pruduct review

Wait… could it be? Are Valentino Rockstuds actually a thing again? I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but all signs are pointing in one direction. After years out of the spotlight, the once-ubiquitous shoe is creeping back into the conversation. Pay attention: the clues are subtle, scattered, but impossible to ignore once you start looking. Let’s examine the evidence.

First introduced as part of Valentino’s autumn/winter 2010 runway collection by then-co-creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli, the Rockstud heels and flats are defined by slender straps and neat rows of square metal studs that trace across the shoes, whilst the corresponding bags feature studing along the border. Capturing the 2010’s indie sleaze mood while also nodding to the growing boho influence that was beginning to take hold, their launch was followed by instant commercial success.

Almost immediately, Valentino’s Rockstuds filtered into the wardrobes of the street style crowd, editors and celebrities, becoming one of the most recognisable accessories of the early 2010s. Their appeal was easy to understand: the stud detailing lent a subtle toughness that offset their femininity. Few shoes managed to feel quite so of-the-moment—or quite so omnipresent. Worn by a variety of celebrities, from Alexa Chung to Jennifer Lopez, they quickly became the go-to ‘going out’ heel of choice.

Model wears Valentino Rockstud heels on the Valentino autumn/winter 2010 runway.