Nicky Hilton on Her Maternity Style, Recycling Trends and the Shoe Trick She Used On the Oscars Red Carpet
Table of Contents
ToggleIt wasn’t long ago that sustainable fashion conjured up images of hemp and patchwork, a singular, one-size-fits-all aesthetic to an entire fashion ecosystem. That’s changing, though, as brands across categories ramp up their efforts to lower their collective climate impact, finding new and unexpected sustainable materials to create pieces that look just as chic as their higher-impact predecessors.
Such is the case for Nicky Hilton, whose spring ’22 collection with French Sole comes with two new styles that that are made with 100% recycled and animal-free materials.
More from Footwear News
“I think people often associate vegan and eco-friendly designs as hippie-dippy, but they can really be beautiful and amazing and it’s a bonus that they’re also not harming the environment,” Hilton told FN ahead of the collection’s release this week, available for pre-order today.
The two new styles are a tasseled loafer in a 100% recycled polyester animal print with a suede-like finish (named the Stacey, after Hilton’s friend Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia: “someone who I look up to and adore,” noted Hilton) and then a recycled cotton, thermoplastic and vegan glitter encrusted ballerina with a grosgrain bow (named the Theodora after Hilton’s younger daughter, “because she’s a girly girl. She loves sparkles and glitter”).
The Nicky Hilton x French Sole Theodora ballerina, $165.
The Nicky Hilton x French Sole Stacey loafer, $185.
“When I first looked into [sustainable materials] a couple of years ago, there were not as many options as there are today. It’s just so amazing how far the world has come with different fashionable, sustainable materials,” she said. “I had a lot of fun finding [details like] glitter, which is all recycled.”
The designer first introduced eco-friendly materials to her footwear line (and ongoing partnership with French Sole) last year for spring ’21. This time around, Hilton also carried over four styles for spring ’22, including the bestselling, 100% sustainable Kathy slipper, named after her mother, Kathy Hilton. “I thought it was important to carry over the styles personally because I love them. And you don’t always have to make something new,” Hilton pointed out. “I like the concept of reusing and just enjoying what we have in our closet.”
Camraface / Early Morning Riot
Camraface / Early Morning Riot
Hilton’s ballerinas and loafers are coming especially in handy now, as she is pregnant with her third child. The designer said she is pairing the flats with a uniform of maternity jeans (she likes L’Agence) and cozy, oversized sweaters (such as La Ligne’s cashmere styles).
But she’s also dressing up, attending black tie events such as the Save Venice ball in NYC over the weekend, and the Vanity Fair Oscars party last month. “Comfort really is key even when you’re dressing up. Oscar de la Renta made me a custom dress for the party and the first thing I said was, ‘I need it to be comfortable and stretchy.’ And it was — it fit like a glove,” she said of her black strapless gown, which featured an oversized bow on the train and matching black gloves and satin pumps.
Rich Polk for Variety
Hilton took the same approach for her duties on the red carpet, when she co-hosted ABC’s “On the Red Carpet at the Oscars” show ahead of the awards, wearing a sequined and feather-embellished pink Jenny Packham gown.
What viewers couldn’t see, though, was the ultimate expression of comfort: “I was actually wearing Ugg slippers with my gown because they only shot us from the waist up. That was a live show for four hours. Two hours of rehearsal. I could not be in heels for that long!” (Hilton slipped on a pair of Mach & Mach heels for her own red carpet photos.)
Key styles from the Nicky Hilton x French Sole spring ’22 collection are available for pre-order today.
Gilbert Flores for Variety
Launch Gallery: Nicky Hilton x French Sole Spring 2022 Collection
Best of Footwear News
Sign up for FN’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You may also like
Archives
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016