Kim Kardashian’s Style Then & Now: Her Viral 2021 Balenciaga SNL Catsuit and the 2013 Gucci Ursula Maternity Look

Kim Kardashian’s Saturday Night Live hosting debut may have divided critics, but her New York City fashion marathon became an instant cultural moment.

For Your Next Shoes readers, it wasn’t just about the headlines—it was about the footwear choices, the styling decisions, and how Kim uses bold color and sculptural silhouettes to reinforce her larger fashion narrative.

This article breaks down two standout Kim Kardashian looks, including the viral all-pink Balenciaga catsuit worn during her SNL weekend and an earlier maternity moment featuring her controversial leather dress and Gucci Ursula heels. Each section offers outfit context, designer details, and shoe-focused analysis to help readers understand why each look mattered in Kim’s evolving style story.

Look 1 — Kim Kardashian’s All-Pink Balenciaga SNL Afterparty Catsuit

Kim Kardashian hosted Saturday Night Live over the weekend, and the critics were not impressed by her performance.

Kim Kardashian heads to the SNL after-party in New York City wearing a head-to-toe Balenciaga look, pairing a crushed-velvet turtleneck jumpsuit with matching stretch-velvet Knife boots and dramatic feathered coat in New York City on October 9, 2021 (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

But if the jokes didn’t land, her fashion absolutely did. By now, you’ve likely seen Kim Kardashian’s massive Saturday Night Live debut — and just as memorable as her hosting gig was the unapologetically pink fashion story she delivered all weekend long.

Kim Kardashian arrives at the SNL after-party enveloped in a dramatic feathered Balenciaga coat layered over a glossy, bubblegum-pink catsuit (Credit: WENN / MEGA)

The reality star descended on New York City looking like she’d stepped straight out of a high-gloss Balenciaga fantasy—a house she’s been closely linked to for years. Despite a brief pause in their partnership following Balenciaga’s 2022 controversy, Kim ultimately renewed and deepened her ties with the brand, becoming an official ambassador in 2024.

And on this SNL weekend, the relationship was on full display: her signature Barbie-pink palette and sculptural silhouettes echoed the many high-impact Balenciaga moments that have defined her modern fashion era.

Kim Kardashian steps onto the New York City sidewalk in her head-to-toe pink Balenciaga look, pairing the sleek catsuit with matching Knife boots and an oversized feathered coat (Credit: WENN / MEGA)

Kim & Khloé Kardashian Go Full Monochrome After SNL

Following her national television appearance, Kardashian headed to the SNL afterparty wearing a full-length bubblegum-pink catsuit, amplifying the monochromatic moment with a sweeping feathered coat that trailed behind her. Big Bird could never.

Meanwhile, Khloé Kardashian continued the family’s bold-color streak as she arrived at the afterparty in her own fiery monochromatic moment. Wearing a slinky LaQuan Smith Spring 2022 dress layered under a matching trench, the Good American co-founder punctuated the look with a vibrant Bottega Veneta Red Mini Pouch Bag, adding a luxe pop of texture to the all-red ensemble.

However, Kardashian didn’t stick to heels all night—she later swapped her footwear for comfort, slipping into high-top Nike sneakers featuring beige and metallic brown uppers, iridescent green tongues, and loose side straps she casually left untied.

Joined by Corey Gamble, Khloé Kardashian wears a red LaQuan Smith dress and sneakers for the Saturday Night Live after-party on October 9, 2021, at Zero Bond in New York City (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

Before her Balenciaga era and high-gloss SNL looks, Kim had already built a reputation for fearless, rule-breaking fashion. To see just how long she’s been pushing boundaries, we’re jumping back a few years to one of her boldest maternity style moments.

Look 2 — Pregnant Kim Kardashian in Leather and Gucci Ursula Heels

In March 2013, Kim Kardashian made us wonder whether pregnant women should avoid tight leather dresses and high heels.

Pregnant Kim Kardashian wears a camel-colored leather dress in Soho on March 26, 2013 (Credit: TNYF / WENN)

While the caramel leather dress from The Row offered a polished, cold-weather look, its ultra-tight fit left little room for Kim’s growing baby bump. She even wore a leather biker jacket over the dress.

Kim pairs her caramel leather dress with a cropped black moto jacket, highlighting her sleek, body-skimming maternity style during a New York City outing

Kim Kardashian pairs The Row’s caramel Dastuls stretch-leather dress with sleek Gucci Ursula ankle-strap sandals and a cropped black jacket for a bold, body-skimming maternity look

Apart from the leather dress, Kim Kardashian couldn’t resist wearing heels.

She was pregnant with North West, her firstborn daughter with Kanye West, who was born on June 15, 2013, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Kim shows off the glossy black patent finish of her Gucci Ursula sandals, complete with the brand’s signature gold Horsebit ankle cuff

Pregnant women usually wear flats, but we love Kim for daring to be different. Let’s leave the dress for now and focus on Kim’s heels, which are from Gucci’s Spring 2013 collection.

The sandals are made of patent leather and have a cage silhouette. They feature thin straps and an ankle cuff that’s a bit wider, providing enough space for the iconic gold metal Horsebit detail.

The strappy cage silhouette and sculptural ankle cuff of Kim’s Gucci Ursula heels highlight the sandal’s bold, equestrian-inspired design

More Kim Kardashian Shoe Moments to Explore

Here are a few more standout Kim Kardashian fashion and footwear moments worth browsing for added context and inspiration: