Kylie Jenner’s Breakout Balmain Moment: Inside Her Sculpted Leather Mini & Cage Heels

Kylie Jenner’s early red-carpet era was defined by bold silhouettes, high-glam textures, and a growing love for Balmain’s sculptural designs.

Her appearance at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards remains one of the defining moments of that style shift—an edgy, high-impact look that still feels unmistakably Kylie. Below, revisit the standout outfits and shoe details that made the night a turning point.

From sculpted leather minis to metallic tailoring, these moments capture the energy of mid-2010s red-carpet fashion at its most daring. We begin with the look that set the tone for Kylie’s rising influence on the fashion scene.

Kylie Jenner’s Breakout Balmain Moment at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards

In May 2015, Kylie Jenner stepped onto the red carpet at the Billboard Music Awards wearing a look that echoed the sculpted, high-glam aesthetic often associated with her sister Kim Kardashian.

Kylie, then just 17, arrived at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a bold Balmain leather mini dress and the brand’s sculptural cage heels—cementing one of her earliest and most striking red-carpet fashion moments.

Kylie Jenner stuns with soft waves cascading over her shoulders and natural makeup, perfectly complementing her edgy Balmain leather mini dress at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, 2015 (Credit: WENN / Judy Eddy / Apega)

Metallic Tailoring & Sculptural Heels Take Over the 2015 Billboard Music Awards

She wasn’t the only one embracing heightened mid-2010s glamour that evening. Kendall brought sharp, metallic tailoring in a structured Balmain for H&M ensemble, while Jennifer Lopez turned heads in a shimmering Charbel Zoe see-through gown.

Taraji P. Henson made a dramatic Billboard debut in a bold Alexandre Vauthier cutout gown, and Mariah Carey embraced her signature diva glamour in a curve-hugging Tom Ford mini dress paired with sky-high Saint Laurent heels.

Together, they helped define one of the night’s boldest, most fashion-forward carpets, each showcasing a distinct interpretation of the era’s love for sculptural silhouettes, metallic finishes, and statement footwear.

Kylie Jenner wears a sculpted black leather Balmain Pre-Fall 2013 mini dress detailed with gold piping and a statement metal belt at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards

Kylie Jenner Elevates the Billboard Red Carpet in a Sculpted Balmain Leather Mini

The 17-year-old reality star showcased a striking black leather mini dress from Balmain’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection, defined by its sculpted silhouette, intricate gold piping, and bold metal belt.

Echoing her older sister Kim Kardashian’s signature high-glam aesthetic, Kylie paired the structured mini with statement-making black-and-gold Balmain cage heels, completing the look with an edgy, fashion-forward finish.

Kylie Jenner pairs her striped metallic Balmain mini dress with matching black-and-gold Balmain cage heels, creating a bold, sculptural red-carpet look

A Closer Look at Kylie Jenner’s Balmain Cage Heels

Kylie’s soft leather sandals are from the Spring 2015 collection and feature adjustable laces at the front, lightly cushioned insoles, and high gold heels.

Balmain’s signature cage heels crafted in glossy black leather with gold hardware, featuring ribbed straps, front lace-up detailing, and a sculptural stiletto heel

Before Kylie made the look her own, the dress had already made a splash on another major red carpet.

Karolína Kurková Debuts the Balmain Leather Mini Two Years Before Kylie

Czech model Karolína Kurková wore the same dress to the ‘For The Love Of Cinema’ event hosted by Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, just two years earlier.

Karolína Kurková dazzles in a structured black leather Balmain mini dress with metallic gold piping, complemented by a sleek updo and soft, natural makeup

She styled the mini dress with black booties. Who do you think looked best in the Balmain creation?

Model Karolina Kurkova (L) and husband Archie Drury attend the exclusive “For The Love Of Cinema” event hosted by Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 19, 2013, in Antibes, France (Credit: INFphoto)

Balmain on the Red Carpet: Iconic Silhouettes & Statement Footwear Highlights

For readers who love Balmain’s sculptural silhouettes and statement footwear, several standout celebrity moments offer even deeper inspiration.