On February 17, 2019, Kim Kardashian attended the Hollywood Beauty Awards at Avalon Hollywood to support longtime hairstylist Chris Appleton, but the night also marked an important turning point in her fashion evolution.
Kardashian arrived in an archival Spring/Summer 1998 Haute Couture gown by Thierry Mugler, signaling her growing access to the designer’s tightly protected archives months before their now-famous collaboration at the 2019 Met Gala.
The evening celebrated Appleton’s Lori McCoy-Bell Hairstyling Award win, yet Kardashian’s appearance quickly became one of the night’s most discussed fashion moments. Rather than relying on contemporary runway trends, she embraced fashion history with a rare Mugler couture design that reflected the designer’s sculptural approach to the female form.
Kim Kardashian joined hairstylist Chris Appleton at the 2019 Hollywood Beauty Awards in an archival Thierry Mugler couture gown styled with barely-there Yeezy PVC sandals and original runway cuffs in Los Angeles on February 17, 2019 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
The archival “caged” or “harness” gown came from Mugler’s Spring/Summer 1998 Haute Couture collection, a period known for theatrical silhouettes and architectural tailoring.
The bodice was constructed from velvet-wrapped bands arranged in geometric formations across the torso, creating a harness-like effect that framed the body through strategic cutouts rather than traditional fabric coverage.
The sculptural velvet bands of Kim Kardashian’s 1998 Thierry Mugler “harness” dress transformed strategic cutouts into a study in architectural couture design
The lower half balanced the dramatic upper construction with a minimalist floor-length black crepe skirt featuring a sharp thigh-high slit.
By wearing the archival piece, Kardashian signaled a shift away from trend-driven celebrity dressing toward carefully curated fashion-history moments, a direction that would later define her partnership with Mugler during the 2019 Met Gala “Wet Dress” era.
To avoid competing with the gown’s intricate strap work, Kardashian chose nearly invisible footwear from Yeezy Season 8. The transparent PVC sandals featured clear straps across the toes and ankle, along with a lucite-style heel, creating the illusion of walking barefoot while visually elongating the legs.
Kim Kardashian balanced the dramatic Mugler silhouette with transparent Yeezy Season 8 sandals that visually elongated the legs without distracting from the gown’s geometric lines
During the late 2010s, Kardashian frequently incorporated transparent footwear into her wardrobe as part of the neutral-toned Yeezy aesthetic that dominated celebrity fashion at the time. The barely-there construction allowed the shoes to disappear visually, ensuring the focus remained on Mugler’s sculptural tailoring rather than the accessories.
To preserve the gown’s dramatic neckline, Appleton styled Kardashian’s hair in a sleek architectural bun, while original Mugler runway cuffs reinforced the futuristic mood of the 1998 collection. Kardashian kept her makeup understated with soft smoky eyes and a neutral nude lip, allowing the archival couture craftsmanship and transparent footwear to remain the focal points of the look.
The outfit later sparked controversy within the fashion industry after fast-fashion retailers released similar versions online within hours of Kardashian’s appearance. The incident fueled broader conversations about celebrity styling, archival fashion sourcing, and the speed at which fast-fashion brands replicated high-profile looks during the late 2010s.
Kim Kardashian completed the archival Mugler look with minimalist transparent PVC sandals featuring delicate, clear straps and a lucite-style heel
From Archival Mugler to the “Invisible Heel” Red-Carpet Trend
Kim Kardashian’s 2019 Hollywood Beauty Awards look works because every detail serves the same visual idea: Mugler’s sculptural black gown creates the drama, while her transparent Yeezy sandals disappear into the styling.
As this article concludes, explore more celebrity moments where clear PVC straps, barely-there sandals, and naked-shoe styling helped shape the modern red-carpet silhouette.
👠 Explore Celebrity PVC Sandals & “Invisible Heel” Fashion Moments:
- ✨ Christian Louboutin’s “Jonatina” PVC sandals became a red-carpet favorite thanks to their floating ankle-strap illusion, with stars like Carey Mulligan, Alison Brie, Danai Gurira, and Hailee Steinfeld styling the transparent heels with everything from couture gowns to sculptural minis.
- 💫 Chrissy Teigen’s minimalist PVC sandal era captures the late-2010s obsession with barely-there heels, including her off-duty Yeezy Season 6 styling and her long-running love affair with Stuart Weitzman’s iconic “Nudist” sandals.
- 🖤 Ali Larter’s clear-strap sandals at the 2025 amfAR Las Vegas Gala shows how transparent PVC heels continue to dominate modern red carpets, pairing invisible straps with a dramatic embossed Georges Hobeika leather gown.
- 💎 Vogue Williams’ crystal-embellished Sophia Webster PVC sandals demonstrate the evolution of the naked-shoe trend, blending transparent straps with gemstone detailing and fluid red-carpet draping.