Suede Block Heels: The Shoe You’ll See Everywhere This Fall
Over the years, I’ve amassed a fairly large collection of vintage and thrifted suede low-block heels. Mind you, I never really considered the shoe silhouette particularly high-style—they’re definitely dated, and a bit grandmotherly—but I like the slightly retro spin they give modern pieces like frayed jeans and high-waisted shorts, and they give me a just enough of a boost without looking like I’m wearing “high heels.”
My favorite pair—a beige ballet-flat style with a two-inch square heel (and an Ann Taylor label from the 1970s)—has become my daily go-to, so when I started seeing girls who clearly are dedicated to high-style shoes wearing an almost-exact pair, I knew my beloved granny shoe officially hit a tipping point.
When I started seeing both suede and leather versions on top runways like Comme des Garcons, Stella McCartney, and Céline though, I knew there was absolute proof that, well, they tipped.
I can’t say I’m surprised the prim shoe has become a thing—it’s already been proven that heels have climbed so far in the past decade that there’s nowhere to go but down—and the credit largely goes to New York-based designer and retailer Maryam Nassir Zadeh, whose $379 Roberta pump is such a hit with the downtown crowd, that they can’t stay in stock. (The next batch will reportedly land in September.)
If you’re obsessed with MNZ’s suede heels and simply can’t wait until they hit shelves again, here are a few solid options to shop now.
