Simone Ashley’s recent birthday celebration in SoHo offered more than a glimpse of a star’s evening out; it presented a concise study in the enduring power of leather and silhouette. The 'Bridgerton' actress chose Paris Texas's Jane buckle boots, a knee-high style in black napa leather, anchoring a striking Marine Serre ensemble. The boot’s pointed toe and compact block heel recalled the assertive footwear of the late 1960s, a period when designers like Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren would soon harness such elements for punk rebellion. Ashley’s pairing with a leather bustier dress subtly nods to the foundational garments of corsetry, reimagined here as outerwear—a direct line from the structured undergarments of the 19th century to today’s liberated fashion statements.
The Paris Texas brand, while contemporary, operates within this historical continuum of bold femininity. Its visibility on figures from Beyoncé to Ashley echoes a tradition where specific footwear becomes a cultural signature, much like the iconic stiletto of the 1950s, which transformed from a risqué novelty to a mainstream symbol of power. The brand’s recent expansion of its 'Lidia' line into thong styles explicitly connects to the lingerie-inspired footwear trend that gained momentum in the 1990s, blurring the lines between private attire and public declaration. Ashley’s look, therefore, is not merely a style moment but a layered reference point: it combines the legacy of leatherwork, the evolution of the heel, and the ongoing dialogue between undergarment inspiration and contemporary design.
Originally reported by WWD