While promoting Café Society in New York City on July 12, 2016, Blake Lively stepped out of the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca wearing one of her most memorable maternity street-style looks.
Pregnant with her second child, the actress paired a custom Jonathan Simkhai dress with Sophia Webster’s crystal-heel “Rosalind” sandals, creating a shoe-led outfit that continues to stand out nearly a decade later.
The peach-toned midi dress was a custom version of a design from Jonathan Simkhai’s Pre-Fall 2016 collection. Crafted from richly textured embroidered fabric, it featured scalloped edges, geometric eyelet cutouts, ruffled detailing, and a defined waist that highlighted her baby bump while maintaining an airy summer feel.
The combination reflected what made many of Lively’s maternity looks so successful: a balance of softness and structure. Simkhai’s signature embroidery and architectural detailing gave the dress visual depth, while the minimalist sandals prevented the look from feeling overly ornate.
Blake Lively heading out of the Greenwich Hotel to promote “Cafe Society” in New York City on July 12, 2016 (Credit: WENN / David Livingston / Avalon / Instar / PNP)
The styling remained carefully balanced throughout. Lively accessorized with stacked Anita Ko ear cuffs and diamond jewelry, while a Christian Louboutin Paloma Patch Tote introduced a playful contrast with colorful embroidered patches and signature red accents.
Surrounded by photographers, Blake Lively highlights her baby bump in a textured coral-toned dress, balancing the fitted silhouette with minimalist strappy heels
Loose blonde waves and a soft pink lip kept the overall look polished but approachable for a daytime press appearance.
From multiple angles, Blake Lively’s maternity street-style moment showcases how her sculptural dress and barely-there heels move effortlessly as she greets fans and exits the hotel
She opted for the Sophia Webster “Rosalind” sandals, a red-carpet staple known for its minimalist upper and maximalist heel.
Blake Lively steps confidently across New York pavement in barely-there nude sandals, their crystal-embellished stiletto heels catching the light with every stride
The Sophia Webster “Rosalind” sandals were already emerging as one of the designer’s signature styles. Crafted from nude leather, the design featured three delicate straps across the foot, a slim ankle strap, and a sculptural stiletto heel embellished with stacked crystal beads that caught the light from every angle.
💎 Explore Sophia Webster’s Iconic “Rosalind” Crystal-Heel Moments:
- 👠 Why celebrities fell in love with Sophia Webster’s “Rosalind” sandals — a deep dive into the crystal-heel design, featuring stars like Halsey, Gina Rodriguez, Sarah Hyland, and Emily Blunt.
- ✨ Kerry Washington’s Golden Globes look in black “Rosalind” sandals — pairing Dolce & Gabbana lace with the sandal’s signature crystal-stacked heel for dramatic red-carpet sparkle.
- 🌟 Peyton List’s feather-trimmed couture moment — shimmering silver “Rosalind” sandals add a playful, high-shine finish to her Yanina Couture ensemble.
- 🖤 Zoë Kravitz’s hidden crystal-heel “Rosalind” sandals — a memorable red-carpet “shoe crime” where custom jeweled heels disappeared beneath an Armani Privé gown.
- 💫 Whitney Port’s daring crystal-heel Sophia Webster moment — showcasing the sandal’s minimalist straps and sculptural jeweled heel in full view.
- 🥂 Emily Blunt’s metallic “Rosalind” heels at the National Board of Review Gala — proof that the crystal-embellished design works just as well with elegant eveningwear as it does with statement red-carpet fashion.
The barely-there upper allowed the jeweled heel to become the focal point of the shoe, delivering statement-making glamour without overwhelming the rest of the outfit. Versions of the design in metallic and crystal finishes became celebrity favorites, but Lively’s nude pair remains one of the style’s most recognizable appearances.
The choice also aligned with a recurring theme in Lively’s wardrobe: crystal-forward footwear. At 5’8½” and wearing a US size 9 shoe, she frequently gravitates toward high-impact heels that anchor an outfit, and the “Rosalind” perfectly complemented the architectural details of her Jonathan Simkhai dress while remaining practical enough for a day of walking New York’s cobblestone streets.
A closer rear-angle view highlights the delicate ankle straps and sculptural crystal heels that elevate Blake Lively’s minimalist sandals into a true statement finish
The look remains a reference point in both maternity style and celebrity shoe history because it demonstrates how statement footwear can transform an outfit without dominating it.
The Jonathan Simkhai dress provided texture and structure, but the crystal-heel sandals supplied the element most fashion fans still remember. Appearances like this helped cement the Sophia Webster “Rosalind” as a cult-favorite design later worn by stars including Kerry Washington and Peyton List.
More Blake Lively Shoe Moments and the Crystal-Heel Sandal Trend
Blake Lively’s Café Society press-tour look is a perfect reminder of why her style moments have such lasting replay value: she consistently lets the footwear do the heavy lifting. If you want more shoe-led coverage—plus deeper context on Sophia Webster’s iconic crystal-heel “Rosalind” sandals—keep scrolling for a curated set of related reads from the YNS archives.
👠 Explore Blake Lively & Sophia Webster Shoe Highlights on Your Next Shoes:
- Blake Lively — shoe-led style coverage:
- 📏 Blake Lively’s height, shoe size & best footwear moments — a footwear-first roundup anchored by her signature love of sky-high designer heels.
- 👗 Carolina Herrera mini dress + spiked Christian Louboutin pumps — a sharp example of how she balances polished tailoring with high-impact statement heels.
- ✨ Blake Lively’s crystal-heel signature — a curated look at how she uses sparkle-forward footwear as a recurring red-carpet styling device.
- Sophia Webster — standout heel moments:
- 💎 Why celebrities love Sophia Webster’s “Rosalind” crystal-heel sandals — the definitive YNS explainer on the brand’s most recognizable barely-there straps + jeweled heel combo.
- ✨ Kerry Washington’s Golden Globes styling with “Rosalind” sandals — crystal-heel glamour paired with Dolce & Gabbana lace for a polished red-carpet finish.
- 🌟 Peyton List in Yanina Couture + silver “Rosalind” sandals — a youthful, texture-rich couture moment grounded by shimmering crystal-heel sandals.