In August 2021, Karlie Kloss showcased the perfect transition from birthday celebrations to effortless street style in New York City.
Just a day after turning 29, the supermodel stepped out of her SoHo apartment in a monochromatic ensemble that prioritized both comfort and high-fashion minimalism.
While she is often seen on duty in towering heels, this off-duty appearance offered a masterclass in styling designer flats for the summer. Walking through Manhattan without her son, Levi, or her husband, Joshua Kushner, Kloss proved that a well-chosen pair of slides can be just as impactful as a stiletto.
Karlie Kloss shows how to pair high-waist lavender shorts with a loose button-down dress shirt while leaving her SoHo apartment on August 4, 2021 (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Parading her endless pins, Karlie wore a pair of $109 relaxed high-waist lavender shorts and a $185 matching loose button-down dress shirt with long sleeves rolled up to just below her elbows.
She got her “Lui” organic cotton set from The Frankie Shop, a New York City-based label that specializes in modern and minimalistic women’s apparel.
Karlie Kloss keeps her summer look effortlessly polished in The Frankie Shop’s lavender petal shirt and shorts, grounding the relaxed tailoring with sleek black leather slides that underscore her off-duty, city-ready style (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Taylor Swift’s former BFF kept the look understated as she pulled her blonde tresses back into a casual ponytail. She wore simple makeup, highlighting only her cheeks and lips with a rosy shade.
As for her accessories, Karlie wore hoop earrings and her favorite Cartier Small Tank Solo square watch in 18k yellow gold, set with black leather.
Karlie Kloss keeps an understated look with a casual ponytail and soft makeup (Credit: Mega / WENN)
The former Victoria’s Secret Angel then slung a Gucci Horsebit 1955 small leather shoulder bag over her shoulder.
Paying homage to the fashion house’s equestrian roots, the vintage-style purse features a softly structured boxy silhouette with the iconic horsebit hardware set on the textured flap pocket on the front. You can get it for $1,650 at Mytheresa.
Karlie Kloss carries a Gucci Horsebit 1955 black leather bag from the vintage-inspired 1955 collection (Credit: Mega / WENN)
Coordinating her accessories, the Ralph Lauren model rounded out her laid-back look with Saint Laurent “Tribute Nu Pieds” leather slides in black.
Karlie Kloss finishes her relaxed city look with Saint Laurent Tribute Nu Pieds slides, letting the sleek interwoven leather straps add a polished, minimalist edge to her off-duty styling (Credit: Mega / WENN)
A perfect go-to summer flat option, these comfy slides feature the signature Tribute interwoven calf leather straps.
These comfy Saint Laurent slides feature the brand’s signature Tribute intertwined straps
To commemorate her birthday, Karlie reminisced on “the most profoundly awe-inspiring” year of her life in an Instagram post.
View this post on Instagram
Karlie Kloss’s Shoe Strategy: From Sky-High Heels to Effortless Slides
Whether she’s commanding attention in towering stilettos or embracing polished off-duty ease in designer flats, Karlie Kloss consistently proves that footwear is the anchor of her personal style.
From travel-ready staples to red-carpet risk-taking—and the growing role of slides in modern celebrity wardrobes—these curated moments highlight how shoes shape both comfort and impact.
✨ Karlie Kloss — Shoe & Fashion Features (3)
- 🧳 Inside Karlie Kloss’s signature travel shoe rotation — from polished Christian Louboutin loafers to minimalist Stan Smith sneakers that keep airport style sleek and functional.
- 📏 Karlie Kloss’s height & shoe-size feature — a shoe-led breakdown of how she still uses towering heels (including sharp Casadei pumps) to shape proportion and impact.
- 👠 Karlie Kloss in painful Brian Atwood “Patty” pumps — a red-carpet close look at sky-high stilettos, fit realities, and why even pros sometimes suffer for fashion.
🩴 Slides — Celebrity Style & Trend Stories (3)
- 🩴 How leather slides made a stylish comeback — the “ugly duckling” evolution of Birkenstock-style slides into an intentional fashion staple.
- 🖤 Charlize Theron’s shirtless blazer + chunky slides moment — proof that casual slip-ons can still read high-fashion when the styling is bold and deliberate.
- 🧦 Kendall Jenner’s Yeezy Slides styling guide (and 2026 buying context) — a practical, trend-aware look at how socks + slides became a polished off-duty uniform.