Emmy Rossum’s Shoe Style Evolution: From Princess Florals to Sky-High Louboutins

Emmy Rossum and Sam Esmail have long been one of Hollywood’s most stylish couples, often drawing attention for their significant height difference.

The pair, who first met on the set of the 2014 film Comet, turned heads at the 2019 Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica — not just for their noticeable height difference, but for Rossum’s striking style evolution that evening.

1. Emmy Rossum’s Goth-Glam Transformation: Burgundy Velvet and Sky-High Louboutins

At the ceremony, Emmy Rossum stepped away from her signature “princess” aesthetic and embraced a darker, more sophisticated mood.

She stunned in a burgundy velvet gown from the Ralph Lauren Collection’s Fall 2018 line — a floor-length silhouette in a rich wine hue, complete with a plunging neckline that added just the right amount of drama.

Emmy Rossum offset the couple’s noticeable height difference in sky-high Christian Louboutin heels, the leg-lengthening stilettos subtly elevating her burgundy Ralph Lauren velvet gown to bring her closer in stature to husband Sam Esmail at the 24th annual Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica on January 13, 2019, in Santa Monica, California (Credit: RWong / WENN / Brian To)

Leaning fully into the goth-glam moment, Rossum paired the sumptuous velvet with a deep berry lip and softly sun-kissed cheeks, creating a sultry yet refined beauty look. Her hair was styled in sleek, voluminous waves, while gold Fred Leighton jewelry added a timeless, old-Hollywood polish.

She completed the ensemble with Christian Louboutin heels and carried a Bvlgari bag, seamlessly balancing vampy allure with classic elegance. Styled by Thomas Carter Phillips, the look was widely praised by fashion critics as “vixen-like” and refreshingly bold — a departure from the lighter, romantic florals she often favored during her Shameless red-carpet era.

Standing at approximately 5 feet 6 ¾ inches (169.5 cm), the Shameless actress is taller than the average woman, yet she is consistently towered over by Esmail, who stands 6’4″ (1.93 m), making him considerably taller than the average American male.

To balance their nearly 10-inch height difference on the red carpet, Rossum frequently turns to high-fashion footwear that emphasizes her frame without sacrificing her signature New York elegance.

Emmy Rossum beams beside husband Sam Esmail, their noticeable height difference adding to the couple’s striking red-carpet presence at the Critics’ Choice Awards

Several years before her marriage to Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail, Rossum’s outlook on relationships was notably more cautious — a perspective shaped in part by her first marriage at just 20 years old to music producer Justin Siegel, whom she wed privately in February 2008 before he filed for divorce in September 2009.

Red-Hot Romance: Emmy Rossum Elevates Prabal Gurung with Paul Andrew “Laura” Sandals

By January 2016, during an appearance at SiriusXM in New York — another standout footwear moment for the actress — Rossum candidly reflected on modern relationships and the idea of long-term commitment, revealing a more hesitant stance toward remarriage at the time.

Emmy Rossum wears her hair down as she visits SiriusXM’s offices in New York on January 7, 2016

Emmy wore a rose-red Prabal Gurung printed dress beneath an oversized beige coat. The Phantom of the Opera actress paired her dress with Paul Andrew “Laura” heels in the same rose-red shade.

Emmy Rossum’s feet in rose-colored Paul Andrew heels

Emmy isn’t the only celebrity who’s been spotted in these heels.

That same year, Anna Kendrick kept it effortlessly chic in a black velvet waistcoat-style Dior mini dress paired with sleek ankle-wrap Paul Andrew “Laura” sandals while promoting Trolls in Berlin.

Emmy Rossum layered a rose-print Prabal Gurung dress beneath a tailored beige coat, finishing the look with matching red ankle-strap heels that subtly elongate her legs and echo the dress’s rich crimson tones

Emmy shared how she discussed the downsides of marriage — particularly the fact that she would never be able to be with another person again.

The actress was shocked when her friends asked her, “Why not?” which she jokingly said prompted her to move back to New York.

Emmy’s Paul Andrew “Laura” heels feature supple suede straps that cross the toe and wrap seductively around the ankle.

Paul Andrew “Laura” Ankle-Strap Sandal — A sultry take on the minimalist two-strap silhouette, crafted in rich wine-red suede with a slender ankle buckle and sky-high stiletto heel for leg-lengthening elegance

More of Emmy Rossum’s Most Memorable Heel Moments

From leg-lengthening Louboutins to metallic Giuseppe Zanotti sandals and timeless pointed-toe pumps, Emmy Rossum consistently relies on sharp silhouettes and elevated heel heights to refine her red-carpet presence.

If you loved this burgundy velvet moment, explore more of her standout designer shoe pairings below.