At the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on August 26, Alison Brie paired a dramatic black sequined Elie Saab mini dress with Giuseppe Zanotti Dionne sandals — a crystal-accented stiletto that became a recurring celebrity red-carpet choice during the late 2010s.
Alison Brie pairs her plunging sequined Elie Saab mini dress with black Giuseppe Zanotti Dionne sandals at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, New Jersey, on August 26, 2019 (Credit: WENN / Avalon / Ivan Nikolov)
Brie’s Elie Saab Fall/Winter 2019 mini dress featured all-over black sequins, long sleeves, sharply structured shoulders, a wide belted waist, and an exceptionally deep plunging neckline.
The exaggerated V-shaped front was so low that, at first glance, the dress could have looked like it was worn backward. A neckline this revealing would also typically require careful styling to keep everything securely in place, something we explore in our guide to red-carpet fashion and wardrobe secrets.
A softly waved, half-up bob and bronze smoky eye complement the sharp shoulders and daring neckline of Brie’s Elie Saab dress
Standing 5’3” (160 cm) and wearing a US shoe size 7, Brie has frequently chosen high, strappy evening shoes from designers including Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, Casadei, and Christian Louboutin. The Dionne follows that pattern, pairing a high stiletto heel with slender straps that keep the silhouette visually light.
Crafted from black satin, the Dionne features a slim toe band, an asymmetrical crossover ankle strap, and its most recognizable detail: a crystal-embellished cutout heel counter. Introduced for Spring/Summer 2017, the sandal rises to approximately 4.7 inches (120mm) and leaves much of the foot exposed despite its considerable height.
The Dionne had already built a notable red-carpet following before Brie wore it in 2019. Bella Hadid paired the style with a jeweled Area two-piece during Milan Fashion Week, Lea Michele wore it with J. Mendel at the Hollywood Beauty Awards, and Sarah Hyland chose the sandals with a plunging Vera Wang dress at the Critics’ Choice Awards. Emily Ratajkowski, Nicole Kidman, and Rita Ora were among the other stars photographed in versions of the crystal-accented design.
Seen from behind, Brie’s look reveals the dress’s low-cut back and the Dionne sandals’ crystal-embellished heel counters and slender 120mm stilettos
On Brie, the black satin Dionne was an especially natural match for the Elie Saab dress. The satin continued its monochromatic palette, while the crystals at the heel picked up the light from the sequins without adding another competing color. From the front, the narrow straps kept attention on the dress; from the side and back, the crystal cutout gave the shoes a distinctive finish.
The choice also fits a broader pattern in Brie’s footwear history. She has worn everything from minimalist barely-there sandals to crystal-covered platforms and sharply pointed pumps, often choosing shoes that either echo a detail in her clothing or provide a quieter counterpoint to more elaborate eveningwear. A look through Alison Brie’s red-carpet shoe style shows how consistently she moves between delicate strappy sandals and more conspicuous statement heels.
How to Style Crystal Sandals Without Overdoing the Sparkle
Alison Brie’s Giuseppe Zanotti Dionne sandals offer a useful styling lesson: crystal shoes work best when the rest of the look gives them a clear purpose. In Brie’s case, the black satin kept the sandals grounded in the same monochromatic palette as her Elie Saab mini dress, while the crystals at the heel repeated the dress’s sequins rather than introducing a separate decorative idea.
The simplest approach is to decide whether the shoes are the statement or the echo. Vanessa Hudgens let crystal-covered Schutz sandals provide the glamour beneath a clean ivory slip dress, while Nicole Kidman used barely-there Louis Vuitton crystal straps to mirror the shimmer of a sequined gown. Giuseppe Zanotti’s Rosaline sandals show both approaches: Julia Michaels paired them with a sleek black gown, while Laura Harrier used their crystals to continue the sparkle of an embellished Louis Vuitton dress.
Keep competing details controlled. If the sandals are heavily jeweled, simple earrings, a delicate necklace, or restrained rings usually leave more room for the footwear to register. The same applies to bags: smooth satin, velvet, or structured leather will generally sit more comfortably beside crystal shoes than another heavily embellished accessory.
Solid colors and clean silhouettes are the easiest partners for crystal sandals because they give the light-catching details somewhere to stand out. Black, ivory, navy, beige, and other uninterrupted tones work especially well, but an embellished dress can also succeed when the shoe repeats the same color or type of sparkle rather than adding a new one.
For a less formal take, crystal sandals can be the dressiest element in an otherwise simple outfit. Straight-leg denim, a crisp shirt, tailored trousers, or a soft knit can offset the jewelry-like finish of the shoes and keep the look from feeling overly ceremonial.
✨ How Celebrities Style Crystal Sandals Without Overdoing the Sparkle:
- 🤍 Vanessa Hudgens lets crystal-covered Schutz sandals dress up a simple ivory slip dress, keeping the clothing pared back so the jeweled straps and matching diamond jewelry can provide the shine.
- 🌟 Nicole Kidman shows how crystal straps can echo a sequined gown instead of competing with it, using barely-there Louis Vuitton sandals to repeat the dress’s shimmer beneath a dramatic slit.
- 💎 Julia Michaels and Laura Harrier take two approaches to Giuseppe Zanotti’s crystal Rosaline sandals: adding sparkle to a clean black gown or extending the shine of a sequined Louis Vuitton look.
- 🖤 Karrueche Tran makes rhinestone sandals the focal point beneath a flowing black hooded dress, using the crystal-covered heels to introduce texture and light without adding another busy element.
- 🪩 Taylor Swift goes deliberately maximalist in chandelier-inspired Christian Louboutin sandals, allowing their suspended crystals to continue the movement of her crystal-draped Oscar de la Renta mini rather than introducing a separate motif.
- 👑 Beyoncé carries embellishment from gown to shoe in custom Alexander McQueen crystal sandals, proving that even heavily decorated footwear can stay elegant when the straps remain slender and the sparkle follows the same visual story.
The common thread is restraint, not minimalism for its own sake. Crystal sandals can handle sequins, satin, tailoring, or even another touch of jewelry — as long as the elements feel connected. Brie’s black Dionne heels worked because the sparkle belonged to the same visual story as the dress.