Lea Michele’s Style Transformation: 4 Iconic Shoe Moments & How She Styles Platforms at 5’2”

Throughout 2015, Lea Michele’s footwear ranged from lightweight Nike running sneakers to colorful Christian Louboutin sandals, towering Brian Atwood platforms, Casadei heels, and thigh-high Giuseppe Zanotti boots.

At 5 feet 2 inches (157.5 cm), Michele has often experimented with footwear that changes an outfit’s proportions, making this mix of casual sneakers, statement sandals, platforms, and boots especially varied.

1. Off-Duty on the Trail: Nike Flex Sneakers Fabletics Leggings

On April 18, 2015, Michele headed out for a hike at TreePeople in Los Angeles with Matthew Paetz, trading her usual event heels for Nike Flex 2014 Run sneakers.

For the casual outing, Michele wore patterned Fabletics “Sydney” capri leggings with a slubbed-jersey muscle tee from Elizabeth and James.

Lea Michele wears a white muscle tee over patterned Fabletics capri leggings while hiking with Matthew Paetz in Los Angeles on April 18, 2015 (Credit: WENN)

Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses completed the outfit, while Michele chose gray Nike Flex 2014 Run sneakers with pink accents for the walk. The Nike Flex 2014 Run has since been succeeded by newer Flex models, but the original running shoe still surfaces on the resale market.

As of September 2026, StockX lists the women’s Nike Flex 2014 RN in Grey Mist, Total Orange, Pink Pow, and Dove Grey, although no current lowest ask is displayed.

Lea Michele wears gray Nike Flex 2014 Run sneakers with pink accents, paired with patterned Fabletics capri leggings for her Los Angeles hike

2. Comic-Con Color Pop: Christian Louboutin Mayerling Heels Jonathan Simkhai

On July 12, 2015, Michele joined the “Scream Queens” cast at San Diego Comic-Con in a white Jonathan Simkhai two-piece look punctuated by a much brighter choice of footwear: Christian Louboutin Mayerling heels in vivid red and blue.

The color-blocked sandals stood out against Michele’s otherwise all-white outfit, combining bright red toe straps with cobalt-blue ankle cuffs, white laces, and slender heels.

Lea Michele wears a white Jonathan Simkhai crop top with long waves and bangs at San Diego Comic-Con 2015

Michele paired the Jonathan Simkhai crop top with a coordinating flared skirt, keeping the white outfit simple enough to put the focus on her Christian Louboutin Mayerling heels. She accessorized with jewelry from Collection and Melissa Kaye.

Lea Michele pairs a white Jonathan Simkhai crop top and flared skirt with red-and-blue Christian Louboutin Mayerling heels at Comic-Con

A closer look at Lea Michele’s Christian Louboutin Mayerling heels, combining vivid red toe straps, cobalt-blue ankle cuffs, white laces, and slender heels

The Mayerling design brought several contrasting elements together in one sandal, with vivid red straps across the toes, cobalt-blue ankle cuffs, white lace-up detailing, and slim high heels. The shoes also carried the signature red soles that have identified Christian Louboutin footwear since the 1990s. Against Michele’s monochrome Jonathan Simkhai outfit, the saturated colors made the shoes the focal point of the look.

Lea Michele attends the “Scream Queens” photocall at San Diego Comic-Con in a white Jonathan Simkhai two-piece look and Christian Louboutin Mayerling heels on July 12, 2015 (Credit: Tony Forte / WENN)

3. Monochrome With Height: Brian Atwood Platforms Alice + Olivia Pinstripes

On September 22, 2015, Michele arrived at ABC Studios in Los Angeles for an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” wearing a black-and-white Alice + Olivia look with towering Brian Atwood platform heels.

The actress paired a fitted black sleeveless top with wide-leg white pinstripe trousers, letting the extra-long hem fall over her black peep-toe platforms. A structured black Balenciaga clutch and swept-back ponytail completed the monochrome arrival look before she changed outfits for the show.

Lea Michele wears a black sleeveless top with white pinstripe wide-leg pants while arriving at ABC Studios for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” in Los Angeles on September 22, 2015 (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN / Sakura)

Michele’s arrival outfit offered a more relaxed take on event dressing, with the wide-leg trousers providing most of the movement and her chunky platforms adding considerable height beneath the floor-skimming hems.

Lea Michele pairs an Alice + Olivia black top and white pinstripe wide-leg pants with black Brian Atwood platform heels and a Balenciaga clutch

Michele accessorized the Alice + Olivia separates with a structured Balenciaga clutch and black Brian Atwood platforms. The peep-toe heels featured substantial platform soles beneath the forefoot and slender high heels, a construction that distinguishes platform shoes from conventional high heels.

A closer look at Lea Michele’s black Brian Atwood peep-toe platform heels, which feature substantial platform soles and slim high heels beneath her pinstripe trousers

Lea Michele’s floor-skimming Alice + Olivia pinstripe trousers reveal her black platform heels as she walks outside ABC Studios

For her “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” appearance, Michele later changed into a peach Bec Bridge dress and swapped the chunky Brian Atwood platforms for Casadei heels.

4. All-Black Drama: Giuseppe Zanotti Thigh-High Boots Sally LaPointe

On October 24, 2015, Michele arrived at Industria Studios in New York City for Entertainment Weekly’s EW Fest, where she joined Keke Palmer and Emma Roberts for the Ryan Murphy Friends panel.

Michele wore an all-black Sally LaPointe ensemble with a long Max Mara coat draped over her shoulders, but the standout element was her footwear: pointed-toe Giuseppe Zanotti over-the-knee boots in textured black snakeskin.

Lea Michele wears her hair in a center-parted ponytail with smoky eye makeup and nude lipstick at EW Fest 2015

Her Sally LaPointe look paired a sleeveless, tuxedo-inspired black top with a matching mini skirt from the designer’s Spring 2015 collection.

Lea Michele pairs a black Sally LaPointe outfit with a long Max Mara coat and Giuseppe Zanotti thigh-high boots at EW Fest in New York City on October 24, 2015 (Credit: WENN)

She layered the outfit with a long black-and-gray Max Mara coat and finished it with black over-the-knee boots that extended well above the hem of her skirt.

Lea Michele’s monochrome look combines Sally LaPointe separates with a draped Max Mara coat and pointed-toe Giuseppe Zanotti over-the-knee boots

She carried a structured black Les Petits Joueurs clutch finished with a bright red heart detail, the only strong color accent in the otherwise monochrome outfit. Michele completed the look with a center-parted ponytail, smoky eye makeup, and nude lipstick.

A closer look at Lea Michele’s black snakeskin Giuseppe Zanotti over-the-knee boots, featuring pointed toes, slim high heels, and textured uppers

Michele’s boots are by Giuseppe Zanotti. Crafted in black snakeskin, the thigh-high design features pointed toes, lace-up backs, partial side zips, and approximately four-inch heels finished with gold-tone trim.

The EW Fest boots were not Michele’s only Giuseppe Zanotti moment. Her footwear archive also includes the designer’s strappy evening sandals, including the Darsey and Harmony styles, which she wore on later red carpets. See more of Lea Michele’s Giuseppe Zanotti shoe looks.

Beyond 2015: More of Lea Michele’s Standout Shoe Moments

Michele’s 2015 footwear was only one chapter in a much broader style history. Across later premieres, performances, promotional appearances, and off-duty outings, she continued to move between sharply pointed pumps, barely-there sandals, statement heels, and ankle boots from designers including Jimmy Choo, Aquazzura, Sophia Webster, Pollini, and Pedro Garcia.