Rachel Bilson is embodying her “OC” character, Summer Roberts, again in a new campaign for 21 Seeds-infused tequila. The actress co-hosted a house party with the liquor brand on July 31 in celebration of the 21st anniversary of the “The OC” and the new “Serving Summer” campaign, dressed head-to-toe in hot pink Valentino. Bilson reached remarkable heights in patent leather platform pumps from the Italian brand.
At Wheelhouse in West Hollywood, Calif., Bilson wore a pink Valentino Garavani dress with triangular cutouts on either side of the waist, with a flower centerpiece adding dimension to the garment. The sleeveless dress featured a high neckline and a classic A-line silhouette, with the skirt flaring out and the hem reaching mid-thigh.
Bilson completed the Barbiecore look with a pair of pink patent leather pumps boasting a 2.2 inch platform and a soaring 6.1 inch block heel. The shoes offered additional security via an ankle strap bearing the brand’s V logo in a gold hue. The heels otherwise featured the hallmarks of a traditional pump silhouette, with a sloping sole and minimalist vamp leaving most of the top of the foot exposed. Unsurprisingly, as they hailed from the same luxury brand, the glossy pink finish perfectly matched her dress.
A pair of heels like these are sure to add a spirited statement to any outfit, launching the wearer sky-high and drawing onlookers’ eyes to the floor. Bilson’s shoes are currently out of stock at Valentino but are on sale at Saks Fifth Avenue for $840, marked down from $1,400. The fashion house also makes the shoes in black and shades called rose cannelle and light ivory.
Bilson knows a heel can elevate an outfit both literally and figuratively. Amid promoting her Fox series “The Accused” last year, she stepped out in New York in a pair of thigh-high black boots from Saint Laurent, pairing them with a knit outfit by Magda Butrym. She was also no stranger to heels whilst starring in “The O.C.” from 2003-2007 at the height of aughts fashion. She reminisced on the trends of the time in a 2023 conversation with FN, in which she recalled the popularity of platform sandals.
Also present at the July 31 party was “The O.C.” creator Josh Schwartz, executive producer Stephanie Savage and the group Phantom Planet, who performed the show’s theme song “California.” Additional guests included Irene Choi, Jon Bouffard and Alexandra Madison. The production company Fake Empire, co-founded by Schwartz and Savage, is behind the “Serving Summer” campaign.
