Lori Harvey’s recent Los Angeles outing presented a quiet study in contrast. Departing from the severe stilettos that have defined her recent red-carpet appearances, she chose Alaïa’s leopard-print Criss-Cross ballet flats. The move was more than a simple shift from heel to flat; it was a deliberate engagement with two enduring themes in fashion history: animal print and the ballet flat’s complex legacy.
Harvey’s specific choice, a $1,350 style in tawny haircalf, connects directly to the house’s founder, Azzedine Alaïa. Known as ‘the King of Cling’ for his sculptural knits, Alaïa also possessed a profound respect for foundational garments and precise construction. This flat, inspired by classical Japanese shoes, reflects his lifelong obsession with form and the body’s architecture, translating his exacting principles to footwear.
The leopard print, meanwhile, is hardly a novelty. Its use in Western fashion carries a century of connotations, from the rebellious glamour of 1930s screen sirens to the empowered sexuality of the 1980s. By applying this historically charged pattern to a flat, utilitarian silhouette, the look recalibrates its message. It retains the graphic boldness seen recently on figures like Rihanna and Emily Ratajkowski, but grounds it in a softer, more casual reality. Harvey’s pairing with workout wear underscores this translation, suggesting that the power of animal print—and by extension, the lingerie-inspired notions of allure it often references—no longer requires a literal elevation. It’s a sophisticated integration of historical motifs into the vernacular of modern dressing, where statement and comfort now stride together.
Originally reported by WWD