Kaia Gerber was spotted stopping by a Re/Done store in New York City to celebrate the launch of her debut collection, Kaia Volume 1, with the denim label. Gerber joined the Los Angeles-based brand earlier this year as an investor, creative partner, and advisory board member.
For the occasion, Gerber kept things simple in a fitted white cropped tee, dark-wash jeans, and bright red heels that gave the look a very Y2K feel. Denim has long been part of her off-duty wardrobe—she previously styled Re/Done jeans with By Far ankle boots during Paris Fashion Week in 2020—but the glossy red shoes gave this otherwise simple combination a much edgier finish.
Kaia Gerber channels Y2K style in a cropped white baby tee and dark-wash low-rise Re/Done jeans, adding a flash of color with red Christen Helix kitten-heel sandals while stepping out in New York City on September 10, 2026 (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)
Kaia Gerber Makes a Statement in Red Christen Helix Sandals
Gerber slipped into Christen’s $1,450 “Helix” sandals, which were the focal point of her laid-back ensemble. Made from vibrant red croc-printed patent leather, the sandals had a glossy, lacquered finish that made the color look even more striking. I loved how the bold texture and shine brought a little high-fashion drama to such a casual outfit.
The Helix has also surfaced in more dressed-up celebrity looks: Jodie Comer wore black Christen Helix sandals with a Burberry leather coat dress in New York in June 2026.
The sandals had a thong-style silhouette, with a wide horizontal strap sitting across the front of the foot rather than the more traditional V-shaped straps found on classic flip-flops. Silver-tone metal eyelets and a large buckle decorated the strap, adding an edgy hardware detail to the simple shape.
The croc-effect patent finish is also part of the Helix family’s distinctive look: Alexa Chung wore ivory-beige Christen Helix pumps in croc-printed patent leather with wet-look lacquered heels at the 2025 Fashion Awards.
Close-up of Kaia Gerber’s Christen Helix sandals in glossy red croc-effect patent leather, featuring a buckled horizontal strap, thong-style toe post, and low kitten heels beneath her dark-wash Re/Done jeans (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)
They were finished with 1.4-inch kitten heels and rubber anti-slip details, giving the shoes a little lift while keeping them practical for walking around the city. The low heel also fits neatly into Gerber’s preference for understated footwear: she previously paired pointed-toe Repetto pumps with kitten heels with a sleek Givenchy dress for a Broadway opening in 2025.
Mytheresa carries several versions of Christen’s Helix, including low and high-heeled thong sandals, pumps, mules, and ankle boots. Across the line, Nina Christen plays with streamlined silhouettes, sculptural heels, and unexpected finishes such as croc-effect patent, snake-effect leather, and suede. Prices currently range from $1,450 for select Helix sandals and pumps to $2,150 for the Helix 75 suede ankle boots.
Christen’s Helix footwear line spans low and high-heeled sandals, pumps, mules, and ankle boots, showing how Nina Christen carries the collection’s distinctive sculptural heel shapes across different silhouettes and finishes
Kaia Gerber Goes Y2K in Low-Rise Re/Done Jeans and a Cropped Baby Tee
Gerber paired the bright red sandals with a fitted white baby tee, cropped just above the waist and finished with understated lettering across the chest. She teamed it with dark-wash, low-rise Re/Done jeans that hugged her hips and thighs before easing into a subtle bootcut flare, giving the simple look a distinctly Y2K silhouette.
I loved how basic the combination was, yet it still looked effortlessly cool. The cropped top and low-rise jeans showed off her navel piercing, adding another Y2K-inspired detail, while the long, fitted silhouette emphasized Kaia Gerber’s 5’8½” (174 cm) frame and long model proportions.
Kaia Gerber channels Y2K style in a cropped white baby tee and dark-wash, low-rise Re/Done jeans, finishing the look with glossy red Christen Helix kitten-heel sandals (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)
A Zebra Sequin Bag and Wraparound Sunglasses Finish Kaia Gerber’s Look
Gerber kept her beauty look simple, wearing her brunette hair in tousled waves with a side part and black sunglasses that added to the casual Y2K vibe.
She finished the look with a black-and-white zebra-print sequin shoulder bag, with red trim and a matching strap that tied in with her sandals.
Kaia Gerber completes her Y2K-inspired look with wraparound black sunglasses, tousled brunette waves, and a zebra-print sequin shoulder bag with red trim (Credit: Elder Ordonez / INSTARimages)
Why Croc-Effect Heels Keep Turning Up in Celebrity Style
Croc-embossed and croc-printed shoes have a way of making even familiar silhouettes feel richer. The raised texture catches the light, giving pumps, sandals, and mules more depth than smooth leather, while the polished finish works just as easily with denim as it does with eveningwear.
Celebrity styling shows just how versatile the effect can be, from understated kitten heels to dramatic stilettos and platforms.
🐊 See How Celebrities Style Croc-Effect Heels:
- ✨ Alexa Chung gives Christen’s Helix pumps a sculptural finish in ivory-beige croc-print patent leather, pairing the glossy texture with a pale-yellow Chloé dress.
- 💚 Anok Yai takes croc embossing head to toe with elongated green pointed pumps matched to her glossy, architectural Ashi Studio couture gown.
- ☀️ Julianne Hough contrasts nude croc-embossed Bottega Veneta Mary Janes with bright yellow tailoring, using chunky platforms and curved block heels to make the textured leather feel even bolder.
- 🖤 Lizzo lets glossy black croc-effect pumps sharpen a simple jeans-and-T-shirt outfit, showing how the texture can make an otherwise classic pointed-toe heel feel more directional.
- 🌿 Olivia Wilde balances romantic Chloé layers with black crocodile-print Giuseppe Zanotti mules, adding depth and edge with textured leather and a low kitten heel.
- 👠 Reese Witherspoon turns to charcoal croc-effect Jimmy Choo Lexica pumps, where the embossed finish adds dimension to an already sharp T-bar silhouette and slim stiletto heel.