Jeweled Shoes Are Taking Over

In an era when the Paris Texas Lidia mules and other minimalist mules reign supreme, stars like Denée Benton and Dua Lipa are pushing back against the trend and slipping into jeweled and embellished alternatives instead.

Benton attended HBO’s “The Gilded Age” season four premiere on Monday in New York wearing a pair of black mules that had just the right amount of shimmer. She opted for the Paul Andrew’s Glitter Ball mules in black satin. The shoes were a peep-toe mule silhouette with a wide vamp and a slender cutout at the front.

They stand out thanks to a diamanté-encrusted crystal ball accessory that sits at the top of the slit, giving the mules a bit more personality and elevating them from a simple mule to a going-out shoe. The mules sit on a slender stiletto heel measuring 3.75 inches.

The actress paired the mules with a glamorous black-and-silver strapless evening gown adorned with an intricate, braided-style vertical crystal and bead embellishment down the center. It was only right for the shoes to also feature a shiny detail.

Lipa followed suit when she attended The Metropolitan Opera’s opening gala for “Lincoln in the Bardo” at The Metropolitan Opera on Oct. 19 in New York. The singer paired a Ferragamo dress with the same black satin stiletto mules it was shown with on the runway at the Ferragamo spring 2027 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in September.

The black satin mules feature a pointed toe and a prominent gold-toned jewelry accent on the V-shaped vamp. The jewel was crafted with rich black resin or glass stones, gold-finished metal components, and delicate pavé rhinestone or crystal detailing. The shoes stand tall on a curved gold-tone stiletto heel measuring around four inches, adding a sculptural, modern element.

Dakota Johnson was among the first to defy the minimalist shoe trend earlier this year at the 2026 Time 100 Gala held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York in April. She wore the Valentino Garavani 105mm Strass Snake Leather Mule Heels in black, which the brand refers to as its Coeur Vipère Kidskin Slide Sandal.

The heels are detailed with a heart-shaped toe cutout at the toes, creating a romantic peep-toe effect. The mules are crafted from smooth leather in black on the upper with a red and gold sole. They are characterized by a strass snake detail that sits on top of a wide-toe strap that wraps around the front of the foot.

The heels balance on top of a 105mm stiletto heel, which measures 4.25 inches. They featured a pointed open toe and are a slip-on style. The shoes retail for $1,250 on the brand’s website. Kirsten Dunst also wore the same snake-embellished mules at the Valentino spring 2026 show in January in Paris.

Minimalist mules, which feature a simple toe strap holding the shoe in place and a slim stiletto or kitten heel, were all the rage this year. The shoes became a must-have heel option among celebrities and were worn on red carpets, award shows, and as part of their street style looks. In 2026, maximalism seems to be taking over the footwear space. Bejeweled and crystal-embellished footwear has been a dominant trend for fall 2026 and spring 2027, highlighted by major runway debuts and celebrity endorsements.