Heidi Klum Swaps Designer Heels for Steve Madden’s $100 “Malibu” PVC Pumps at the AMAs

Heidi Klum arrived at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on November 24, 2019, wearing a custom Monsoori mini dress with rhinestone-covered Steve Madden “Malibu” pumps.

The pointed-toe heels combined transparent PVC side panels with sparkling embellishments, allowing the shoes to add shine without creating a heavy visual break below the short, feathered skirt.

At 5’9″ (175.3 cm), with a US shoe size 11, Klum hardly needs extra height, but towering stilettos, barely-there sandals, transparent panels, and metallic finishes have long been recurring elements in her red-carpet footwear.

Her choice of Steve Madden was also notable because she frequently wears luxury labels such as Giuseppe Zanotti, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, and Aquazzura. The relatively accessible “Malibu” pumps offered the same leg-lengthening effect and high-shine finish she often gets from designer heels, but at a very different price point.

Heidi Klum turns to reveal the open back and feathered navy skirt of her custom Monsoori mini dress, finished with sparkling Steve Madden “Malibu” PVC pumps on November 24, 2019 (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / Nicky Nelson / WENN)

For the ceremony, Klum wore a custom mini dress by Middle Eastern label Monsoori, styled by Rob Zangardi.

The dress featured spaghetti straps, a shimmering silver bralette-style bodice, a black ruched waistband, and a navy feathered mini skirt. Its abbreviated hemline left the Steve Madden pumps fully visible, making their crystal embellishments and transparent construction part of the overall look rather than an accessory hidden beneath a floor-length gown.

Heidi Klum puts her long legs and crystal-tipped Steve Madden pumps on full display in her silver-and-navy Monsoori mini at the 2019 American Music Awards

Hairstylist Lorenzo Martin styled Klum’s hair in a half-up, half-down look with a slightly teased crown and face-framing fringe. Makeup artist Sabrina Bedrani complemented the outfit’s cool tones with smoky blue-gray eye makeup, blush, and light pink lipstick.

A crystal-covered bralette bodice, ruched black waist, and voluminous feathered skirt give Heidi Klum’s custom Monsoori dress its contrasting textures

Zangardi finished the ensemble with diamond earrings, bracelets, and rings, plus a black Jimmy Choo clutch.

The jewelry and clutch added polish, but the footwear matched the dress’s proportions particularly well. Steve Madden’s “Malibu” pumps featured clear PVC side panels with rhinestone embellishments across the pointed toes, heel cups, and approximately 4-inch stiletto heels. Tyra Banks wore the same Steve Madden “Malibu” pumps at the 2019 American Music Awards, choosing a black-trimmed version of the transparent pointed-toe style.

The transparent sides reduced the visual weight of a closed pump, while the pointed toe extended the foot line. It is a formula Klum has returned to repeatedly in different forms. She has worn crystal Jimmy Choo sandals and Christian Louboutin Pigalle Plato pumps, pairing similarly glamorous footwear with short dresses and fitted evening looks.

A close-up reveals the Steve Madden “Malibu” pumps’ clear PVC sides, rhinestone-covered pointed toes and heel cups, and slender crystal-trimmed stilettos

Sparkling footwear is another recurring theme in Klum’s wardrobe. For Oscar night in 2020, she switched between crystal-covered Jimmy Choo sandals and embellished Aquazzura heels, both with delicate straps and reflective detailing that complemented rather than competed with her dresses.

Giuseppe Zanotti has also been a frequent choice. Klum has worn everything from towering red satin Giuseppe Zanotti mules to metallic gold Giuseppe Zanotti “Darsey” sandals, reinforcing her preference for high stilettos, minimal straps, and finishes that keep attention on the leg line.

Her famous insured-legs story adds some context to that long-running emphasis on leg-baring fashion. In 2004, Klum’s legs were reportedly insured for $2 million as part of a client project, with one leg valued slightly lower because of a childhood scar. More than the dollar figure, the story reflects how closely her modeling image became tied to her legs—and why footwear has played such a visible role in her red-carpet wardrobe.

Klum, who presented the Favorite Pop/Rock Album award to Taylor Swift during the ceremony, attended with her husband, Tom Kaulitz.

The Tokio Hotel guitarist wore a black V-neck T-shirt with a velvet jacket, shiny black trousers, and black shoes, keeping his look understated beside Klum’s feathered, crystal-accented ensemble.

Heidi Klum poses with husband Tom Kaulitz, pairing her shimmering Monsoori mini and transparent Steve Madden heels with his head-to-toe black ensemble

Why Steve Madden Keeps Showing Up in Celebrity Shoe Closets

Heidi Klum’s crystal-covered “Malibu” pumps fit neatly into the reason Steve Madden has remained such a visible celebrity footwear brand. Its shoes tend to translate current runway and street-style ideas into more accessible silhouettes, from barely-there PVC heels and towering platforms to combat boots, clogs, and statement sandals. That mix has made Steve Madden useful for both red-carpet dressing and more casual celebrity looks, while the brand’s long connection to music and New York street culture has helped keep it closely tied to performers and pop fashion.

On Best Quality Luxury Shoes Online Store, that range shows up across very different celebrity wardrobes: Victoria Justice in transparent sandals, Millie Bobby Brown in affordable evening heels, Jenna Ortega in extreme platforms, Kristen Stewart in combat boots, and Ashley Tisdale in chunky clogs. For the newest styles currently available from the label, see Steve Madden’s latest shoe releases.