Ciara’s Style Evolution: From Gravity-Defying Jimmy Choo Platforms to Givenchy High-Tops

From towering platforms to graphic high-top sneakers, Ciara’s style evolution is best told from the ground up.

This feature spotlights two standout monochromatic looks she delivered in New York City in 2022 — including her gravity-defying Jimmy Choo “Max” platforms at the Met Gala and her sultry LaQuan Smith moment at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit launch — before revisiting a memorable 2013 red-carpet appearance and highlighting some of her most recent designer shoe choices.

Across a decade of appearances, Ciara has consistently used statement heels and performance-ready sneakers to sharpen her silhouettes, amplify her stage presence, and redefine modern red-carpet glamour.

Sculptural Cutouts: LaQuan Smith at the 2022 Sports Illustrated Launch

Ciara commands the red carpet in a daring LaQuan Smith cutout bodysuit and ruched mini skirt, finishing the sultry look with minimalist black ankle-strap heels at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch party on May 19, 2022, at Hard Rock Hotel Times Square in New York City (Credit: Instarimages / Roger Wong)

Ciara strutted her stuff in a risque, all-black outfit consisting of a bralette-detailed cutout bodysuit and a ruched mini skirt. The little black LaQuan Smith number from the designer’s Fall 2022 collection featured daring cutouts in all the right places.

Along with the sultry cutouts, the piece featured a high neckline, a black bra, and a low-rise mini skirt that showed off Ciara’s stunning legs.

Russell Wilson and Ciara pose for photos on the red carpet of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch party (Credit: Instarimages / Roger Wong)

This look accentuated all of Ciara’s best features and definitely caught everyone’s attention. Ciara performed at the launch event, and this black cutout moment was a precursor to the amazing show she put on.

The singer styled her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Launch look with a slick updo, glowing skin, and a smoky cat-eye. Ciara accessorized with her engagement ring, glittering stacked diamond bracelets, and teardrop stud earrings.

Ciara shows off her massive engagement ring and kisses her quarterback husband Russell Wilson at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue launch party (Credit: Instarimages / Roger Wong)

Russell Wilson, Ciara’s husband, surprised her at the launch event with flowers. He also wore all black but looked relaxed and casual in a Nike tracksuit.

Ciara was one of the beautiful women featured on the 2022 covers of Sports Illustrated‘s Swimsuit issue.

Metallic Architecture: Jimmy Choo “Max” Platforms at the 2022 Met Gala

Earlier that May, Ciara showed off her body at the 2022 Met Gala in a metallic Michael Kors dress. Ciara said she was trying to present “luxury and opulence” in a modern nod to the Gilded Age, the theme for this year’s Met Gala.

“I’m representing the modern women of the Gilded Age,” she told Vogue. “It was all about luxury and opulence back in those times, and that modern woman is all about fashion; she’s pushing fashion forward.”

Ciara wears a Michael Kors Collection dress paired with Jimmy Choo shoes at the 2022 Met Gala themed “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” held May 2 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (Credit: PA IMAGES / INSTARimages)

Ciara wore a sleek one-shouldered gown with a black-and-silver zebra-print design.

She continued the metallic theme with a pair of platform Jimmy Choo “Max” heels, which, when combined with the almost-hip-high slit of the dress, highlighted Ciara’s gorgeous dancer’s legs.

The singer accessorized with a barrette clipped along her hair part, silver bangles, and simple earrings. She wore her hair half-up and flashed a sharp cat-eye. Although not quite on theme, Ciara’s look was still a crowd favorite.

Ciara has a history of dark and dramatic skin-baring looks.

Almost a decade earlier, Ciara attended the 2013 BET Awards and gave the audience breathtaking performances of both “Body Party” and “I’m Out,” which she performed with Nicki Minaj.

High-Contrast High-Tops: Givenchy & Saint Laurent at the 2013 BET Awards

Ciara flaunts her legs in a bralette and pencil skirt at the 2013 BET Awards held on June 30, 2013, at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)

When she arrived on the red carpet, Ciara was sizzling hot in a Saint Laurent ensemble — a black leather bralette and a matching leather skirt with Lorraine Schwartz jewelry and contrast silver pointed-toe pumps.

Ciara steps out in sleek metallic Saint Laurent pointed-toe pumps, the high-shine silver finish and towering stiletto heels adding sharp, modern polish to her red-carpet look (Credit: WENN)

These silver Saint Laurent pumps are from the label’s Resort 2013 collection. They’re made of silver nappa silk leather and feature 4.75-inch covered heels.

Ciara changed before hitting the stage, slipping into something that seemed a little easier to move around and perform in.

Ciara performs on stage in a money-print Topshop outfit at the 2013 BET Awards held on June 30, 2013, at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles (Credit: WENN)

She opted for a money-print shirt from Topshop paired with matching pants and a pair of high-top Givenchy sneakers.

Ciara hits the stage in bold black-and-white Givenchy high-top sneakers, the basket-woven leather and gold-tone hardware adding a graphic edge and performance-ready attitude to her look (Credit: WENN)

Ciara’s lace-up performance shoes are from the brand’s Pre-Fall 2013 Collection and are made of contrasting basket-woven black-and-white leather.

These checker-patterned sneakers also feature gold-toned eyelets, Velcro ankle straps, black piping, and two-toned soles.

Ciara performs in black-and-white Givenchy sneakers (Credit: WENN)

It’s pretty well-known that Ciara is a fan of Givenchy’s sneakers. Earlier in 2013, we spotted her in a pair from the men’s line.

Saint Laurent Metallic Exaggerated-Heel Pumps

Givenchy Checkered Hi-Top Sneakers

More Ciara, More Shoes: Her Boldest Heel & Sneaker Moments Through the Years

From sky-high platforms to street-style stompers, Ciara’s fashion evolution is best told from the ground up—here are more of her most memorable shoe moments to explore next.