Ok, the hottest topic in fashion right now?
Not replaying and revisiting all of the Spring/Summer 2026 shows as we should be, no, but rather - a trailer for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” And yes - us fashion lovers are all very excited to see what the next chapter of Andy and Miranda’s lives at Runway will bring, but that’s not what everyone is talking about. Nope, it’s the shoes. It’s MIRANDA’S SHOES.
I get it -
At first glance, I too had a little…”euuughh, really?????” moment. However, it must be known that this moment lasted approximately .05 seconds - and I fault that not to my true feelings towards these iconic shoes, but rather, to the never-ending hate and ridicule that they get online. Our brains see these things and can become conditioned to think the same way, okkaaaay!
But it’s true - I am a serious believer in the Valentino Rockstud - not just in the shoe, but in bags, ready-to-wear, jewelry - anything. Because despite what you may think, the Rockstud is a classic that is rooted in history, and a creative designer thought-process. AND I think that putting Miranda Priestly in these heels, at this time, in this clip - was not an accident, and definitely not a mistake. So, grab a glass of wine (it’s Saturday evening, after all), take a load off, and read on.
A brief history
of the shoe and the Rockstud itself is needed to truly appreciate the brilliance behind it. Let’s rewind to Fall/Winter 2010 - Valentino’s Creative Directors are Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Pierpaolo Piccioli, and we see the Rockstud Shoe for the first time ever. The reaction? Utter obsession for the newest “it” shoe.
During Chiuri and Piccioli’s time - Valentino was romantic, feminine, full of embellishments, slightly bohemian - and all of that came with just a touch of hard-edged details. So, the Rockstud was a natural lean into the brand’s contrasting soft/hard vibes.
An Italian house, Valentino often takes inspiration from its roots - and the Rockstud? No exception. Yes, there was definite inspiration from grunge and punk influences at the time, but mainly - the Rockstud was inspired by Roman bugnato, an architectural term referring to pyramid-shaped, uncarved stone.
So, what was the downfall?
Funnily (or, annoyingly) enough - the shoe’s popularity was its downfall. It became over-saturated. Which should be a good thing, right? But, as we say, too much of a good thing…
In the early 2010’s, we were seeing the Rockstud everywhere. And as we passed into the next decade, the shoe was inadvertently associated with the years of its peak popularity, earning it the title of “cheugy” when it was seen worn in 2020 and onwards. To define this new term “cheugy” as best I can - it refers to someone wearing a style that they maybe don’t understand, but that they know was a trend at some point - so they wear it for the clout, not necessarily because they actually like it.
As well, the shoe was and still is heavily-duped. With a high number of fakes, unfortunately, brings reliability and overall perception of the product downwards. Which again, is quite annoying because in my opinion - if there are fakes being made of a product, that just means it’s an icon. So the Rockstud was being punished for being successful.
Where the Rockstud is lucky though - is that everything that’s old, is new again. Meaning lately, we’ve been leaning heavily into y2k inspired looks. Yes, the Rockstud surpasses that era slightly, however - it’s still slowly regaining its popularity amongst the vintage-thirsty Gen-Z’s.
Okay so - why the rage?
Let’s begin with stating the obvious - the shoe-choice for Miranda was no mistake, and it was no accident. Costume designer for the movie Molly Rogers is a protégé of Patricia Fields (Sex and the City, Devil Wears Prada 1, Emily in Paris), and if you’ve trained under Miss Fields - then you definitely don’t do anything accidentally. This is so important to note because I feel that those who have a negative view of the choice are forgetting about the fact that there is a reason as to why these shoes were chosen - and figuring out that reason? I mean, that’s the fun of fashion!
Let’s reflect on Valentino present-day, with Creative Director Alessandro Michele. Michele now has three collections with the house under his belt, none of which included elements of the Rockstud. So why, during a time of change within the house, would Rogers specifically choose a shoe that is not “current”?
To me, it’s clear -
The premise of The Devil Wears Prada surrounds Miranda’s age, and her inevitable departure (whether self-chosen, or forced) from her position at Runway. What Miranda Priestly is to Runway Magazine, is what the Rockstud is to Valentino - it’s heritage, tradition, and essentially un-erasable. Her wearing these shoes is her saying that no matter how hard they try, Runway will never be rid of her - just like Valentino will never be rid of the Rockstud. And honestly, Miranda is the tastemaker - if she says it’s cool, then it’s cool. Point Blank.
And to those who say that Miranda would simply have better style and awareness than to wear a pair of Rockstud Kitten-Hells - well, I ask - what are you currently wearing as you say this? I know I’m writing this in my grey sweatsuit (it is a Sporty and Rich sweatsuit, to give myself credit but, still a sweatsuit nonetheless) and that alone should shut me up before critiquing Molly Rogers and Miranda Priestly.
To sum it up,
unless we’re sitting down for a cocktail with none other than Molly Rogers herself, we’ll never really know why this shoe was chosen. But, I stand by my guns, and I stand by the Rockstud - to me, it’s forever a classic, and it was the perfect statement to reintroduce Miranda Priestly into our lives.
And, on a less important, unrelated note - believe it or not, the Rockstuds are actually wildly comfortable. I’m not exaggerating when I say I walked an 8-hour shopping day in those heels and my feet did not fall off. In fact, they actually felt quite good.
XO Bags For Breakfast by Shay Prasad
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available research, archival materials, and my own analysis. I do my best to ensure accuracy, however, this is not a scholarly publication — just a deeply researched love letter to vintage handbags.
Image Note:
All images in this piece are used for educational and historical commentary. Credits belong to the original creators and rights holders. If you own any of the imagery featured and would like an update or removal, please contact me and I’ll address it immediately.