Carolina Herrera understands that talking about low-heeled shoes is not about comfort or practical solutions: it is about aesthetic authority. It’s about showcasing that elegance does not depend on inches, but on criteria. Under the precise gaze of Wes Gordon, low heels are becoming a statement in their own right. Here, walking freely does not take away presence: it amplifies it.
Since its founding in 1981, the Spanish house has built its own language where femininity has never been fragile nor decorative. That narrative continues with absolute clarity: clean silhouettes, bold colours, exact proportions and low-heeled shoes designed to accompany – not compete – with the rest of the look.
Carolina Herrera shows a new take on poised elegance for SS26.
The message is clear: low-heeled shoes are not here to “relax” the style, but to refine it. Ballerinas, slippers, pointed flats, and minimalist versions are integrated as a structural part of the outfit. Each step looks confident, each choice seems thoughtful, each combination responds to an internal logic that only a house with decades of consistency can sustain without stridency.
Here are eight lessons that confirm why Carolina Herrera has mastered the art of wearing low-heeled shoes without losing an ounce of sophistication.
1. Absolute red with floral details
The total red look proves that a flat shoe works when the rest of the outfit is perfectly calibrated. The chromatic intensity, combined with a voluminous silhouette and an architectural floral detail, allows the low shoe to act as an anchor. Here, the secret is not to soften, but to sustain the monochrome feel.
2. Blue suit with an urban attitude
Clean-lined kitten heels balance the deep blue tailored ensemble. The key is in the fall of the pants and the precise length, which avoids any visual break. Carolina Herrera proposes this type of shoe as an ally of modern power: discreet, assertive, effortlessly elegant.
3. Black satin with gold details
An evening look worn during the day thanks to the absence of a high heel. The low-heeled shoe allows the structured top and gold accessories to breathe naturally. This look confirms that, when textures rule, shoes can easily blend into the piece without losing their impact.
4. Blue tweed with a sharp silhouette
Here, the kitten heel functions as an extension of the classic house code. The mini skirt, in a refined and perfectly constructed tweed material, is paired with a low shoe that maintains visual airiness. The result is a polished, youthful and absolutely current look.
5. Deep black with gold embroidery
A jacket with a plunging neckline and metallic appliqués calls for a shoe that doesn’t distract. The choice of footwear plays this role effortlessly: it supports the vertical line of the look and allows the embroidery to tell its own story without fighting for attention.
6. Graphic painting in a contemporary key
The blazer and mini skirt ensemble finds its best counterpoint in the low heel. The geometry of the print is balanced by a matching shoe as Carolina Herrera proves that graphic looks can also be elegant.
7. Soft grey with structured cape
This outfit sums up the central idea of the collection: controlled movement. The low-heeled shoe accompanies the fluidity of the cape and reinforces a quiet, almost cinematic elegance. Nothing is superfluous, nothing is missing, everything moves in unison.
8. White polka dot dress
The perfect closure. A dress with clean lines, classic pattern and modern attitude is combined with low-heeled shoes that respect the essence of the design. There is no nostalgia here; there is only reinterpretation: polka dots look to the future with a firm and low step.
Spring/summer 2026 makes it clear that Carolina Herrera does not follow conversations: it leads them. In a season when many fashion houses still hesitate between comfort and elegance, this collection offers something more interesting: a dedication to the look. Kitten-heeled shoes do not appear as an alternative, but as a conscious choice, backed by design, history and a clear vision of the present. Wes Gordon understands that today’s woman does not need to elevate herself to stand out; she needs pieces that accompany her rhythm, her agenda and her identity.
This article was originally published by Glamour Mexico and Latin America.