The Slingback Heel Is Making a Comeback

The slingback heel is naked, fun, and sassy. It’s one of the hottest shoes to ever exist. Forget any associations with matronly librarians and think instead of the snappy, confident clack of the heel meeting the ground and announcing its wearer’s arrival. One can even hold the shoe up by the ankle strap on their finger like a thong. Speaking of, the slingback is more dependable than the barely there thong heels that made waves last summer. The slingback cradles the heel and straps the foot in. It’s the easy practicality of a daytime shoe and the visibility of a naked heel, fit for a night out.

If you’re looking to give it a spin, there are many options on the table. Try the Prada satin slingback in a lemon yellow to give any outfit a sweet sting; for something more neutral, there is By Far’s open-toe white pumps with a block heel. For a more subversive choice, Alexander Wang churned out a fire engine red pump with a crinkly strap, the tiny heel the size of a naughty pencil eraser, and Acne has a lambskin black pump that veers on the side of 9-to-5 with a dash of lip-biting dominatrix, thanks to the ruched upper.

Here, see the best slingback heels to try now. Clack, clack.