto Khloe Slingback Pumps come in 5 other eye-catching colors for $125.

Jeffrey Campbell Striper Slingback Heels

Dare to be bold with these silver metallic slingbacks clad in woven details! The thin straps feel extra elegant, while the dramatic toe point is more experimental. For those looking to expand their footwear lineup, these kitten heels will be with you everywhere you go this summer.

The Jeffrey Campbell Striper Slingback Heels also come in a nude colorway for $185.

Sam Edelman Terra Slingback Block Heels

These brown beauties feel like the ultimate office shoe. They'll give your workwear an instant lift with a trendy squared toe and classic slingback straps. The block heel doesn't limit your walking at all, either! This style also comes in black, white, and silver metallic colors.

The Sam Edelman Terra Slingback Block Heels are currently on sale for $105 (was $140).

Vagabond Hennie Sandals

These high-coverage sandals from Vagabond have a chunkier feel, great for those who get a good amount of steps in, but still want to look chic. The 90's-inspired top half of these shoes is made from leather, with a small area for open toes. The ankle strap is adjustable by a small silver buckle.

The Vagabond Hennie Sandals are $150.

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!