Revisiting the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards: 4 Iconic Looks That Defined Mid-2010s Red Carpet Footwear

On April 3, 2016, the iHeartRadio Music Awards turned The Forum in Inglewood, California, into a showcase of mid-2010s red-carpet dressing: sequined jumpsuits, sculptural tailoring, bright monochrome hues, and statement shoes designed to hold their own under flash photography.

Taylor Swift leaned into a darker Saint Laurent moment with towering Giuseppe Zanotti platform booties, while Julianne Hough kept things crisp in a white Jill Stuart minidress and nude Casadei Blade pumps. Selena Gomez brought bold red Mugler glamour, and Zendaya delivered one of the night’s sharpest tailoring statements in Haider Ackermann velvet.

Below, revisit four standout looks from the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards, with a closer look at the shoes, styling choices, and designer details that made each outfit memorable.

Taylor Swift Goes Dark in Saint Laurent and Giuseppe Zanotti “Lavinia” Booties

Taylor Swift shows off her short hair at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards held on April 3, 2016, at The Forum in Inglewood, California (Credit: Brian To / WENN)

Taylor Swift won several awards and thanked her then-boyfriend, Calvin Harris, on stage while accepting the Best Tour award. Taylor referred to her boyfriend using his birth name, Adam, during her speech.

“For the first time, I had the most amazing person to come home to when the spotlight went out and when the crowds were all gone, so I want to thank my boyfriend Adam for that,” she said.

This close-up captures Taylor Swift looking over her shoulder on the red carpet, showcasing the sequined detail of her halter-neck jumpsuit

The “Bad Blood” songstress surprised everyone by wearing a sequined black jumpsuit by Saint Laurent.

The sequined halter jumpsuit came from Hedi Slimane’s final collection for Saint Laurent, making it one of the last celebrity red-carpet looks to showcase his influential vision for the French fashion house.

Taylor Swift shows off her chic, short bob and bangs, styled without any visible hair accessories, complementing the sleekness of her sequined Saint Laurent jumpsuit

Just days before the iHeartRadio Music Awards, Saint Laurent had announced that Slimane would be stepping down as creative director, adding extra fashion significance to Taylor Swift’s choice.

Taylor’s Giuseppe Zanotti “Lavinia” booties embodied the designer’s signature approach to evening footwear: towering proportions balanced by a substantial platform for stability.

With a nod to Catwoman, Taylor Swift stuns on the red carpet in a sleek, sequined halter jumpsuit by Saint Laurent

Unlike the metallic ankle-strap “Lavinia” sandals that became a red-carpet favorite throughout the 2010s, Taylor’s peep-toe platform booties added a darker, rock-inspired edge with their glossy black finish, fitted ankle shaft, and dramatic block heel. The combination complemented Hedi Slimane’s sleek Saint Laurent tailoring while reinforcing the monochromatic styling from head to toe.

The “Lavinia” family has since appeared on numerous occasions with different interpretations. Amber Rose embraced mirrored metallic Lavinia sandals, Olivia Culpo paired them with a crisp white cocktail dress, and Heidi Klum wore silver Lavinia platforms to the Grammy Awards.

A close-up of Taylor Swift’s statement-making black platform Giuseppe Zanotti “Lavinia” booties, complete with their signature glossy finish, on the red carpet

Even when partially hidden beneath evening gowns, as seen on Kate Hudson and Saoirse Ronan, the sculptural platform silhouette remained instantly recognizable. While Taylor’s exact booties are no longer available, Giuseppe Zanotti continues to reinterpret the same glamorous, high-impact design philosophy across its current collections.

Not every celebrity embraced the evening’s darker mood. Julianne Hough took the opposite approach, opting for crisp white, tailoring-inspired elegance anchored by one of the decade’s defining red-carpet shoes.

Julianne Hough Keeps It Crisp in Jill Stuart and Nude Casadei Blade Pumps

While Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez went the fierce and sexy route in jumpsuits, Julianne Hough decided to keep things fresh and chic in a tiny white dress at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Julianne Hough wore a white Jill Stuart Resort 2016 floral-embroidered mini dress with nude Casadei “Blade” pumps and an Edie Parker clutch at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards held on April 3, 2016, at The Forum in Inglewood, California (Credit: WENN)

The professional dancer showcased her physique in a pretty white minidress by Jill Stuart.

Julianne Hough balanced the structured neckline and floral appliqué texture of her white Jill Stuart minidress with nude Casadei “Blade” pumps and an Edie Parker clutch (Credit: WENN)

The knee-skimming dress featured delicate floral appliques, a halter neck, and a cutout yoke that flashed a hint of cleavage.

The halter neckline, cutout yoke, and three-dimensional floral embellishments gave Julianne Hough’s white Jill Stuart dress architectural interest from every angle (Credit: WENN)

The two-time “Dancing with the Stars” professional champion glammed up the girly look further with a pair of EF Collection earrings, Zoe Chicco jewels, an Edie Parker clutch, and a pair of stiletto pumps.

Julianne Hough finished the look with a softly textured updo, bronzed makeup, and delicate diamond studs that kept the focus on the clean lines of her dress (Credit: WENN)

She wore her hair up in a voluminous updo, and she was positively glowing with shimmering bronzed eyeshadow and pink lipstick.

The neutral palette allowed Julianne Hough’s nude leather Casadei “Blade” pumps to visually lengthen her legs while complementing the crisp white Jill Stuart design (Credit: WENN)

Julianne was joined on the red carpet by her brother Derek Hough, who was handsome in a Ted Baker London blazer, a light blue shirt with a striped necktie, and a pair of J Brand jeans.

Julianne Hough posed with her brother, Derek Hough, whose tailored Ted Baker blazer, striped tie, and dark denim offered a classic contrast to her modern monochrome red-carpet look (Credit: WENN)

Julianne rounded out her look with the classic red carpet-favorite “Blade” pumps by Casadei. These pumps are made of nude leather and have pointed toes and about five-inch blade heels.

Julianne Hough completed her white Jill Stuart look with nude leather Casadei “Blade” pumps, distinguished by their signature steel stiletto heels (Credit: WENN)

If Julianne Hough leaned toward understated elegance, Selena Gomez returned the spotlight to bold evening glamour with one of the night’s strongest monochromatic looks.

Selena Gomez Turns Up the Heat in Red Mugler and Metallic Giuseppe Zanotti Sandals

Selena Gomez wears her hair down at the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards held on April 3, 2016, at The Forum in Inglewood, California (Credit: WENN)

Selena Gomez continued the evening’s jumpsuit trend in a striking red Mugler design featuring strategic cutouts that highlighted the label’s sculptural approach to tailoring.

Selena Gomez paired soft, tousled waves and layered black chokers with her vivid red Mugler jumpsuit, letting the minimalist styling highlight the sculptural cutout design (Credit: WENN)

Layered choker necklaces, a Jimmy Choo clutch, and metallic Giuseppe Zanotti sandals completed a look that captured mid-2010s red-carpet style without overshadowing the outfit’s clean lines.

Natural makeup, loose textured hair, and layered chokers gave Selena Gomez’s bold Mugler look an effortless finish that captured mid-2010s red-carpet style (Credit: WENN)

Other than the choker necklaces, she kept her accessories to a minimum. She wore light makeup and kept her curled hair down.

Selena Gomez completed her striking monochromatic Mugler jumpsuit with metallic silver Giuseppe Zanotti sandals, whose minimalist straps added subtle shine without competing with the architectural tailoring (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Apega)

We spotted her in the same sandals at the 2016 Grammys.

Selena Gomez completed her vibrant red Mugler jumpsuit with metallic silver Giuseppe Zanotti sandals that added a subtle flash of shine beneath the dramatic tailoring (Credit: WENN)

While jumpsuits dominated several of the night’s standout looks, Zendaya demonstrated that tailoring could be just as impactful, arriving in a monochromatic velvet suit finished with matching pointed boots.

Zendaya Makes Velvet Tailoring Feel Modern in Haider Ackermann Boots

Zendaya posing with legendary American songwriter Diane Warren (Credit: WENN / Brian To)

Zendaya continued establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s most adventurous dressers by stepping onto the red carpet in a deep red velvet suit from Haider Ackermann’s Fall 2016 collection.

Rather than relying on statement heels or an embellished gown, she committed to a head-to-toe monochromatic look, pairing the sharply tailored suit with matching pointed stretch-leather boots from the same designer.

She accessorized with Le Vian earrings and white statement rings by Pasquale Bruni.

Zendaya complemented her blunt bob, smoky bronze eye makeup, and diamond Pasquale Bruni butterfly rings with a deep red Haider Ackermann velvet suit for a polished, fashion-forward finish (Credit: WENN / Brian To)

The sleek chin-length bob and softly blended smoky eye gave Zendaya’s monochromatic Haider Ackermann look a sharp, modern edge that echoed the suit’s precise tailoring (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Apega)

Zendaya completed her Haider Ackermann Fall 2016 velvet suit with matching pointed stretch-leather boots, creating an uninterrupted silhouette that reinforced the collection’s sleek, elongated tailoring (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Apega)

Zendaya paired an oversized diamond butterfly ring by Pasquale Bruni with a soft mint-green manicure, adding a fresh pop of color against the rich crimson velvet of her Haider Ackermann suit (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Apega)

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman wore pointy Haider Ackermann stretch-leather boots (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Apega)

Zendaya completed her monochromatic Haider Ackermann look with matching black stretch-leather pointed-toe boots, reinforcing the sharp tailoring of her velvet suit (Credit: WENN / Brian To / Apega)

Are These 2016 iHeartRadio Shoes Still Available Today?

Most exact pairs from the night are no longer available as new retail styles. Taylor’s black Giuseppe Zanotti “Lavinia” platform booties and Selena’s metallic Zanotti sandals belong to a 2010s evening-shoe era that now tends to surface only in resale listings or similar later designs rather than in current stock. Giuseppe Zanotti has continued to revisit the same glamorous language through platform sandals, ankle boots, metallic finishes, and architectural heels.

Julianne Hough’s nude Casadei “Blade” pumps are the clearest exception. While her exact pair may vary by season, the Blade remains one of Casadei’s signature silhouettes, recognized for its pointed toe and ultra-thin steel stiletto heel. The style helped define the sleek, architectural pump trend of the 2010s and continues to appear on Farfetch in updated materials and colorways.

Zendaya’s Haider Ackermann pointed stretch-leather boots were more runway-specific, making exact pairs especially difficult to find.

How Taylor Swift, Julianne Hough, Selena Gomez, and Zendaya’s Shoe Style Has Evolved Since 2016

Nearly a decade later, these four iHeartRadio Music Awards looks remain memorable not only for their red-carpet impact but also for what they reveal about each star’s evolving approach to fashion.

From Taylor Swift’s polished designer boots and Julianne Hough’s modern minimalist pumps to Selena Gomez’s refined evening sandals and Zendaya’s fearless experimentation with couture footwear, each has continued to shape her signature style while embracing new designers, silhouettes, and trends. Explore more standout shoe moments from their fashion journeys below.