In London during the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, Catherine, Princess of Wales (then the Duchess of Cambridge), helped cement the Aldo “Nicholes” pump as one of the defining affordable occasion heels of the late 2010s.
While royal wardrobes are often associated with luxury labels, the under-$100 style stood out for offering a polished, vintage-inspired silhouette without the designer price tag that usually accompanies high-profile royal fashion moments.
The Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning at the 2019 men’s Wimbledon finals in an exquisite blue crepe ensemble by Emilia Wickstead, styled with a delicate beaded white clutch and nude Aldo ‘Nicholes’ heels (Credit: Victoria Jones / PA Images / INSTARimages)
The Aldo Shoes design combined several details that made it especially versatile: a sharply pointed toe that elongated the leg line, a slim ankle strap balanced by a secure slingback construction, and a tall yet stable block heel that felt more wearable than a traditional stiletto.
The soft nude finish Kate wore at Wimbledon paired easily with her pale blue Emilia Wickstead dress and beaded clutch, allowing the shoes to complement the outfit rather than dominate it.
Kate later repeated the pumps, reinforcing the staying power of versatile mid-priced heels in both royal and celebrity wardrobes.
The Aldo “Nicholes” pointy-toe block heels were released in a range of versatile suede finishes, including mustard yellow, navy, black, deep berry, camel, and soft blush nude
From red carpets to television events, celebrities, including Katherine McNamara, styled the Nicholes pumps in noticeably different ways, showing how the same shoe could shift between formal tailoring, lace cocktail dresses, and everyday occasion wear.
Katherine McNamara’s Lace Mini Dress
Ben Lewis, Stephen Amell, Katherine McNamara, and David Ramsey at CW’s Summer TCA Party held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on August 4, 2019 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Nicky Nelson)
Katherine McNamara flashed her long legs at CW’s Summer TCA Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. She was joined on the red carpet by her Arrow co-stars Stephen Amell, Ben Lewis, and David Ramsey.
Katherine McNamara flaunted her legs in a black and green lace Self-Portrait dress (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Nicky Nelson)
The American actress wore a black and green lace dress from Self-Portrait, a contemporary luxury label founded by publicity-shy designer Han Chong in 2013.
Katherine McNamara’s sleek block heel pumps feature a slim ankle strap for a classic-meets-chic heel fit for a modern-day queen (Credit: FayesVision / WENN / Nicky Nelson)
Affordable Heels That Became Celebrity Wardrobe Staples
While designer pumps continue to dominate many red carpets, styles like the Aldo Nicholes proved that accessible heels can achieve the same polished effect when paired thoughtfully.
From royal appearances at Wimbledon to Hollywood premieres and awards shows, celebrities repeatedly returned to affordable footwear that balanced versatility, comfort, and clean silhouette-driven styling.
👠 Explore Celebrity Style Moments Featuring Affordable Heels:
- ✨ Julianne Hough swapping designer stilettos for Aldo heels at the Emmy Awards: The dancer and actress paired a flowing red gown with budget-friendly Aldo sandals instead of traditional luxury red carpet footwear.
- 💙 Victoria Justice adding a bold pop of color with cobalt blue Aldo pumps: Her laser-cut House of CB dress became even more striking with sharply pointed Aldo “Forquer” heels.
- 🎬 Carly Rae Jepsen styling classic black patent Aldo pumps at the Teen Choice Awards: The singer grounded her playful tropical-print short suit with sleek affordable heels.
- 🌟 Haley Lu Richardson pairing sparkling sequins with customized Aldo pumps: The actress balanced silver embellishments with approachable red carpet footwear at the Film Independent Spirit Awards.
- 💫 Julianne Hough continuing her mix of luxury fashion and accessible heels: From Marchesa gowns to tailored power suiting, Aldo pumps became a recurring part of her red carpet wardrobe.
- 👡 Gal Gadot choosing affordable Aldo sandals over towering heels at the “Wonder Woman” premiere: Her gold flat sandals proved comfort-focused footwear can still work with a dramatic sequined Givenchy gown.
- 🖤 Abbie Cornish sharpening a structured Comic-Con look with studded Aldo sandals: The edgy mesh-paneled heels added contrast to her sculpted crimson Hervé L. Leroux dress.