Bubblegum Pink Heels on the Red Carpet: How Stars Made the Playful Shade Look Polished

Soft yet striking, bubblegum pink has long held a place in red-carpet styling—especially when used as a footwear or accessory accent that adds contrast without overwhelming a look. From sleek evening pumps to playful clutches, the shade consistently proves its versatility across skin tones, silhouettes, and personal style.

In March 2014, during a series of high-profile film premieres and fashion appearances in Hollywood and New York City, several leading women leaned into bubblegum pink to memorable effect. Their looks offer enduring inspiration for how the color can elevate everything from minimalist black ensembles to bold prints and saturated hues.

Minimal in Black, Playful in Pink: How Cobie Smulders Made Bubblegum Heels the Statement

One standout moment came when Cobie Smulders joined her Captain America: The Winter Soldier co-stars—including Scarlett Johansson—at the film’s Hollywood premiere, pairing a sharply tailored black look with playful pink accessories that stole the spotlight.

Cobie Smulders stepped onto the red carpet at the Captain America: The Winter Soldier premiere at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre on March 13, 2014, grounding her sleek black strapless look with vibrant bubblegum-pink pumps for a sharp pop of color (Credit: Apega / FayesVision / Ivan Nikolov / TNYF / WENN)

Cobie’s black Stella McCartney tube top and trumpet skirt were all business, but her matching candy pink clutch and metal-heel pumps were all fun.

With such eye-catching accessories, we agree with Cobie’s decision to keep the jewelry to a bare minimum.

The glossy bubblegum-pink pumps add a playful jolt of color against the red carpet, their sharp pointed toes and slim heels doing all the talking

Bold Contrast Done Right: America Ferrera Pairs Bubblegum Pink Pumps With Leopard Print

At a March 2014 screening of Cesar Chavez in New York City, America Ferrera took the opposite approach—leaning into bold pattern and color to make her bubblegum pink pumps the focal point of the look.

America Ferrera balances bold and polished in a fitted leopard-print dress, letting her pink heels punctuate the look with unexpected confidence at the ‘Cesar Chavez’ screening held at AMC Empire 25 in New York City on March 17, 2014

Many would rather downplay a wild leopard-print Dolce & Gabbana dress, but America chose to emphasize its fierceness with bold bubblegum pink pumps instead.

America more than gets away with it—the bold clash works because the saturated pink sharpens the leopard print rather than competing with it.

Seen from behind, the high-shine pink pumps elongate the leg line and sharpen the otherwise classic silhouette

Color Confidence on Display: Solange Knowles Mixes Bubblegum Pink Heels With Saturated Separates

If America’s pumps look vaguely familiar to you, that may be because Solange Knowles wore them with one of the most memorable looks during New York Fashion Week.

Solange Knowles turned heads while departing the Milly show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014 in New York City on February 10, 2014, mixing saturated color with ease by pairing bubblegum-pink pumps with vibrant separates and a textured cobalt coat

Solange was hard to miss in orange separates, an electric-blue coat, and bubblegum-pink pumps.

Further demonstrating her mastery of mixing and matching colors, Solange accessorized her already multihued ensemble with a green-and-gold cocktail ring and a bright blue, furry clutch.

Solange Knowles’ bubblegum-pink Rupert Sanderson pumps deliver a sharp, polished finish, their pointed toes and slim heels popping vividly against her cropped orange trousers

Cobie Smulders’ pumps are the iconic Casadei Blade heels, instantly recognizable for their razor-sharp, metal stiletto—a design engineered with a steel core that delivers surprising stability beneath its sculptural silhouette.

Introduced by Cesare Casadei in the early 2010s, the Blade quickly became a red-carpet staple, prized for marrying sleek Italian craftsmanship with a powerful, leg-lengthening effect that feels as modern now as it did at launch.

A signature Casadei blade-heel pump in vibrant bubblegum pink, finished with a razor-thin metal stiletto that delivers instant polish and leg-lengthening drama

The shoes worn by America Ferrera and Solange Knowles are Rupert Sanderson’s signature “Elba” pumps in a new pink color for spring 2014:

A classic Rupert Sanderson Elba pump in bubblegum pink leather, defined by a refined pointed toe and a sleek stiletto heel that balances elegance with playful color

Why Bubblegum Pink Heels Still Work—On and Off the Red Carpet

From red carpets to street style, bubblegum pink heels continue to prove their staying power—working just as effortlessly with sharp tailoring as they do with bold prints and saturated color. If these looks have you reconsidering pink as a neutral, the moments below offer even more inspiration on how celebrities make the shade feel modern, wearable, and enduring.