Ukrainian professional tennis player Elina Svitolina stepped away from her usual tennis whites for a sleek all-white look as she helped light the Empire State Building in honor of Ukrainian Independence Day, in partnership with the Consulate General of Ukraine.
At 5 feet 9 inches (1.74 meters) tall, Svitolina has the statuesque frame to carry the dress’s clean midi silhouette, while her reported US size 10 feet were finished with Alaïa’s sculptural “Le Coeur” wedge mules. I loved how the playful heart-shaped shoes brought a modern, feminine touch to the otherwise classic all-white look.
Ukrainian professional tennis player Elina Svitolina lights the Empire State Building in honor of Ukrainian Independence Day, in partnership with the Consulate General of Ukraine, in a sleek all-white look from Meshki and Alaïa in New York City on August 24, 2026 (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Heart on Her Heels: Elina Svitolina Steps Out in Alaïa Le Cœur Wedge Mules
Svitolina wore Alaïa’s “Le Coeur” wedge mules, named for the heart-shaped appliqués that form the vamp and pointed toes. The design looked elegant to me, combining white patent leather with transparent PVC panels for a clean, minimalist finish.
The mules featured clear PVC trims along the vamp and a transparent strap across the instep, giving the sleek white design a more contemporary look. I especially loved the contrast between the glossy patent leather and clear panels, creating a sleek finish with just enough detail.
The heart-shaped detailing softened the pointed toes with a playful, romantic touch, while the curved wedge heels gave the otherwise delicate design a more sculptural finish. Svitolina’s white pair retails for $1,450 at Mytheresa, where Alaïa’s wider Le Cœur collection also includes heart-accented slingback pumps, flats, satin mules, suede wedges, and the house’s signature heart-shaped bags.
Svitolina isn’t the only star drawn to Alaïa’s romantic heart-shaped footwear. Jessie J wore the white Le Cœur slingback pumps, pairing the same heart-shaped patent-and-PVC detailing with a slender stiletto heel, while Rita Ora stepped out in a striking red version of Alaïa’s heart-toe PVC pumps.
Tennis star Elina Svitolina gives her sleek look a whimsical finish with Alaïa’s “Le Coeur” wedge mules featuring white patent heart-shaped vamps trimmed with PVC clear panels, a PVC instep strap, and curved wedge heels (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Modern in White: Elina Svitolina’s Sculptural Meshki Yanina Midi Dress
Svitolina paired the statement heels with the $219 white Meshki “Yanina” halter dress, made from breathable cotton. The dress featured a fitted, sleeveless bodice with a wide front neckline and structured pleating that continued toward the back of the neck, giving the design a polished finish and balancing the open front.
A wrap-style overlay crossed the front of the dress, defining her waist and adding a flattering layered detail. It also had a subtle peplum that made the bodice look like a separate piece from the skirt, creating the illusion of a two-piece set.
The skirt then flowed down to a mid-calf length, giving the silhouette an elegant, regal look. An invisible zipper at the back kept the design sleek and clean.
Elina Svitolina pairs her playful heart-detailed Alaïa pumps with a white Meshki dress featuring a wide front neckline with structured pleating that continued toward the back of the neck, a wrap-style front, and a midi skirt (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
A Touch of Sparkle: Elina Svitolina’s Diamond Tennis Jewelry
Her jewelry added another layer of elegance to the all-white look. Svitolina wore diamond earrings, a delicate tennis necklace, tennis bracelets on both wrists, and a few rings. I loved the simple designs, especially how they added sparkle without overwhelming the clean silhouette of her dress.
She kept her beauty look just as polished, pulling her hair back into a sleek ponytail and wearing soft pink makeup.
Elina Svitolina keeps her look elegant with a tennis necklace, tennis bracelets, diamond earrings, and some rings (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
The Alaïa Effect: Why Celebrities Love the House’s Sculptural Heels
From Azzedine Alaïa’s famously sensual, body-conscious designs to Pieter Mulier’s architectural approach to Alaïa today, the house has never treated footwear as an afterthought. Its heels can be romantic, provocative, or strikingly minimal, but they usually include an unexpected detail—a sculpted heel, sheer mesh panel, geometric cutout, statement stud, or unconventional proportion—that makes them instantly recognizable.
That combination helps explain why Alaïa heels work across such different celebrity wardrobes. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has embraced the house’s architectural peep-toe pumps, Emily Blunt has worn its delicate mesh heels with couture-inspired dressing, while Sofia Vergara and Lilly Becker demonstrated the enduring appeal of the studded “Bombe” sandals. Even bolder interpretations—from Kim Kardashian’s archival leopard boots to Naomi Campbell’s embroidered knee-highs—show how easily Alaïa footwear can shift from refined to fearless.
👠 Explore Alaïa’s Standout Celebrity Shoe Moments:
- 🖤 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s sculptural Alaïa peep-toe heels gave her sheer black evening look an architectural edge, with geometric openings transforming the classic black pump into something distinctly modern.
- 🤍 Emily Blunt’s white Alaïa mesh pumps continued the sculptural mood of her dramatic all-white ensemble, pairing sheer uppers and delicate ankle straps with subtly curved heels.
- ❤️ Victoria Beckham contrasted a vivid green dress with cherry-red Alaïa “Decolette” pumps, letting glossy patent leather, slim ankle straps, and stiletto heels provide an unexpected jolt of color.
- ✨ Sofia Vergara and Lilly Becker showed two ways to wear Alaïa’s iconic “Bombe” sandals, both pairing the studded beige-suede heels with romantic pink off-the-shoulder dresses.
- 🐆 Kim Kardashian went head-to-toe archival Alaïa in Paris, finishing her Fall 1991 leopard ensemble with matching calf-hair lace-up ankle boots set on towering 135mm stilettos.
- 👢 Naomi Campbell made embroidered Alaïa knee-high boots the centerpiece of a neutral mini-dress look, showcasing the intricate cutouts and lace-up construction that have long distinguished the house’s footwear.
- 🧡 Zoe Saldaña offset rich burnt-orange velvet with black Alaïa mesh pumps, whose sheer uppers, satin trims, ankle straps, and sculpted heel counters brought a lighter architectural element to the look.
- 💎 Chase Infiniti stepped into Alaïa’s more playful side with Invisible Jewel wedge sandals, combining jeweled thong straps with transparent plexi wedges for an almost floating effect.
- 🖤 Chrissy Teigen paired Alaïa fishnet pumps with a daring latex-and-rubber ensemble, showing how the house’s sheer footwear can feel every bit as provocative as its curve-sculpting clothes.
- 🖤 Eniko Parrish turned to strappy Azzedine Alaïa sandals for the 2014 BET Awards, an earlier celebrity example of the intricate straps and cutout detailing that remain central to the house’s footwear identity.