At 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm), Aly Raisman is relatively petite and reportedly wears a size 7 shoe. Petite stature is familiar in elite gymnastics — her former U.S. teammate Simone Biles stands just 4 feet 8 inches tall.
Like many petite celebrities whose footwear choices show how different heel silhouettes interact with a smaller frame, Raisman has repeatedly turned to high heels on the red carpet, with strappy sandals becoming a particularly consistent part of her evening style.
That preference was on display at the 2018 People’s Choice Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on November 11, 2018. Raisman paired a black-and-silver sequined Balmain mini dress with glittering strappy sandals, carrying the dress’s metallic finish all the way to her feet.
Aly Raisman pairs a sequined Balmain mini dress with glittering strappy sandals at the 2018 People’s Choice Awards in Santa Monica on November 11, 2018 (Credit: WENN)
Nominated in the Game Changer of 2018 category, Raisman chose sandals with narrow glitter-covered straps, an open toe, and a slim high heel. The delicate construction leaves much of the foot exposed despite the sparkle, making the shoes a more decorative variation on the minimalist ankle-strap sandals she has worn at other events.
A closer look at Aly Raisman’s glittering strappy sandals, finished with slender crossing straps and a high heel
The polished red-carpet footwear makes for an amusing contrast with Raisman’s own description of her feet during her gymnastics career. Responding to an unusual Twitter comment in January 2016, she joked, “My feet are sweaty have chalk all over them. Probably not so appetizing. Sorry to disappoint.”
Aly Raisman jokes about the chalk-covered reality of a gymnast’s feet in a January 2016 Twitter exchange
Aly Raisman Keeps It Minimal in Black Ankle-Strap Sandals at The ESPYS
Earlier that year, Raisman chose a simpler version of the same footwear formula for the HEROES at The ESPYS event at City Market Social House in Los Angeles on July 17, 2018. She paired a glittering red, black, and blue mini dress with classic black ankle-strap sandals.
Aly Raisman pairs a glittering mini dress with minimalist black ankle-strap sandals at HEROES at The ESPYS in Los Angeles on July 17, 2018 (Credit: WENN)
The barely-there black sandals feature a slim toe strap, delicate ankle strap, and narrow stiletto heel. Compared with her sparkling People’s Choice Awards pair, their understated design leaves the heavily patterned dress as the main visual focus.
Raisman’s choice also illustrates how ankle-strap sandals can work with a petite frame, particularly when the straps are narrow and much of the foot remains exposed.
A close-up of Aly Raisman’s minimalist black ankle-strap sandals with slender stiletto heels
The silhouette has long been a red-carpet staple. Stuart Weitzman’s famous Nudist sandal is built around the same basic idea — a narrow toe strap, slim ankle strap, and high heel — and has appeared on celebrities including Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lawrence, and Shailene Woodley. Our guide to Stuart Weitzman’s Nudist sandals traces how the barely-there design became a recurring celebrity footwear choice.
From Barely-There Sandals to Statement Heels: Raisman’s Red-Carpet Shoe Style
Raisman’s 2018 appearances show a clear preference for open-toe heels with slender straps, but she has not always kept her footwear so minimal. Her red-carpet history ranges from barely-there black sandals to glitter-covered heels and much more elaborate statement shoes.
That range is particularly interesting on a petite frame. At 5 feet 1½ inches and also a reported size 7, Alyssa Milano has taken a similarly varied approach to petite red-carpet footwear, alternating between delicate open sandals, sculptural statement heels, pointed pumps, and architectural designs rather than relying on one supposedly “correct” shoe for her height.
Kendall Miles “Masque” Sandals Make the Shoes the Statement in 2016
Raisman took a much bolder approach to footwear at Sports Illustrated’s 2016 “Sportsperson of the Year” ceremony at Barclays Center in New York on December 13, 2016. Rather than the barely-there sandals seen in her later 2018 appearances, she made the shoes a focal point of the outfit.
Aly Raisman wears a red metallic dress with Kendall Miles “Masque” sandals at the Sports Illustrated “Sportsperson of the Year” ceremony at Barclays Center in New York on December 13, 2016
Raisman paired her fitted red metallic dress with Kendall Miles “Masque” sandals, an elaborate open-toe design featuring red-and-black python, contrasting white cutouts, black feather trim, multiple wavy straps, and a slim stiletto heel. The textured shoes echoed the scale-like surface of the dress without simply matching it.
Aly Raisman’s Kendall Miles “Masque” sandals combine python-patterned straps, contrasting cutouts, black feather trim, and stiletto heels
The difference from her later minimalist sandals is striking. Instead of using a narrow toe strap and ankle strap to keep the footwear visually quiet, the Masque design layers several curved bands across the foot and ankle, with feather edging emphasizing each section. The result turns the shoes themselves into part of the outfit’s texture.
Raisman completed the look with a Facine clutch and statement jewelry from Erickson Beamon, continuing the dress’s dark red and metallic palette through her accessories.
An Erickson Beamon statement ring adds another textured detail to Aly Raisman’s red-carpet look
Aly Raisman coordinates her fitted red metallic dress with the red-and-black tones of her Kendall Miles statement sandals
Across these appearances, Raisman’s footwear shows that petite red-carpet dressing does not have to follow a single formula. Her glittering sandals and minimalist black stilettos leave much of the foot exposed, while the Kendall Miles Masque sandals deliberately add visual weight with python, feathers, contrasting cutouts, and multiple straps. What connects the looks is her recurring preference for high, open-toe evening shoes that remain fully visible beneath shorter hemlines.
Aly Raisman shows her red metallic dress before attending Sports Illustrated’s 2016 “Sportsperson of the Year” ceremony
A Closer Look at the Kendall Miles “Masque” Heels
The Kendall Miles “Masque” sandal stands apart from Raisman’s simpler ankle-strap heels. Its red-and-black python-patterned bands curve across the foot, while white cutout sections and wispy black feather trim create strong contrast between each strap. A high stiletto heel keeps the construction delicate despite the amount of detail across the upper.
Kendall Miles “Masque” heels feature red-and-black python-patterned straps, contrasting white cutouts, black feather trim, and slim stiletto heels
Why Strappy Heels Work So Well With Petite Proportions
Raisman’s red-carpet shoe history helps explain why strappy heeled sandals remain such a natural choice for petite dressing. On a 5-foot-2 frame, slender straps can add height without introducing the visual weight of a heavier shoe. When the straps are narrow or close to the wearer’s skin tone, more of the foot remains visible, helping preserve a cleaner line from the leg into the shoe.
That does not mean petite women need to avoid ankle straps. The details matter more than the rule: thin straps, open toes, slim heels, and less visual bulk can make an ankle-strap sandal feel remarkably light. Raisman demonstrates both sides of that idea — from her barely-there black stilettos and glittering sandals in 2018 to the deliberately elaborate Kendall Miles “Masque” heels she wore in 2016.
👠 See How Other Petite Stars Wear Strappy Heels:
- 🖤 Amanda Seyfried pairs black Givenchy ankle-strap sandals with a red Preen mini dress — at 5’2½”, she keeps the shoe visually light with minimalist straps and a slender gold-tipped stiletto heel.
- ✨ Emilia Clarke wears barely-there nude suede sandals with Burberry lace — fine crossover straps and a narrow ankle fastening frame her 5’2″ proportions without adding much visual weight.
- 👡 Eva Longoria relies on Gianvito Rossi “Portofino” sandals for two polished looks — the 5’0½” actress uses the same minimalist black ankle-strap stilettos with both a fitted midi dress and tailored pants.
- 🎬 Anna Kendrick explores strappy sandals, pumps, and platforms during the A Simple Favor press tour — her 5’2″ wardrobe shows how different heel shapes can change the proportions of petite tailoring and shorter hemlines.
- 💎 Karrueche Tran makes strappy heels part of her petite red-carpet vocabulary — her shoe wardrobe ranges from delicate sandals to architectural metallic heels that frame her size 7 feet.
- ❤️ Sarah Hyland adds vivid red Stuart Weitzman strappy sandals to a colorful mini dress — a bolder example of a petite star treating the ankle strap as part of the outfit rather than trying to make the shoe disappear.
Raisman ultimately shows why the best petite-shoe advice is about proportion rather than rigid rules. A barely-there sandal can visually recede beneath a short hemline, while a more elaborate strappy heel can intentionally draw attention downward. For Raisman, both approaches work because the shoes are treated as part of the silhouette — sometimes extending it quietly, and sometimes becoming the statement themselves.