Vanessa Hudgens Proves Platforms and Pumps Are the Ultimate Petit-Height Style Trick

From November 15 to 17, 2021, Vanessa Hudgens moved through a packed series of New York City appearances while promoting Tick, Tick… Boom! and The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star, giving celebrity stylist Jason Bolden plenty of opportunities to change up both her clothes and footwear.

Across the three-day run, Hudgens went from an Alexandre Vauthier premiere gown to Carolina Herrera minis and separates, a pink Moschino Resort 2022 jacket dress, and a crystal-strapped little black dress. The shoes were just as varied: Amina Muaddi “Dalida” platform mules appeared twice, while other looks featured ivory Larroudé knee-high boots, Manolo Blahnik BB pointed-toe pumps, and black suede stilettos.

For the 5-foot-1 actress, who wears a US size 7 shoe, the three-day run also captured a familiar part of Vanessa Hudgens’ footwear style: substantial platforms, sharply pointed stilettos, and classic pumps that add height without limiting her to one shoe silhouette.

1. Black Suede Stiletto Pumps With a Crystal-Strapped LBD and Prada Coat

Vanessa Hudgens leaving the Ritz-Carlton in New York City on November 17, 2021, in a crystal-strapped black mini dress, Prada leather coat, tights, and suede pumps (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

On the evening of November 17, Hudgens left the Ritz-Carlton in a little black dress with crystal-embellished straps, a plunging V-neckline, and a thigh-skimming hem.

She stayed warm underneath an oversized black leather Prada coat and continued the monochrome palette with black pantyhose and black suede stiletto pumps.

Vanessa Hudgens pairs her crystal-strapped mini dress with an oversized Prada leather coat and black tights (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Styled by Jason Bolden, Hudgens accessorized with $9,870 Shay Jewelry double waterfall illusion baguette drop earrings and colorful rings.

Hairstylist Danielle Priano pulled her raven tresses into a top knot with a ’90s-style scrunchie, leaving a few loose strands around her face. Makeup artist Allan Avendaño finished the evening look with cat-eye makeup and pink-coral lip gloss.

Vanessa Hudgens wears a top knot with a ’90s-style scrunchie and cat-eye makeup (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

2. Amina Muaddi Dalida Platforms Add Height to Her Pink Moschino Mini

Earlier on November 17, Hudgens stepped outside her Midtown Manhattan hotel in a much brighter look built around Moschino and towering Amina Muaddi platforms.

She wore a quilted pink mini jacket dress from Moschino’s Resort 2022 collection, detailed with gold buttons and a matching buckled waist belt.

Vanessa Hudgens wears a Moschino Resort 2022 pink jacket dress with a Valentino cape, black tights, and Amina Muaddi Dalida platforms (Credit: Mega / WENN)

She skipped the outfit’s coordinating pants, instead adding black tights and a Valentino virgin-wool cape with puffed shoulders and a convertible turtleneck.

Barrel waves, kohl-rimmed eyes, and fuchsia lipstick reinforced the look’s retro influence.

Vanessa Hudgens complements the pink Moschino look with barrel waves and fuchsia lipstick (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

For footwear, Hudgens chose black Amina Muaddi “Dalida” platform mules. Made with satin uppers, the open-back design combines square open toes with approximately 1.5-inch platforms and sculptural flared heels rising to about 5.5 inches.

Vanessa Hudgens styles sheer black tights with Amina Muaddi Dalida satin mules, featuring square open toes, thick platform soles, and the designer’s sculptural flared stiletto heels (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Hudgens wore the same Dalida mules twice during the three-day press run, first with her Alexandre Vauthier premiere gown and again with this pink Moschino mini.

The silhouette has also appeared elsewhere in YNS’s celebrity shoe coverage: Sofia Vergara styled black Amina Muaddi Dalida mules with a bold Dolce Gabbana printed suit, while Corina Larpin wore the Dalida in crystal-covered red suede. Across the different versions, the squared open toe, substantial platform, and towering sculptural heel remain the style’s defining features.

Amina Muaddi’s Dalida mule combines an approximately 1.5-inch platform with a dramatic flared heel

3. Manolo Blahnik BB Pumps Ground Her Graphic Carolina Herrera Look

That morning, Hudgens headed to The View in a black-and-white Carolina Herrera Spring 2022 ensemble consisting of a bustier-style bralette and a coordinating high-waisted tulip midi skirt covered in letter prints.

Vanessa Hudgens heads to The View in black-and-white Carolina Herrera Spring 2022 separates and a Valentino trench coat (Credit: Mega / WENN)

She layered the separates under a black Valentino trench coat, keeping the outerwear and footwear restrained against Carolina Herrera’s graphic print.

Vanessa Hudgens finishes her Carolina Herrera outfit with black Manolo Blahnik BB pointed-toe pumps (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Jason Bolden brought back the Shay waterfall earrings and completed the outfit with black suede Manolo Blahnik BB pumps. Named for French actress Brigitte Bardot, the BB is one of Manolo Blahnik’s enduring pointed-toe designs, built around a low-cut silhouette and slender stiletto heel rather than decorative detailing.

The understated shape made the BBs a natural counterpoint to the substantial Amina Muaddi platforms Hudgens wore elsewhere during the press tour. The same versatility shows up across YNS’s celebrity shoe archive: Kendall Jenner has worn black suede Manolo Blahnik BB pumps, while Rosie Huntington-Whiteley styled suede BB pumps with skinny jeans and Lupita Nyong’o wore the pointed-toe style in mint green.

Manolo Blahnik’s BB pump is a classic pointed-toe silhouette set on a slim stiletto heel

Danielle Priano styled Hudgens’ hair in barrel waves with the front sections clipped back, while Allan Avendaño used black eyeliner, mascara, rosy blush, and matte fuchsia YSL Beauty lipstick.

Vanessa Hudgens pairs clipped-back barrel waves, winged black eyeliner, and a vivid fuchsia lip with her black-and-white Carolina Herrera Spring 2022 bralette and high-waisted skirt (Credit: Mega / WENN)

4. Larroudé Kate Boots Give Her Carolina Herrera Mini a ’60s Finish

On November 16, Hudgens left her Manhattan hotel for an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in another Carolina Herrera Spring 2022 look, this time with a clear 1960s influence.

Her black-and-white plaid mini dress featured a halter neckline, sequin embellishments, and a short straight hem.

Vanessa Hudgens wears a Carolina Herrera Spring 2022 plaid mini dress and oversized Jacquemus blazer on her way to The Tonight Show on November 16, 2021 (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Over the dress, she wore an oversized Jacquemus blazer made from wool twill, with extended shoulders and an interlacing belt connecting the front flap pockets.

Vanessa Hudgens layers an oversized black Jacquemus blazer over her black-and-white Carolina Herrera plaid halter mini dress, finishing the ’60s-inspired look with tousled waves and a bold red lip (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Hudgens finished the ’60s-inspired look with ivory leather Larroudé “Kate” knee-high boots, using the pale footwear to break up the otherwise black-and-white palette.

The pull-on boots combine sharply pointed toes with slim 3.8-inch stiletto heels, giving the short plaid dress a longer, cleaner line than a heavier boot would have created.

Vanessa Hudgens wears ivory Larroudé Kate knee-high boots with her Carolina Herrera plaid mini dress (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Founded in 2020 by Marina and Ricardo Larroudé, the New York-based footwear label produces the Kate in Brazil with leather soles and memory-foam cushioned insoles.

The ivory style has also appeared elsewhere in YNS’s celebrity shoe archive: Tessa Thompson wore the same Larroudé Kate knee-high boots with a monochromatic white Interior dress, showing how the pointed stiletto boot works with both Hudgens’ retro mini and a more streamlined tonal look.

Larroudé’s ivory leather Kate boots feature pointed toes and approximately 3.8-inch stiletto heels

5. Amina Muaddi Dalida Platforms Return With Her Alexandre Vauthier Premiere Gown

The press run began on November 15 at the New York City premiere of Tick, Tick… Boom! at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, where Hudgens wore the same Amina Muaddi Dalida platforms that would later appear with her pink Moschino mini.

Vanessa Hudgens and Cole Tucker attend the New York premiere of Tick, Tick… Boom! at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on November 15, 2021 (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Arriving with Cole Tucker, with whom she had made her red-carpet debut in Vera Wang and towering Versace platform heels at AFI Fest five days earlier, Hudgens chose a black Alexandre Vauthier jersey halter gown with a plunging neckline, open back, knotted front, and asymmetrical floor-length skirt with a thigh-high slit.

Vanessa Hudgens wears a black Alexandre Vauthier halter gown with a plunging neckline and thigh-high slit (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Jason Bolden accessorized the gown with diamond stud earrings, Shay waterfall drop earrings, a diamond tennis necklace, and a Wempe Spotlight ring.

Danielle Priano styled Hudgens’ shoulder-length hair in a slick side part with flipped-out ends, while Allan Avendaño used a neutral palette for smoky eyes, bronzed skin, and MAC Cosmetics Spice lip liner.

Hudgens completed the premiere look with the same black Amina Muaddi Dalida mules she would wear two days later with her pink Moschino mini. Here, the platforms appeared beneath the thigh-high slit of her floor-length Alexandre Vauthier gown, giving the same square-toe shoe a much more formal setting. The choice also fits into a broader pattern in Hudgens’ history of wearing platform shoes and statement heels both on and off the red carpet.

Vanessa Hudgens finishes her premiere look with smoky eye makeup and a slick side-parted hairstyle with flipped ends (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Vanessa Hudgens’ Platform-Heel Style Continued Beyond the 2021 Press Tour

The Dalida mules were not an isolated experiment with extra height. Hudgens has repeatedly returned to platforms and high heels, from platform heels and statement sandals for major fashion events to the dramatic Versace and Valentino styles that appeared among her standout shoe looks in 2022.

What makes this November 2021 run particularly useful is the variety packed into just three days. Hudgens and Bolden moved between the exaggerated proportions of Amina Muaddi’s Dalida platforms, the clean pointed profile of Manolo Blahnik’s BB pumps, knee-high Larroudé stilettos, and understated black suede pumps, changing the footwear along with the mood of each outfit rather than repeating the same styling formula.