At the “Britain’s Got Talent” auditions in Blackpool on January 18, 2017, Alesha Dixon paired a striped Barbara Bui Spring 2017 ensemble with black Gianvito Rossi “Vires” ankle boots, giving the colorful look a sharper finish.
Alesha Dixon pairs a colorful striped Barbara Bui crop top, mini skirt, and matching duster coat with black peep-toe Gianvito Rossi “Vires” ankle boots
Her coordinated outfit featured a one-shoulder crop top, matching mini skirt, and long striped duster coat. While the bold separates drew attention first, the black peep-toe boots grounded the look and provided a strong contrast to the mix of stripes and color.
Alesha Dixon at “Britain’s Got Talent” Blackpool auditions on January 18, 2017 (Credit: Steve Searle / Tim Edwards / WENN)
Dixon kept the accessories relatively simple, adding a silver cuff, rings, and statement earrings, while straight hair and neutral makeup left the striped Barbara Bui ensemble—and her black boots—as the focus.
Alesha Dixon wears bronze eye makeup, glossy nude lips, sleek center-parted hair, and statement drop earrings
Alesha Dixon shows two angles of her colorful striped Barbara Bui Spring 2017 ensemble, styled with black Gianvito Rossi “Vires” peep-toe ankle boots at the Britain’s Got Talent auditions in Blackpool
The defining footwear choice was Gianvito Rossi’s “Vires” ankle boot. Crafted from black stretch-knit material, the fitted style combines perforated detailing with a peep toe and a slim stiletto heel measuring about four inches.
Against the bright Barbara Bui stripes, the black boots gave Dixon’s outfit a cleaner, more structured finish without competing with the print.
Alesha Dixon shows off a neutral pedicure in black Gianvito Rossi “Vires” peep-toe ankle boots, featuring perforated stretch-knit uppers and slim stiletto heels
Dixon wasn’t the only celebrity drawn to Gianvito Rossi’s distinctive “Vires” boots. Naomi Campbell wore the same black peep-toe style in London on April 19, 2016, pairing them with an entirely different look for a signing of her Taschen retrospective, Naomi.
Naomi Campbell pairs a sheer leopard-print culotte jumpsuit with a tan suede coat and black peep-toe Gianvito Rossi “Vires” ankle boots at her book signing at Taschen Bookstore in London on April 19, 2016 (Credit: AW / WENN)
Campbell arrived at Taschen Bookstore in a sheer leopard-print culotte jumpsuit cinched with an embossed belt and layered under a tan suede coat. Gold jewelry completed the outfit, while the fitted black “Vires” boots echoed the darker tones of the leopard print.
Close-up of Naomi Campbell’s black Gianvito Rossi “Vires” peep-toe ankle boots, featuring perforated detailing and slim stiletto heels
As of August 2026, the Gianvito Rossi “Vires” is no longer part of the brand’s current collection, but the distinctive stretch-knit boot can still surface on the resale market. A pre-owned pair of the Gianvito Rossi “Vires” stretch-knit ankle boots was listed at Farfetch for $215, offering another way to find the style worn by Dixon and Naomi Campbell.
From Gianvito Rossi’s Vires to the Rise of Stretch-Knit Boots
The Vires boots worn by Alesha Dixon and Naomi Campbell capture an approach to ankle boots that became increasingly visible in celebrity fashion: a close-fitting knit upper paired with the height and shape of a traditional heel. From streamlined sock boots to more experimental knitted designs, the idea has since appeared across designer and high-street footwear.
👢 Explore More Knit Sock Boot Fashion Moments:
- 🧶 See how Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, and Emily Ratajkowski styled Yeezy Season 2 knit boots, from skinny jeans and a gold camisole to tonal dresses and monochromatic separates.
- 🖤 Olivia Culpo paired PrettyLittleThing “Donna” knitted sock boots with a leather mini skirt, showing how the close-fitting silhouette works with a leg-baring look.
- 💎 Hailey Bieber modeled Jimmy Choo’s white Leroy sock boots alongside the label’s Saeda pumps and velvet Chad boots in its Fall 2021 campaign.
- ✨ Explore Jimmy Choo x Mugler’s sheer spiral sock boots, the hosiery-inspired statement style worn by celebrities including Emma Watson, Hilary Duff, and Dixie D’Amelio.
- 👖 Kaia Gerber’s Chloé “Bell” ankle boots combine leather construction with stretch-knit cuffs, creating a hybrid sock-boot silhouette that pairs naturally with denim.
- 🎀 Katy Perry took the stretch-knit idea in a playful direction with her “Isobella” booties, designed to create the illusion of white socks worn with black Mary Jane heels.