Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah Heels: How Nicole Kidman & Saoirse Ronan Styled the Same Statement Heel Two Different Ways

At the Critics’ Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on January 12, 2020, Nicole Kidman paired her embroidered Armani Privé Fall 2019 Couture gown with black patent leather Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah pumps.

The Farrah design puts its strongest detail at the heel: Kidman’s version combined a pointed covered toe and slim ankle straps with a substantial sculpted heel covered in pavé crystals. The shoes were mostly concealed beneath her floor-length gown, but they continued a run of Giuseppe Zanotti footwear for Kidman during the January 2020 awards circuit. Just one week earlier, she had worn red Giuseppe Zanotti Thais crystal sandals at the Golden Globes.

Nicole Kidman wears an Armani Privé Fall 2019 Couture gown with Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah pumps at the Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California, on January 12, 2020 (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Nicole Kidman’s Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah Pumps Put the Sparkle at the Heel

Kidman wore the black patent pump version of the Farrah, distinguished by its pointed toe, slim ankle straps, and crystal-covered architectural heel. Rather than covering the upper in embellishment, the design concentrates the sparkle at the back of the shoe, giving an otherwise streamlined pump a more dramatic profile.

She completed the look with Harry Winston jewelry and an Omega watch. Kidman was nominated for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in Big Little Lies, with Regina King ultimately winning the category for Watchmen.

Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah pumps pair glossy black patent leather and wraparound ankle straps with slender crystal-covered sculpted heels

A side view of the Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah pump highlights its sharply pointed toe, curved patent-leather upper, and architectural crystal-embellished heel

Saoirse Ronan Wears the Open-Toe Farrah Sandals

Nine days earlier, Saoirse Ronan had worn the sandal variation of the same Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah design at the AACTA International Awards at SkyBar at the Mondrian Los Angeles in West Hollywood, California, on January 3, 2020.

Ronan paired the open-toe sandals with a strapless Ralph Russo dress and Jacquie Aiche jewelry. Her version replaced Kidman’s covered pointed toe with slender straps across the foot while retaining Farrah’s crystal-covered sculpted heel.

That difference makes the two appearances especially useful for comparing the Farrah family: Kidman’s black patent pumps feel more structured and enclosed, while Ronan’s sandals expose more of the foot and work more naturally with the lighter, strapless silhouette of her dress.

Ronan won Best Lead Actress for her performance as Jo March in Little Women.

Saoirse Ronan pairs a Ralph Russo strapless dress with Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah sandals at the AACTA International Awards in West Hollywood, California, on January 3, 2020

Farrah Pumps vs. Sandals: How the Two Versions Differ

The two red-carpet appearances show how Giuseppe Zanotti carried the Farrah’s defining heel treatment across different uppers. Kidman’s version uses a closed pointed toe and black patent finish, giving the shoe the proportions of a dress pump with added ankle straps. Ronan’s version opens up the front of the foot with narrow straps, creating a lighter sandal silhouette.

In both versions, the crystal-covered sculpted heel is the focal point. That placement lets the front of the shoe stay comparatively simple while still giving the design a distinctive profile from the side and back.

Kidman was not the only actress to wear the black patent Farrah pumps. Maggie Gyllenhaal had paired the same Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah pumps with a sequined Dries Van Noten gown at the Metropolitan Opera’s opening-night gala in New York City on September 23, 2019, giving the crystal-heeled design another red-carpet appearance before the January 2020 awards season.

Nicole Kidman and Saoirse Ronan Have Both Worn Giuseppe Zanotti Before

Neither Farrah appearance was an isolated Giuseppe Zanotti moment. Kidman has repeatedly chosen the Italian designer for red carpets, including crystal-embellished Giuseppe Zanotti Adele sandals with Ralph Russo Couture at the 2019 GQ Men of the Year Awards.

Ronan also had an established history with the label. At the 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards, she paired a crystal-embroidered Michael Kors gown with rose-gold Giuseppe Zanotti Darcie heels. She later wore silver Giuseppe Zanotti Betty platform sandals to the European premiere of Mary Queen of Scots.

Together, those appearances place Farrah in a broader pattern: both actresses have returned to Giuseppe Zanotti for embellished evening shoes, but the January 2020 Farrah sightings are particularly interesting because they show two versions of the same design worn within days of each other.

Why the Giuseppe Zanotti Farrah Stands Out

The Farrah is less about covering the entire shoe in crystals than concentrating the decoration in one architectural element. Its narrow straps keep the upper relatively restrained, while the sculpted crystal heel supplies the visual interest.

Kidman’s pumps demonstrate how that treatment works beneath a dark, floor-length couture gown, while Ronan’s sandals show the same idea in a more open silhouette. Together, the two looks capture a signature Giuseppe Zanotti approach: keeping the lines of a shoe sleek while giving the heel an unexpected decorative or sculptural element.

The Farrah belongs to an earlier Giuseppe Zanotti collection, but the designer continues to reinterpret statement heels, sandals, pumps, and platforms. For the most current styles and availability, visit the official Giuseppe Zanotti collection.

From crystal-covered heels to sharply sculpted silhouettes, Giuseppe Zanotti’s celebrity footwear has taken many forms over the years. Here are more standout examples from the Best Quality Luxury Shoes Online Store archives, including newer red-carpet appearances and other designs that put the focus firmly on the shoes: