Cara Delevingne’s red carpet evolution has long been defined by a refusal to follow traditional formalwear rules. For the 2021 CFDA Fashion Awards held on November 10 at The Pool + The Grill in New York City, the English model showcased her signature edge by blending high-fashion tailoring with rugged, utilitarian footwear.
She arrived at the event in a sharp black velvet ensemble from the Italian luxury fashion house Emporio Armani. The look centered on a double-breasted blazer with contrasting satin lapels, worn without a shirt to highlight her “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” underboob tattoo.
Cara Delevingne arrives at the 2021 CFDA Fashion Awards in a sharp black velvet Emporio Armani blazer and mini skirt, finishing the tailored look with statement-making combat boots in New York City on November 10, 2021 (Credit: Mega / WENN)
She paired the structured jacket with a matching velvet mini skirt featuring a ruffled hem. Adding modern elegance to the look, she wore gold jewelry by Jennifer Fisher, a jewelry industry pioneer, including thick gold hoop earrings and layered necklaces selected by stylist Tyler Esosa Okuns.
Her beauty look, crafted by hairstylist Danielle Priano and makeup artist Robert Sesnek, featured a sleek bun, smoky eyes, and a neutral lip.
The plunging double-breasted blazer, worn shirtless, puts the focus on bold tailoring and body confidence while setting up a striking contrast with rugged footwear (Credit: Mega / WENN)
The highlight of the ensemble was the choice of footwear, which traded traditional pumps for a more aggressive silhouette. Delevingne completed the look with black combat boots.
A closer view highlights her sleek bun, smoky eye makeup, and layered gold jewelry, reinforcing the polished edge of the monochrome ensemble (Credit: Mega / WENN)
The boots featured a classic lace-up front and a heavy lug sole on a thick block heel, a styling choice that has become a hallmark of her personal brand.
Her black lace-up combat boots feature a chunky block heel and heavy lug sole, anchoring the red-carpet look with a distinctly utilitarian finish (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Breaking Red-Carpet Rules, One Pair of Boots at a Time
Cara Delevingne’s CFDA Fashion Awards look underscored how combat boots have evolved from utilitarian staples into red-carpet-worthy fashion statements, reinforcing her reputation for rewriting formalwear norms through fearless footwear choices.
👢 Combat Boots & Cara Delevingne Shoe & Fashion Features on YourNextShoes.com:
- 👢 How Combat Boots Became a Must-Have Fashion Item — a deep dive into the rise, runway relevance, and styling of combat boots.
- 🎤 Jennifer Connelly’s 2016 Met Gala Combat Boots — a celebrity fashion moment pairing combat boots with a high-glam gown.
- 🖤 Kristen Stewart Rocks Chanel Combat Boots — edgy off-duty styling grounded by Chanel lace-up combat boots.
- ⭐ Cara Delevingne’s Height & Shoe Size — an in-depth look at her stature and signature footwear moments.
- 👠 Cara Delevingne’s Vogue World 2024 Elf Ballet Flats Look — a whimsical fashion moment centered on statement flats.
- 🔥 Cara Delevingne Rocks Tabitha Simmons Booties — an early style moment highlighting edgy ankle-boot silhouettes.