It’s officially Charli XCX’s birthday.
The queen of “Brat” summer is turning 32 and just about everyone is celebrating. Charli, otherwise known as Charlotte Emma Aitchison, has had a major moment this year, thanks to the release of her sixth studio album “Brat” back in June. Since then, the internet has gone crazy for the British singer and songwriter, and for good reason. Following the album’s release, the internet aptly declared this summer season a “Brat” summer, accompanied by an obsession with just about everything neon green to match said album’s cover.
While her music career thus far is impressive, the “Guess” singer’s footwear and fashion choices are just as memorable. The British star is best known for her edgy and futuristic style. She effortlessly uses bold colors, metallic fabrics and avant-garde silhouettes to complete her outfits. The silhouettes she gravitates towards often nod to ’90s and early 2000s fashion. Charli’s style is daring, rebellious, and influenced by the worlds of punk and pop culture.
Charli is also a mainstay in the fashion industry, starring in campaigns for brands including Ray-Ban, Samsung and Agent Provocateur. On the footwear front, the pop star gravitates towards strappy sandals, vibrant heels and Nike sneakers. In honor of the singer’s birthday, “Brat” summer and her impressive footwear picks, FN is delving into some of her best shoe moments over the years.
Back in 2011 while performing at The Roundhouse, Charli went sky-high in a pair of Pleaser-esque platform heels. Paired with black and white striped tights, the lofty style was comprised of sparkly gold straps around the ankles and over her toes, adjustable buckle closures and thick platform soles.
4 to 5-inch stiletto heels rounded out the singer’s set, creating the illusion of towering height. At the beginning of her career, Charli was a major fan of death-defying styles. These days, she’s less about height and more about drama.
While in attendance at the 2-14 Billboard Music Awards, the “360” songstress switched things up, donning a pair of sleek and sophisticated black sandal heels. The silhouette featured a thin strap-heavy construction with short 1 to 2-inch stiletto heels. Subtle but effective, the footwear choice perfectly matched her sheer black dress for the occasion.
Back on track, the songwriter opted for black platform heels at 2015 amfAR’s 22nd Cinema Against AIDS Gala. The singer’s unique pair included thick platform soles, shiny black leather uppers, open toes and a sandal-like construction. Sculptural tapered heels standing at around 4 to 5 inches in height rounded out the set. The look is slightly gothic, a genre of footwear Charli continues to gravitate toward to this day.
In a playful twist, Charli donned a pair of lifestyle sneakers, courtesy of Stella McCartney, during the brand’s 2018 collection launch. The singer’s sneakers boasted a chunky retro-inspired look with pink, yellow and green ombre soles in a slight platform style. White laces completed the set. Stella McCartney is well-known for its unique and often eco-friendly sneaker silhouettes.
While attending a Love Magazine Party in 2020, Charli opted for a pop of color in a pair of bright blue platform sandals. Like many of the platform styles she’d worn before, this blue choice featured thick platform soles and a strappy crisscrossed construction that wrapped around her feet. Thick 3 to 4-inch block heels offered the singer a major boost, creating the illusion of length and height.
While at a Royal Academy of Arts summer exhibition preview party in 2023, the “360” singer wore a pair of polarizing Givenchy Shark Lock booties in white, a popular style for the time period. Fixed with silver lock detailing and baggy white leather uppers, the style eclipses the feet, creating a loose-fitted appearance akin to a rain boot. The designer footwear also comes in black and even a leopard-printed colorway.
In July of this year, Charli attended Wimbledon 2024 in classic black slingback pumps. Paired with black lace knee-high socks, the style featured sharp triangular toes, satin uppers and straps set around her ankles that provided that aforementioned slingback appearance.
