The Shoes That Ground the Look: How Celebrities Styled Extreme High-Slit Dresses and Cutouts

High-slit dresses have evolved far beyond the classic Angelina-Jolie-leg moment. Today’s designers are taking the silhouette to daring new extremes, carving slits that rise all the way to the hipbone and transforming exposed waistlines, sculpted cutouts, and “pelvic peek” panels into full red-carpet statements.

These architectural gowns aren’t just about showing leg—they highlight the hip curvature, play with negative space, and require runway-level confidence (and precision tailoring) to pull off.

While the fashion conversation often centers on the cutouts themselves, one detail gets overlooked: the footwear. Because when a dress eliminates traditional underpinnings, the shoes need to do even more heavy lifting—literally and stylistically.

From strappy stilettos that mirror the gown’s lines to platform pumps that create leg-lengthening continuity, the right heel can make these extreme-slit looks feel intentional, sculptural, and photo-ready from every angle.

This guide breaks down the most memorable exposed-hip and ultra-high-slit moments of the 2010s—what the stars wore, why the designs went viral, and how each shoe choice balanced or amplified the daring construction.

Anja Rubik’s 2012 Vaccarello Hip-Slit Gown & Black Strappy Sandals

Anja Rubik delivered one of the most talked-about fashion moments of the 2012 Met Gala—held in celebration of the exhibition “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.” Wearing a custom white Anthony Vaccarello gown, she embraced the night’s avant-garde spirit with a look that instantly entered red-carpet history.

The dress itself was a study in architectural minimalism: a fluid, satin one-shoulder column gown carved with sharply angled cutouts and a slit that rose all the way to the hip. Its asymmetric draping and precise negative space created a sculptural effect that drew significant media attention at the time, with many comparing the reveal to Angelina Jolie’s viral Oscars slit earlier that year. Rubik later called the gown her “most prized possession,” noting that it is a true one-of-a-kind piece.

Anja Rubik showcased a bold Anthony Vaccarello creation at the 2012 Met Gala, pairing the gown’s extreme slit and asymmetric cutouts with minimalist black heels at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 7, 2012 (Credit: WENN)

To anchor the daring silhouette, she chose sleek black strappy high-heeled sandals, visible in the photos as a slim multi-strap design with an elegant stiletto heel. The simple black shoe served as a grounding contrast to the gown’s stark white satin, letting the dress’s dramatic cutlines remain the focal point.

Gisele Bündchen’s 2013 Punk Vaccarello Mini & Studded Sandals

Gisele Bündchen embraced the rebellious spirit of the 2013 Met Gala’s “Punk: Chaos to Couture” theme in a striking black Anthony Vaccarello mini-dress—this asymmetric, chain-linked design blended high-fashion polish with a deconstructed edge.

The look’s boldest feature was the dramatic side cut-out that curved high along her hip and upper thigh, creating the illusion of pelvic-bone exposure and echoing Anja Rubik’s headline-making Vaccarello gown from the previous year.

Crafted with gold grommets and sculptural, body-contouring lines, the mini-dress delivered a powerful, punk-inflected silhouette that felt both architectural and defiantly sexy.

Gisele Bündchen embodied the “Punk: Chaos to Couture” theme at the 2013 Met Gala in a black Anthony Vaccarello mini-dress with bold chain-link cutouts and studded sandals at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2013 (Credit: WENN)

Gisele grounded the outfit with black studded sandals by Stella Luna for Anthony Vaccarello, a slim multi-strap style detailed with small spike embellishments that tied directly into the night’s theme.

With tousled hair, minimal accessories, and subtle safety-pin accents, her styling let the dress’s metallic chainwork and sharp construction take center stage—perfectly calibrated for the Met Gala’s signature mix of glamor and provocation.

Gisele Bündchen stepped out in black Stella Luna for Anthony Vaccarello sandals, detailed with bold gold spike hardware

Maggie Q’s Strap-Side Vaccarello LBD & Classic Louboutin Pumps

Maggie Q delivered one of the most unforgettable red-carpet moments of 2014 when she arrived at the Los Angeles premiere of Divergent in a daring Anthony Vaccarello Spring 2014 mini-dress. This look exemplified the designer’s mastery of the early-2010s cut-out craze.

The one-sleeved LBD combined sharp asymmetry with a series of high, strap-connected cutouts that climbed the length of her hip, punctuated with gold stud accents that added a punk-inflected edge. With its extreme slit and architectural negative space, the dress made traditional underpinnings impossible, which is exactly why the fashion press widely noted that she appeared to go commando for the event.

Maggie Q turned heads at the Divergent premiere in a cut-out Anthony Vaccarello mini-dress paired with classic black Christian Louboutin Pigalle pumps at the premiere of Divergent at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on March 19, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

To balance the silhouette’s boldness, Maggie grounded the look with classic black Christian Louboutin ‘Pigalle’ pumps, a sleek, pointed-toe stiletto that added sophistication and kept the gown’s construction center stage.

A gold clutch and minimal jewelry completed the ensemble, keeping the attention on Vaccarello’s razor-sharp design and solidifying the moment as one of the defining “naked dress” looks of the era.

Iggy Azalea’s Double-Slit Dilek Hanif Couture Gown & Red Platforms

Iggy Azalea delivered one of the most talked-about red-carpet moments of the 2013 MTV Europe Music Awards when she stepped out in a daring black Dilek Hanif Couture gown—a Spring 2011 design originally shown with pants, which she boldly chose to forgo.

The one-shoulder dress featured twin sky-high slits positioned dangerously close to the center, creating dramatic strips of fabric that shifted as she moved, producing the viral illusion of revealing her bikini line. Combined with additional cutouts at the waist, the gown exemplified the early-2010s fascination with ultra-exposed, architecture-driven eveningwear.

Iggy Azalea made waves at the 2013 MTV EMAs in a daring Dilek Hanif Couture gown featuring twin ultra-high slits and bold red platform heels at the 20th MTV Europe Music Awards held at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on November 10, 2013 (Credit: WENN)

For contrast, Iggy punctuated the black gown with bright red platform sandals, a strappy open-toe style that added height, edge, and a sharp pop of color against the fluid black chiffon.

The styling choice intensified the gown’s already high-impact silhouette, transforming the look into a fearless, headline-grabbing fashion statement that defined her appearance at the event.

Paris Hilton’s Hot-Pink Livné Hip-Slit Gown & Crystal Olympia Pumps

Paris Hilton celebrated her 33rd birthday in a bold, hot-pink Alon Livné Spring 2014 gown—a runway piece explicitly chosen for its dramatic impact and one of the most memorable “extreme-slit” looks of the early 2010s.

The floor-length design featured a sculptural bodice with curved cutouts and a sweeping skirt split all the way to the hip, creating a daring silhouette that revealed her entire leg with every step. Paris even acknowledged the gown’s audacity on Instagram, noting that it was “straight off the runway” and declaring it the perfect birthday dress.

Paris Hilton stunned at her 33rd birthday party in a Spring 2014 Alon Livné gown featuring bold cutouts and an extreme thigh-high slit at Greystone Manor in Los Angeles, California, on February 16, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

To finish the look, Paris opted for sparkling Charlotte Olympia platform pumps, a statement heel covered in crystal embellishment that added height, shimmer, and a playful dose of glamour to her already bold birthday ensemble.

The chunky platform and suede finish balanced the gown’s fluid movement while the glittering crystals echoed her tiara and party-girl aesthetic. Paired with the vivid pink Alon Livné gown, the shoes created a cohesive “Barbie-core” fantasy with a couture edge.

Rumer Willis’ Franziska Fox Cutout Skirt Set & Suede Sandals

Rumer Willis stepped onto the red carpet at the 2014 ELLE Women in Music event wearing one of the night’s most provocative ensembles—a black Franziska Fox two-piece look from the designer’s Fall 2014 collection. The outfit paired a sleek, long-sleeved crop top with a sculptural pencil skirt defined by oversized cutouts running the full length of the right side. Unlike the fluid high-slit gowns worn by other stars that year, this skirt was engineered with wide negative-space “windows” held together by thin velvet straps, creating a bold, architectural silhouette that climbed high along the hip.

Underneath, Rumer wore bright pink high-cut underwear, which became visible due to the skirt’s extreme cutouts and sheer mesh backing. The choice—whether intentional styling or an unexpectedly attention-grabbing contrast—quickly sparked conversation, with many outlets noting that the underwear effectively became a featured accessory rather than a hidden element.

Rumer Willis turned heads at the 2014 ELLE Women in Music event in a cutout Franziska Fox ensemble paired with black Sigerson Morrison ‘Melania’ sandals at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, on April 22, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

She grounded the edgy ensemble with black Sigerson Morrison ‘Melania’ sandals, a strappy suede design featuring small geometric cutouts that subtly echoed the skirt’s construction.

A Vince Camuto clutch and jewelry from Shay Jewelry and Neil Lane completed the look, reinforcing the outfit’s modern, high-contrast aesthetic.

Kendall Jenner’s Double-Slit Fausto Puglisi Gown & Gold Tom Ford Heels

Kendall Jenner ignited global headlines at the 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards in a dramatic Fausto Puglisi Fall 2013 gown—one of the most audacious double-slit dresses to ever hit a red carpet. Cut from ivory crepe and fully embellished with Puglisi’s signature gold-and-silver crystal appliqué, the long-sleeved gown juxtaposed regal ornamentation with a silhouette designed for pure shock value. Two razor-sharp slits carved up the front of the skirt, soaring past the hipbone and held together only by slim, jewel-encrusted panels. As the dress shifted, a flash of unexpected purple lining amplified the visual impact.

The extreme height of the slits meant the gown could only be worn without traditional underpinnings, placing Kendall—and the look—squarely within the “pelvic-cutout” trend popularized by Anja Rubik, Gisele Bündchen, and others earlier in the decade.

Kendall embraced the daring cut with humor, sharing the look on Instagram alongside the now-famous caption: “Why do one slit when you can do TWO!? #MMVAs.”

Kendall Jenner made waves at the 2014 MMVAs in a crystal-embellished Fausto Puglisi gown with daring double slits and gold strappy Tom Ford heels at the 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto, Canada, on June 15, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

She grounded the high-drama gown with gold strappy Tom Ford sandals. This metallic heel echoed the dress’s ornate embellishments and elongated her legs without competing with the architectural cut.

The result was a calculated fashion risk that delivered exactly the kind of red-carpet buzz the MMVAs are known for—and cemented Kendall’s reputation as a boundary-pushing dresser.

Keke Palmer’s Futuristic Livné Cutout Mini & White Janis Pumps

Keke Palmer embraced full futuristic glamour at the 2014 BET Awards in a bold Alon Livné Spring 2014 mini-dress—one of the designer’s most architectural and head-turning creations. Crafted in crisp white with metallic gold and silver paneling, the dress combined a robotic, armor-like aesthetic with Livné’s signature cut-out construction.

The silhouette featured sharply carved openings along the hips and sides, leaving only sculpted fabric panels and thin structural strips to hold the dress together. With its exposed upper thigh and hipbone cutouts, the look became one of the night’s most talked-about fashion moments and further cemented the early-2010s fascination with high-cut, high-impact red-carpet dressing.

Keke Palmer turned heads at the 2014 BET Awards in a futuristic cut-out Alon Livné mini-dress paired with white Saint Laurent ‘Janis’ pumps at the 2014 BET Awards held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California, on June 29, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

To ground the futuristic metallics, Keke chose white Saint Laurent ‘Janis’ platform pumps, a sleek closed-toe heel that offered height and a clean, uninterrupted line.

The minimalist shoe choice balanced the dress’s complexity while amplifying its modern, space-age feel. With slick, center-parted hair and understated accessories, Keke let the sculptural details of the Livné mini take center stage.

Sevyn Streeter’s Double-Slit White Set & Studded Zanotti Sandals

Sevyn Streeter delivered one of the boldest fashion moments at the 2014 BET Awards in a striking white two-piece ensemble that embodied the year’s red-hot “exposed hip” trend. The look paired a fluid, plunging halter top with a dramatic high-waist skirt engineered with twin waist-high slits that revealed her legs and hipbones with every step.

The airy, draped top contrasted with the razor-sharp construction of the skirt, creating a silhouette that balanced softness and edge while echoing the daring double-slit gowns seen across that year’s red carpets. Though often attributed to emerging designer LaToia Fitzgerald, the outfit is widely believed to have been a custom creation designed to achieve this precise, high-impact cut.

Sevyn Streeter stunned at the 2014 BET Awards in a daring white two-piece ensemble with twin waist-high slits and Giuseppe Zanotti gold-rivet sandals at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California, on June 29, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

To anchor the flowing white ensemble, Sevyn chose Giuseppe Zanotti gold-rivet sandals, a pair of strappy black heels adorned with bold metallic studs.

The spike-detailed design injected a dose of glamour and attitude, providing the perfect counterpoint to the ethereal white fabric and tying the look squarely into the season’s love of high-contrast, high-slit fashion.

Lily Aldridge’s Thakoon Lace-Slit Set & Jimmy Choo Anouk Heels

Lily Aldridge offered a more refined take on the exposed-hip trend at the 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue party, opting for a sophisticated Thakoon Spring 2014 ensemble that balanced sensuality with polished, textural design.

The look paired a structured jacquard crop top with a coordinating wrap-effect skirt, both cut from a rich, tactile black fabric that elevated the minimalist silhouette. The skirt featured a dramatic high slit that rose along the hip.

Lily Aldridge turned heads at the 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue party in a Thakoon jacquard set with a lace-trimmed high slit and classic Jimmy Choo Anouk pumps at Swimsuit Beach House in New York City on February 18, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

Still, unlike the stark cutouts popularized by Anthony Vaccarello and Alon Livné, Thakoon softened the reveal with a delicate lace insert running the length of the opening. This sheer lace panel created an alluring peek-through effect, offering coverage while adding visual complexity and preventing the slit from feeling overtly bare.

Lily Aldridge delivered a polished, modern-Hollywood moment in a Thakoon jacquard two-piece set and timeless Jimmy Choo Anouk pumps (Credit: WENN)

Lily finished the look with classic black Jimmy Choo Anouk pointed-toe pumps, a sleek stiletto that lengthened the leg line without competing with the ensemble’s intricate textures.

Her Veronica Lake–inspired waves, bold red lip, and diamond jewelry from Cartier and Lorraine Schwartz completed the glamorous, old-Hollywood-meets-modern-edge aesthetic.

Rita Ora’s Red Donna Karan Satin Gown & Matching Strappy Heels

Rita Ora delivered one of the most memorable red-carpet entrances of the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards in a scarlet Donna Karan Atelier gown—an ultra-sleek, boudoir-inspired creation that floated behind her like liquid silk. The dress featured delicate spaghetti straps, a plunging V-neckline, and a dramatically low back, all cut from glossy red satin that shimmered with every step.

But the gown’s defining detail was its soaring front slit, which sliced all the way up to the hip, making the fluid train appear even more dynamic. The exposed-leg silhouette captured the peak of the high-slit, high-drama trend dominating red carpets at the time.

Rita Ora stunned at the 2014 MTV VMAs in a scarlet Donna Karan Atelier gown with a soaring hip-high slit and matching red strappy heels at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards held at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 24, 2014 (Credit: WENN)

Rita kept the styling monochromatic and sensual, completing the look with matching red strappy sandals. This minimalist open-toe heel extended the line of her leg and maintained the uninterrupted crimson palette.

A bold red lip, diamond jewelry, and polished waves finished the look, blending old-Hollywood glamour with modern, high-impact sensuality.

Naomi Campbell’s Black Cavalli Hip-Slit Gown & Satin Platforms

Naomi Campbell proved she was years ahead of the high-slit trend at the 2011 Fashion for Relief runway show in Cannes, gliding down the catwalk in a dramatic black Roberto Cavalli gown that showcased both her iconic walk and her sculpted legs.

The dress featured a plunging V-neckline, sculpted shoulder detailing, and Cavalli’s signature goddess-style draping that flowed with every step. But its most arresting element was the soaring thigh-high slit—cut to the hip and framed by a series of sleek, corset-style side straps that revealed flashes of skin while maintaining the gown’s structure.

The combination of fluid chiffon, sharp cutouts, and Cavalli’s sensual tailoring made the look a precursor to the “exposed hip” red-carpet trend that would explode in the years to follow.

Naomi Campbell commanded the runway in a black Roberto Cavalli gown with a soaring hip-high slit at the 2011 Fashion for Relief show during the 2011 Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 16, 2011 (Credit: WENN)

Naomi paired the gown with black satin platform sandals, a bold high-heeled shoe with statement ankle ties that echoed the gown’s dramatic movement and extended the line of her famously long legs. With glossy waves, bronzed skin, and minimal jewelry, she let the dress—and her runway presence—do the talking.

More High-Slit Dress Inspiration and Standout Shoe Pairings

From Naomi Campbell’s early runway take on the trend to Kendall Jenner’s daring double-slit gown, these exposed-hip looks all prove one thing: when the dress does the talking, the shoes have to be just as intentional.

Sleek stilettos, crystal-embellished sandals, and leg-lengthening pumps don’t just complete the outfit—they help balance the extreme cutouts and keep the overall silhouette polished rather than gimmicky.

If you’re looking for even more ideas on how celebrities style ultra-high slits with statement heels, explore these additional red-carpet moments where bold gowns and unforgettable shoes work together perfectly: