At the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on August 25, 2013, Taylor Swift stepped onto the red carpet in a plunging deep-navy Hervé Léger by Max Azria bandage gown paired with blue-and-black Prada suede platform sandals.
Ashanti, who stands 5’3″ (160 cm), looks petite beside 5’9¼” (175.9 cm) Taylor Swift as they pose together at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards; both add extra height with statement heels
The fitted, crystal-trimmed gown continued the more grown-up direction Swift had been exploring that year rather than representing an overnight transformation.
Just two months earlier, she had paired another body-conscious Hervé Léger dress with strappy Christian Louboutin Karina sandals at the 2013 MuchMusic Video Awards.
Taylor Swift channels Old Hollywood glamour in a plunging navy Hervé Léger by Max Azria gown with matching Prada platform sandals at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn, New York, on August 25, 2013 (Credit: Ryan / TRY CW / WENN)
At the VMAs, however, the darker palette and retro styling pushed that evolution toward Old Hollywood glamour.
Swift wore her hair in sculpted faux-bob curls and finished the look with smoky eye makeup, red lipstick, Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings, Ofira jewelry, and a black Smythson clutch. She also won Best Female Video for “I Knew You Were Trouble.”
Taylor Swift completes her Old Hollywood-inspired beauty look with sculpted retro curls, smoky cat-eye makeup, red lipstick, and sparkling drop earrings
Taylor Swift Grounds Her Hervé Léger Gown With Bicolor Prada Platforms
The Hervé Léger gown’s body-skimming bandage construction, plunging embellished neckline, and short train created a strong frame for Swift’s two-tone footwear.
Rather than matching the dress exactly, the Prada sandals introduced black contrast through the ankle straps and vamp trim, helping the shoes remain visible against the deep-blue gown.
Taylor Swift in a deep-navy Hervé Léger by Max Azria bandage gown, styled with sculpted retro curls, a red lip, and sparkling statement jewelry
At 5 feet 9¼ inches (175.9 cm), Taylor Swift is already notably tall and has frequently embraced height-boosting designer heels. Her choice of substantial platforms at the VMAs was therefore less unusual than the original coverage suggested.
In fact, dramatic platforms were already appearing in her wardrobe earlier in 2013. At the 40 Principales Awards in Madrid that January, Swift paired a white Kaufmanfranco mini dress with Christian Louboutin Dufoura platform sandals, another example of her growing interest in architectural, statement-making footwear.
Swift’s floor-length Hervé Léger gown briefly parts on the red carpet to reveal the towering Prada platforms underneath
Multiple angles highlight the Prada sandals’ bicolor construction, pairing navy suede peep toes and platforms with contrasting black ankle straps
A closer look at Swift’s Prada sandals reveals their substantial platforms, slender high heels, peep-toe fronts, and sharply contrasting black straps
Why Taylor Swift’s Prada Platforms Still Feel Distinctive
Swift’s sandals were a bicolor Prada design rendered in blue suede with contrasting black suede ankle straps, piping, and trim. The block heels measured approximately 4.25 inches, while the substantial 1.25-inch platforms reduced the effective heel pitch to roughly three inches.
That proportion helps explain the appeal of Prada’s platform sandals. They deliver conspicuous height and a leg-lengthening silhouette, but the raised forefoot and substantial heel give them a more grounded profile than a similarly tall, single-sole stiletto. On Swift, the platform worked particularly well beneath a floor-length gown: enough navy suede remained visible to make the shoes part of the look rather than disappear under the hem.
The bicolor construction gave this pair another point of distinction. Black ankle straps and edging outlined the navy suede, while the peep toe and platform emphasized the shoe’s layered shape. The result was dramatic without competing with the crystal-trimmed Hervé Léger gown.
Prada remained part of Swift’s footwear rotation after this appearance. In 2015, she stepped out in Manhattan wearing brown Prada ankle-strap sandals with chunky metallic heels, a lower, more streamlined take on the same combination of open toes, ankle straps, and a substantial heel.
More than a decade later, Prada continues to revisit elevated sandals and other sculptural footwear, even as the proportions, materials, and heel shapes change from season to season. The label’s current women’s shoe selection at Nordstrom offers a useful contrast with Swift’s 2013 pair—and the celebrity looks below show how many forms Prada’s platform idea has taken over the years.
👠 Prada Platforms Through the Years:
- 💛 Juno Temple made chunky yellow Prada platforms the focal point of her Lovelace premiere look, pairing the caged suede sandals with tailored black separates and a graphic tee.
- ✨ Yara Shahidi gave metallic Prada platforms an unexpected twist at the 2017 AMAs, wearing them with ribbed knee-high socks and a head-to-toe Prada ensemble.
- 🖤 Margot Robbie grounded a sequined Louis Vuitton mini with towering black Prada sandals at the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards, using their chunky silhouette as a counterpoint to the abbreviated dress.
- 🌹 Chrissy Teigen leaned into rich texture with burgundy Prada velvet platforms, coordinating the shoes with a bralette and long coat worn over embellished Ashish jeans.
- 🌙 Eiza González went head-to-toe Prada for the Babylon premiere, finishing her sheer-paneled black dress with satin platform sandals featuring peep toes, ankle straps, and the house’s triangle logo.
- 🪩 Pia Mia carried the metallic finish of her 2019 AMAs outfit all the way to her Prada platforms, pairing ankle-wrap heels with a shimmering rose-gold Roland Mouret ensemble.
- 🤎 Ellie Goulding took Prada platforms into 1970s territory, styling brown leather Spring 2015 sandals with suede flares and an oversized shearling biker jacket.