Taylor Swift & Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Cats’ Premiere Shoes: Hunting Down Their Discontinued Luxury Heels

On December 16, 2019, the world premiere of Cats brought Taylor Swift and Jennifer Hudson to Lincoln Center in New York City, where both stars embraced dramatic eveningwear with equally memorable footwear.

While Swift leaned into old-Hollywood glamour in a ruby Oscar de la Renta ballgown paired with Chloe Gosselin heels, Hudson chose a crystal-embellished Reem Acra gown styled with Christian Louboutin pumps. Their contrasting approaches offered two distinct interpretations of premiere-night dressing, with shoes playing an important role in each look.

Taylor Swift’s Oscar de la Renta Ballgown and Chloe Gosselin Narcissus Heels

Taylor Swift showcases the dramatic volume and dual-toned floral fil coupé construction of her Oscar de la Renta ballgown at the Cats world premiere, with her Chloe Gosselin heels only occasionally peeking out beneath the sweeping skirt and train in New York City on December 16, 2019 (Credit: Instar / WENN)

Taylor Swift arrived in one of the evening’s most theatrical looks, wearing a ruby Oscar de la Renta ball gown that echoed the film’s dramatic mood while maintaining the polished elegance that has long defined her red-carpet style.

Taylor Swift reveals the dramatic dual-sided construction of her Oscar de la Renta ballgown, with the sweeping fil coupé train showcasing the intricate contrast between ruby-red and dark floral panels

Rather than competing with the intricate fabric, Swift kept the styling focused and refined, finishing the look with Chloe Gosselin’s Narcissus heels, Maxior drop earrings, and rings from Borgioni and Beladora.

Swift’s Chloe Gosselin Narcissus heels reflected a styling strategy frequently seen on red carpets: when the gown does most of the talking, the shoes quietly support the silhouette. Hidden beneath the sweeping Oscar de la Renta skirt for much of the evening, the heels added height and polish without competing with the gown’s elaborate fil coupé texture.

Taylor Swift paired bold red lipstick with delicate Maxior drop earrings, allowing the rich texture and craftsmanship of her Oscar de la Renta gown to remain the focal point

The Narcissus style is also a reminder of a different era of Chloe Gosselin’s brand. Introduced during the designer’s early years after launching her label in 2014, the silhouette became known for its clean lines, elegant proportions, and vibrant color options.

While Chloe Gosselin continues to produce luxury footwear in Italy, the Narcissus is no longer part of the brand’s active collection, having been replaced by newer architectural styles such as the Clara and Topaz mules.

Unlike many celebrity-favorite shoes that become difficult to obtain after being discontinued, the Narcissus remains relatively accessible on the secondary market.

Originally retailing for approximately $625 to $750, pre-owned pairs can often be found for a fraction of that price, making the style an appealing discovery for fashion enthusiasts interested in lesser-known luxury footwear brands and Italian craftsmanship.

The strapless Oscar de la Renta ballgown combined sculptural elegance with richly woven floral fil coupé fabric, creating one of Taylor Swift’s most memorable red-carpet looks of 2019

Pronounced FILL-COO-PAY, fil coupé means “cut threads” in French. According to Greenhouse Fabrics, this “weaving technique produces a delicate, yet tactile fringe effect on the surface of the fabric.”

Oscar de la Renta Ruby Floral Fil Coupé Satin Ballgown, $17,990

While Swift’s look centered on volume, texture, and classic romance, Jennifer Hudson opted for a more streamlined silhouette that relied on crystal embellishment and shimmering accessories to create impact.

Jennifer Hudson’s Crystal-Embellished Reem Acra Gown and Christian Louboutin Top Vague Pumps

Jennifer Hudson wearing Christian Louboutin ‘Top Vague’ pumps with a Reem Acra Fall 2019 long-sleeved gown featuring a sheer, crystal lattice overlay and a short train (Credit: Instar / Mario Mitsis / WENN)

Jennifer Hudson embraced a darker, more dramatic aesthetic in a Reem Acra Fall 2019 gown detailed with black vine embroidery and a sheer crystal-lattice overlay.

The sparkling embellishments continued through her footwear, creating one of the evening’s most coordinated shoe-and-dress pairings.

A closer look at Jennifer Hudson’s Christian Louboutin Top Vague pumps reveals the intricate crystal embellishments, scalloped detailing, and sheer mesh construction that made the discontinued style one of the brand’s most collectible evening shoes

Hudson completed the look with Christian Louboutin’s crystal-embellished Top Vague pumps, a scalloped design that echoed the sparkling details throughout her gown.

The combination created a cohesive head-to-toe look, with the shoes becoming an extension of the dress rather than a separate styling element. Much like the crystal lattice overlay on Hudson’s Reem Acra gown, the Top Vague pumps relied on embellishment rather than color to create impact, resulting in one of the evening’s most coordinated fashion statements.

Jennifer Hudson posing like a cat at the Cats world premiere held at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in NYC on December 16, 2019

Today, the Christian Louboutin Top Vague is considered one of the brand’s most collectible discontinued designs. Originally retailing for nearly $3,000, the crystal-covered pumps are no longer in production and now appear primarily on luxury resale platforms, where well-preserved pairs can still command four-figure prices.

Defined by their scalloped, wave-inspired edges, sheer mesh panels, hand-set crystals, and signature red soles, they remain among the most intricate evening shoes Christian Louboutin produced during the 2010s.

As demand for rare Louboutin styles continues on the secondary market, buyers should also be cautious of counterfeits. Highly embellished designs, such as the Top Vague, are frequently targeted by counterfeiters, making it especially important to know how to identify authentic Christian Louboutin shoes before investing in a pre-owned pair.

That craftsmanship helps explain why the style became a favorite on red carpets during its peak years. Rather than functioning as a traditional black pump, the Top Vague was designed to act almost like jewelry for the feet, making it a natural complement to Hudson’s crystal-embellished premiere look.

We previously spotted Emma Stone, Gwen Stefani, and Elisabeth Moss in the Christian Louboutin ‘Top Vague’ pumps.

While the Top Vague itself has been retired, Christian Louboutin continues to explore crystal embellishment, mesh construction, and sculptural evening silhouettes in its current collections.

As of June 2026, Nordstrom’s selection includes crystal-focused styles such as the Christian Louboutin Miss Z Crystal Beaded Mesh pump, Miss Z Degrastrass pointed-toe pump, Miss Z Degrastrass Perla pointed-toe pump, Miss Z Crystal Embellished Mesh pointed-toe sandal, Rosa Z Crystal Embellished slingback sandal, Miss Z Strass sandal, and the jewel-like Doria Crystal Check pump.

Christian Louboutin ‘Top Vague’ Crystal-Embellished Pumps

For the after-party, Hudson swapped her crystal-covered pumps for a pair of glittery pink kitten-heel mules, demonstrating how celebrities often transition from statement footwear to more practical options as long premiere events move into evening celebrations.

Jennifer Hudson changing into glittery pink mules with kitten heels for the Cats special screening after party

How Taylor Swift and Jennifer Hudson Used Shoes to Tell Different Fashion Stories

Although Taylor Swift and Jennifer Hudson attended the same Cats premiere, their footwear choices reflected two very different approaches to red-carpet dressing.

Swift allowed her Chloe Gosselin heels to quietly support the drama of her Oscar de la Renta ballgown, while Hudson turned her crystal-covered Christian Louboutin pumps into an extension of her sparkling Reem Acra gown. One look relied on restraint, the other on embellishment, yet both demonstrated how thoughtfully chosen shoes can shape the overall impact of an outfit.

From understated pumps hidden beneath sweeping skirts to jewel-like heels designed to command attention, their contrasting styles highlight the versatility of luxury footwear on the red carpet. These are just a few of the memorable shoe moments that have defined both stars’ fashion journeys over the years.