At Jennifer Klein’s Day of Indulgence in Los Angeles on August 15, 2021, Julianne Hough leaned into easy summer dressing, grounding a romantic floral midi with practical, walkable heels.
Her choice of Free People’s “Gabby” sandals—set on a low block heel with wraparound ankle straps—anchors the look, balancing the dress’s movement with stability and everyday wearability.
Julianne Hough attends Jennifer Klein’s Day of Indulgence in a Reformation black floral Creed midi dress in Los Angeles on August 15, 2021 (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Showing off her dancer’s legs, the Footloose star wore a black floral midi dress from Reformation. Playful flower prints in yellow, peach, and pink brightened the romantic frock that featured a sexy thigh-high slit on one side.
The “Creed” dress also featured a keyhole back with button fastenings, buttoned cuffs, and a waistline seam that accentuated her figure.
Julianne Hough steps out from Jennifer Klein’s Day of Indulgence in a slit floral midi, her black ankle-strap block-heel sandals keeping the look grounded and effortlessly walkable as she balances bags and a rolling suitcase (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Leaving the event with loads of goodies in bags and a large travel suitcase, Julianne told InStyle: “Most of the products here are all clean and all about inclusivity and self-expression, which is really important to me.”
The actress-dancer looked chic as she styled with a gold chain bracelet, hoop earrings, and a couple of rings.
She then let her tresses down, parted them in the middle, and hid her face beneath a white face mask and a pair of Celine gold-rimmed round sunglasses.
Julianne Hough hides her eyes behind her Celine sunnies and carries a black quilted Chanel bag (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Carrying a black Chanel flap bag, the Dancing with the Stars winner rounded out her summery look with $128 “Gabby” black sandals from the summer wear specialist Free People.
Julianne Hough’s Free People “Gabby” sandals—set on a low block heel with delicate ankle straps and slim suede bands—offer a clean, barely-there finish while keeping the look stable and easy to wear (Credit: Mega / WENN)
These sandals have flared, chunky block heels measuring about 2.5 inches, delicate wraparound ankle straps, and two front straps made of rich suede.
Free People’s Gabby has short block heels and a strappy upper made of suede
Why Block-Heel Sandals Still Win for Real-Life Dressing
Julianne Hough’s Free People “Gabby” sandals capture what makes block heels endure: they bring just enough height to lift a look, while staying grounded enough to actually wear from arrival to exit.
The low, stable heel keeps the silhouette easy and unfussy, letting a romantic midi dress move naturally without competing for attention. It’s a quiet styling decision, but one that makes the entire outfit feel considered—and, most importantly, wearable.
That balance between polish and practicality is exactly why block-heel sandals keep showing up, season after season, across everything from daytime events to more dressed-up moments.
👡 Explore Block-Heel Sandals & Effortless Height Moments:
- ✨ Kirsten Dunst’s Manolo Blahnik “Lauratopri” sandals feature a sculptural half-moon block heel that delivers red-carpet lift with noticeably more stability than a stiletto, grounding her look with quiet precision.
- 🖤 Ilana Glazer’s Pierre Hardy “Saloni” sandals use a cylindrical block heel and graphic straps to anchor a fluid dress, showing how architectural heels can balance movement with structure.
- 💫 Jessica Alba’s Saint Laurent “Candy” platform sandals highlight the appeal of chunky block heels paired with platforms—offering dramatic height while staying wearable through long events.
- ☀️ Steve Madden’s “Carrson” block heel sandals distill the everyday version of the trend, with a clean ankle strap and steady heel that transitions easily from denim to occasion dressing.
- 🌆 Rita Ora’s ankle-strap block-heel sandals show how a simple, streamlined silhouette can subtly elongate the leg while keeping the look grounded and wearable.
- 🔥 Chunky platform sandals in street and red-carpet styling demonstrate how thicker soles and block heels add structure, turning delicate outfits into confident, balanced statements.