Emmy Rossum’s Structural Dion Lee Dress Met Its Match in Paul Andrew’s Chrysler Building Pumps

At the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards at Lincoln Center in New York City, Amanda Seyfried, January Jones, Kim Kardashian, and Emmy Rossum all leaned into fashion-forward evening dressing, but Rossum’s look stood out for its sharp footwear choice.

Rather than relying on classic red-carpet sandals, she finished her Dion Lee dress with a pair of sculptural Paul Andrew “Chrysler Zenadia” pumps that echoed the event’s architectural mood.

Emmy Rossum at the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards held at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City on June 1, 2015 (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / Andres Otero / Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / WENN)

Rossum wore a semi-sheer Dion Lee Spring 2015 dress with geometric cutouts and a plunging neckline, balancing the revealing silhouette with clean tailoring and minimal styling.

The look felt more structured and modern than the softer, vintage-inspired gowns she often favored during that period.

Emmy Rossum wears a sheer black Dion Lee dress with geometric cutouts and metallic threading at the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City

Her accessories kept the focus on texture and structure. A mirrored gold Lee Savage clutch added reflective contrast, while the real focal point came from her black suede Paul Andrew “Chrysler Zenadia” pumps, one of the designer’s defining creations from his breakout 2014–2015 era.

The shoes were modeled after the Art Deco geometry of Manhattan’s Chrysler Building, with chrome-plated heels designed to resemble the landmark’s layered steel spires and vaulted triangular windows. Instead of a standard stiletto, Paul Andrew engineered the approximately 115mm heels with faceted metallic panels that narrowed into a sharp architectural point, giving the pumps a sculptural, skyline-inspired finish that felt especially fitting for the CFDA Awards in New York City.

Emmy Rossum styled the architectural Dion Lee look with a mirrored Lee Savage clutch and sculptural Paul Andrew “Chrysler Zenadia” pumps inspired by the Chrysler Building

The “Zenadia” silhouette was equally striking from the front. Designed with sharply peaked, wing-like cutouts around the sides of the foot, the pumps reworked the classic d’Orsay shape into something more structural and supportive.

Paul Andrew became known for these dramatic scalloped collars during the mid-2010s, using them to create a longer, cleaner leg line while giving traditional pumps a sharper architectural identity.

Rossum’s choice also reflected an important moment in American luxury footwear. Paul Andrew had launched his namesake label in 2013 after working for Alexander McQueen, Calvin Klein, and Donna Karan, and just one year before this appearance, he won the 2014 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award.

Wearing the Chrysler Zenadia pumps to the 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards felt less like a routine celebrity shoe choice and more like a nod to one of fashion’s most closely watched emerging designers at the time.

Paul Andrew’s black suede “Chrysler Zenadia” pumps featured sharply pointed toes and striking chrome heels, turning Emmy Rossum’s footwear into the focal point of the outfit

Paul Andrew’s Architectural Heels Beyond Emmy Rossum’s CFDA Look

Emmy Rossum’s Chrysler-inspired pumps are a strong example of what made Paul Andrew’s footwear so distinctive: classic shapes sharpened with sculptural heels, bold materials, and unexpected details.

To see how other celebrities have worn the designer’s sandals and pumps, explore more Paul Andrew shoe moments below.