Remember Cheryl’s Tom Ford PVC Sandals? A Look Back at Her Best Footwear Moments

In April 2016, Cheryl and Liam Payne were among the most talked-about couples in British pop culture.

The pair stepped out for a date night at Sexy Fish in London’s Mayfair district, offering an early glimpse of a relationship that would later make headlines around the world.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wears her hair in an edgy French braid as she leaves Sexy Fish restaurant on April 12, 2016, in Mayfair, London (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)

While much of the attention focused on their romance, Cheryl’s outfit deserved a closer look.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Liam Payne enjoy date night at Sexy Fish restaurant (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)

The One Direction singer opted for a casual monochrome outfit, which included a white tee, a black leather jacket, and black jeans.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini steps out with Liam Payne in Mayfair, pairing a tropical-print Saint Laurent bomber jacket and leather culottes with statement Tom Ford sandals (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)

Cheryl balanced sharp tailoring with a touch of color, pairing black By Malene Birger leather culottes with a red Juan Carlos Obando blouse and a tropical-print Saint Laurent bomber jacket.

The unexpected combination felt polished yet relaxed, while her Tom Ford velvet sandals with transparent PVC panels added a modern, fashion-forward finish.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wears a tropical print bomber jacket as she leaves dinner in London with her new boyfriend Liam Payne (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)

Cheryl added some edge to her look with layered necklaces, a Saint Laurent fringed bag, and statement Tom Ford shoes.

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wears leather pants and a tropical-printed bomber jacket out in London (Credit: Tim McLees / WENN)

Cheryl’s Tom Ford sandals combined soft black velvet with transparent PVC panels, a design approach that became a defining luxury footwear trend of the mid-2010s.

The barely-there effect also appeared on celebrities such as Hailee Steinfeld in the same Tom Ford PVC-trim velvet sandals, Jennifer Lopez in Gianvito Rossi’s transparent-panel “Elle” mules, and Naomie Harris in Roger Vivier PVC sandals, all of whom embraced the illusion of shoes that seemed to disappear against the foot.

The sandals’ sculptural cylindrical heels added another distinctive design element. Similar architectural footwear concepts have appeared in styles ranging from Camilla Belle’s Nicholas Kirkwood “Mirage” pumps with their innovative transparent construction to Erin Doherty’s Jimmy Choo “Ixia” pumps and Rebecca Hall’s Jil Sander mules, which showcase how designers continue to experiment with unconventional heel shapes.

Cheryl’s Tom Ford velvet sandals featured bold T-bar styling and transparent PVC panels that created a striking barely-there effect

In Cheryl’s case, the combination of velvet, PVC, and cylindrical heels captured a moment when luxury footwear was becoming increasingly focused on texture, transparency, and architectural form.

The Tom Ford sandals combined plush black velvet, clear PVC trim, and cylindrical heels for a distinctly mid-2010s take on evening footwear

From Tom Ford Sandals to Thigh-High Boots: Cheryl’s Most Memorable Shoe Moments

Cheryl’s Tom Ford sandals captured a footwear trend that defined much of the mid-2010s, blending transparent PVC panels, rich textures, and sculptural heel shapes into a single statement design. While the style remains a standout in her fashion archive, it is just one example of her longstanding affinity for bold, distinctive footwear.

From Nicholas Kirkwood’s architectural sandals and Charlotte Olympia’s playful statement heels to Gianvito Rossi boots and Tom Ford’s red-carpet designs, Cheryl has consistently used shoes to add personality, glamour, and edge to her outfits. Take a look back at some of her most memorable footwear moments below.