Nicky Hilton’s French Sole Sustainable Shoes: Eco-Flats, Sneakers & Style Guide

Long before Nicky Hilton Rothschild designed shoes for French Sole, she was wearing the brand’s ballet flats as a high school student in New York City.

While attending Convent of the Sacred Heart on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where a strict uniform left little room to experiment with fashion, shoes became one way she could express her personal style. She discovered French Sole while walking home from school and remained a customer for years.

That longtime connection eventually became a design partnership. After Hilton suggested a collaboration while shopping at a French Sole boutique, the pair launched their first collection in 2019, bringing her polished, feminine approach to the brand’s practical flats and expanding into loafers, pumps, boots, and sneakers. Many styles featured a light blue sole and names inspired by women in Hilton’s life and personal style icons.

Nicky Hilton pairs her Nicky Hilton x French Sole ‘Paris’ leopard-print ballet flats with skinny jeans and a vibrant red peplum top while showcasing her capsule collection at the 2019 MAGIC Convention in Las Vegas on August 13, 2019 (Credit: DJDM / WENN)

The partnership continued beyond its original capsule, including a sustainable footwear collection in April 2021.

That range introduced materials including Seaqual yarn, organic cotton, recycled polyester, and recycled rubber, while keeping the easy-to-wear silhouettes associated with the Nicky Hilton x French Sole collaboration.

Nicky Hilton launches a collection of sustainable shoes with French Sole

“It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while,” Nicky told Good Morning America. “It’s no secret that the fashion industry is not so great for the environment,” she added.

Urging her fans to be more conscious about the environment, Nicky said: “I consider myself an eco-conscious person. I’m not perfect, but I think we all need to do our part to leave our world a better place for our children.”

The socialite also told LiveKindly, “And you know, I remember reading that a non-biodegradable garment can take anywhere from 20 to 200 years to decompose. That’s so alarming.”

“It’s really pretty startling information. And I’ve wanted to work on a sustainable collection for a while now. And I wanted to make sure that the shoes were made out of a combination of certified recycled materials,” she continued.

Amanda Hearst and Nicky Hilton twin in striped top, jeans, and striped shoes from Nicky’s new French Sole collection

Her new shoe collection, which features materials like recycled polyester, Seaqual yarn, recycled cotton and linen, and organic cotton, was made available via presale through the hybrid ethical fashion retailer Maison de Mode, co-founded by her friend Amanda Hearst.

A few days after the launch, the socialite was spotted sporting a pair from her new sustainable shoe collection.

Nicky Hilton gives casual spring layering a polished finish, pairing a camel double-breasted coat and striped knit with cropped skinny jeans and striped Nicky Hilton x French Sole “Amanda” espadrille sneakers in SoHo on April 7, 2021 (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Proving she’s her own best advertisement, Nicky wore the Nicky Hilton x French Sole “Amanda” sneakers.

A closer look at Nicky Hilton’s “Amanda” espadrille sneakers reveals their navy-and-white striped uppers, black ribbon laces, and chunky white soles

These navy-and-white striped sneakers are made with 95% recycled polyester, vegan microfiber insole and lining, and a sole with recycled rubber and natural jute.

The Amanda features a recycled polyester upper in navy-and-white stripes with natural jute and recycled rubber soles

Wearing her shoulder-length blonde hair down with a side parting, Nicky paired her eco-friendly sneakers with cuffed jeans, a knit blue-and-white striped sweater, and a tan coat.

For her accessories, Paris Hilton’s younger sister carried a tan Hermès Birkin bag and covered her face with retro-framed sunglasses and a black face mask.

Nicky Hilton completes her off-duty look with retro sunglasses and a tan Hermès Birkin bag, echoing the warm neutral tone of her tailored camel coat

Hilton has described that early connection to French Sole as something that stayed with her well beyond her school years. She told People: “Our footwear was our only way of expressing our passion. Walking home from school one day, I stumbled upon French Sole, and I just fell in love with their shoes. And I’ve been a customer of them since I was in high school and continued that into mommyhood.”

Why French Sole Ballet Flats Remain a Celebrity and Royal Favorite

French Sole’s appeal extends well beyond its collaboration with Nicky Hilton. The brand’s understated ballet flats have been worn by celebrities and royals including Olivia Palermo, Kate Middleton, Pippa Middleton, and Princess Diana, reflecting the lasting appeal of a shoe that combines polished simplicity with everyday practicality.

Soft construction and classic silhouettes make them an easy alternative to heels, while a wide range of colors, prints, and finishes gives the familiar ballet-flat shape plenty of variety.

That balance of comfort and versatility has helped French Sole find a place in wardrobes across different generations. From well-worn everyday flats to Nicky Hilton’s more playful interpretations, these celebrity looks show the many ways the brand’s shoes have been styled.