Kaia Gerber Makes Her Couture Runway Debut at Chanel

On the heels of an exceptional Fashion Month in which she graced nearly every prestigious runway during the spring ’18 ready-to-wear season and the news that she’s designing a fashion collection with Karl Lagerfeld, Kaia Gerber crossed off another first: Her couture runway debut at Chanel. The 16-year-old model walked through Chanel’s traditional 17th century garden (featuring an elevated fountain and a trellised arcade) at its spring ’18 couture show in an extraordinary feather- and floral-embellished pink dress, complete with a Plexi-heeled, 3-D-appliquéd boots.

And it’s these boots and their heel shape that might sound the death knell of the traditional kitten heel. The new shape du jour is a hybrid of a kitten and a wedge heel – or demi wedge, if you will.

Created by Chanel footwear designer, Laurence Dacade, it stands at the same height as a kitten but gives the wearer more ballast due to its larger proportions and the fact that it slopes down to meet the ball of the foot. A small arch in the middle gives the impression of lightness.

The good news is that the demi has practically the same level of comfort as a more traditional wedge but without the clunkiness. Who knows, it might even win over a die-hard wedge fan like the Duchess of Cambridge.

There were two versions — an ankle bootie and a midcalf version — imagined in a plethora of finishes, including tweed and 3-D appliqué, matched to the ensembles themselves. There were also versions done in nylon, velvet, patent and a gorgeous second-skin calf leather.

Click through to see the entire Chanel Haute Couture spring ’18 collection from Paris Couture Fashion Week.