Back in May 2013, a then-15-year-old Kylie Jenner made an impression on the red carpet at the New York premiere of After Earth, starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden. She stepped out in Balmain’s striking “Guipure” boots, giving the intricately laced design a youthful, edgy spin with her cropped top and high-waist mini skirt.
It wasn’t the first time we’d seen these statement booties, though. Kylie’s older half-sister, Kim Kardashian, had also worn them just weeks earlier while pregnant. Many fans debated the look at the time, noting that the boots looked tight on Kim’s swollen feet. By contrast, Kylie’s take felt daring and experimental, underscoring how versatile Balmain’s lace-cut design could be across very different stages of life and style.
From Kim’s maternity styling to Kylie’s red-carpet edge, the Balmain “Guipure” boots demonstrate how one dramatic shoe can transform depending on who wears it.
Against this striking backdrop of textured lace and sharp stiletto heels, both sisters styled the boots in dramatically different ways—raising the inevitable fashion debate: who wore Balmain’s Guipure boots better?
Kylie Jenner’s Edgy Red Carpet Take on Balmain’s Guipure Boots
Kylie Jenner brings an edgy twist to the red carpet in a black crop top and asymmetrical Mugler mini skirt, paired with Balmain’s intricate Guipure lace boots
Kylie Jenner at the New York premiere of ‘After Earth’ held at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on May 29, 2013 (Credit: Pop / Joel Ginsburg / HRC / WENN)
The Guipure lace boots showcase Balmain’s signature craftsmanship with a striking cutout design and sleek stiletto heel
A closer look at the peep-toe booties reveals the bold lacework and sculptural silhouette that made the Balmain heels a standout choice
Both Kylie and Kim styled the boots with black dresses, but their approaches couldn’t have been more different.
Kylie’s look leaned into a youthful edge, pairing lace-up booties with a cropped zip-front top and a high-waisted skirt with an asymmetrical hemline that showcased plenty of leg.
Kim Kardashian’s Maternity Spin on the Statement Lace Boots
Kim, on the other hand, opted for a more gentle approach. During her pregnancy, she wore the Balmain boots with a shorter yet looser-fitting dress, letting the intricate lace design stand out without competing with a body-conscious silhouette.
Known for her monochromatic palette, she chose a structured black Azzedine Alaïa dress that perfectly balanced comfort with her signature high-glamour aesthetic.
Kim Kardashian wears a simple short black dress and cutout ankle boots in New York City on April 24, 2013 (Credit: Pop / WENN)
The contrast between the soft lines of the Alaïa dress and the aggressive, architectural design of the Balmain boots created a striking visual. Though many noted the tight fit on the expectant mother’s feet, the ensemble remains a masterclass in tonal dressing.
Kim Kardashian keeps her maternity style chic in a black Azzedine Alaïa dress, styled with Balmain’s Guipure lace boots for a mix of comfort and edge in Manhattan, New York City, on April 24, 2013
Balmain’s intricate Guipure lace boots bring a bold, high-fashion finish to Kim’s understated dress, elevating the look with texture and height
Intricately embroidered lace with a cutout effect and peep toes make the Balmain ‘Guipure’ a standout. Aside from lace, these booties feature patent leather that trims the back zipper and covers the 4.3-inch heels.
In luxury fashion, guipure (pronounced gwih-pure) lace is a distinctive type of lace made without a backing mesh. Instead of delicate patterns stitched onto a fine net—as seen in traditional Chantilly or Alençon lace—guipure connects its motifs using thick embroidered bars or cords. The result is a heavier, more architectural lace that designers like Balmain and Alaïa favor for statement footwear.
Because the lace is made of dense, twisted threads, it offers greater structural integrity, allowing it to be used on a boot’s body without tearing.
The raised embroidery creates a three-dimensional texture that catches the light, while the open spaces between motifs naturally form ventilated cutouts—perfect for peep-toe booties like this pair.
The visual effect is bold and sculptural, giving the shoe a couture-level presence that feels far more substantial than traditional lace.
More Celebrity Looks That Showcase the Beauty of Guipure Lace
While Balmain’s dramatic Guipure boots proved how sculptural lace can transform a statement shoe, the fabric itself has long been a favorite on the red carpet.
From romantic guipure dresses paired with sleek stilettos to couture lace heels designed for weddings and gala nights, celebrities continue to embrace the intricate texture for its bold, architectural effect. Explore more standout fashion moments where guipure lace meets unforgettable footwear below.
👠 Explore Guipure Lace Shoe & Fashion Stories on Your Next Shoes:
- 🖤 Kylie Jenner’s Mugler skirt and Balmain Guipure boots at the “After Earth” premiere capture one of her earliest high-fashion red-carpet moments, pairing intricate lace booties with a daring asymmetrical mini skirt.
- ✨ Emma Stone’s Monique Lhuillier guipure lace dress with Christian Louboutin “So Kate” pumps shows how textured lace can be styled with sleek patent heels for a polished red-carpet look.
- 💗 Paris Hilton’s pink Self-Portrait guipure lace dress and Aquazzura pumps highlight how the openwork lace fabric creates a romantic silhouette while elegant heels keep the look refined.
- 🤍 Cobie Smulders’ Oscar de la Renta guipure lace dress with strappy heels proves how delicate lace textures can contrast beautifully with minimalist sandals on the red carpet.
- 🖤 Cheryl Cole’s Lela Rose dress with a guipure lace overlay pairs intricate lace detailing with bold Christian Louboutin pumps for a striking fashion week look.
- 💍 Christian Louboutin’s guipure lace “Very Lace” bridal heels highlight how couture lace construction can elevate wedding shoes into statement luxury footwear.
Balmain’s “Guipure” Lace Open-Toe Boots ($1,885) feature intricate cutout lacework, sleek patent trim, and a towering stiletto heel for a statement-making finish
So, who do you think wore these booties better?
Kim Kardashian opts for a looser black dress that highlights comfort and ease, while Kylie Jenner goes bold in a cropped top and asymmetrical mini skirt — two very different takes on Balmain’s Guipure lace boots
More Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner Shoe & Fashion Moments
From red-carpet statements to casual sneaker swaps, both Kim and Kylie have consistently delivered unforgettable footwear moments in recent years.
While Kim’s height is believed to be around 5ft 2 (157.5 cm) with a US shoe size 7, Kylie towers over her older sister at 5ft 6 (167.6 cm) with a US shoe size 8—a difference that often influences how each of them styles bold designer heels. Explore more of their standout shoe choices in our latest coverage below:
👠 Explore Kim & Kylie’s Best Shoe Features:
- 👢 Inside Kim Kardashian’s NikeSKIMS Debut — sleek athleisure styled with stiletto boots.
- 👠 Kylie Jenner’s Best High Heels — from Yeezy to Christian Louboutin, her top heel moments.
- 👡 Kylie Jenner in Designer Pumps & Puma Sneakers — three heel swaps before finishing the day in sporty kicks.
- 🥿 Kylie Jenner’s Jeffrey Campbell “Elphaba” Boots — a bold lace-up boot moment.
- 🖤 Kim Kardashian in Stuart Weitzman’s Fall 2022 Boot Campaign — serving multiple statement boot styles.
- 📸 Kim Kardashian’s Daring 2024 Met Gala Heels — towering 10-inch stilettos at fashion’s biggest night.
- 🎀 Kendall + Kylie’s “Ginny” Lace-Up Heels — Kylie steps into design with her own shoe line.
- ✨ Kim Kardashian in White Gucci Heels at LACMA — understated glamour at a star-studded event.