Nicole Scherzinger’s Heel-Less Giuseppe Zanotti Booties Proved She Was Ahead of Her Time

Long before today’s sculptural footwear trends took over Instagram, Nicole Scherzinger was already stepping into the future.

Back in 2011, the singer turned heads in a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti heel-less open-toe booties — a daring silhouette that would soon dominate the Spring/Summer 2012 runways.

Nicole Scherzinger greets fans outside BBC Radio 1 in London, wearing a bold printed mini dress and Giuseppe Zanotti heel-less booties

During an appearance on The Scott Mills Show at BBC Radio 1 studios in London, Nicole paired the avant-garde shoes with an equally bold outfit, proving once again that her fearless approach to fashion was years ahead of its time.

A closer look at Nicole Scherzinger’s sleek makeup and oversized gradient sunglasses, completing her futuristic ensemble in London on October 28, 2011 (Credit: WENN)

Fashion sleuths didn’t need long to trace Nicole’s futuristic footwear back to Giuseppe Zanotti. At the time, many designers were experimenting with heel-less silhouettes — but Zanotti’s creations had a distinct, almost architectural “fin-like” curve that set them apart.

The telltale clue? Nicole’s booties perfectly mirrored the sculpted shape seen on Lucy Hale, who had stepped out in a similar pair earlier that season.

Around the same time, Alicia Keys embraced the same geometric beige-and-black pattern at the New York premiere of Lifetime’s Five, confirming the design’s unmistakable Zanotti signature.

Alicia Keys showcases a chic black suit with leather sleeves and geometric Giuseppe Zanotti heel-less pumps at the premiere of Five in New York City on September 26, 2011

Take a closer look at Nicole Scherzinger’s geometric beige and black heel-less booties:

Close-up of Nicole’s beige-and-black geometric Giuseppe Zanotti heel-less booties, a standout from the designer’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection

Throwback to Fashion That Defied Gravity

Before sculptural footwear became an everyday runway statement, the heel-less shoe stood as one of the boldest innovations in fashion. From Rihanna’s metallic platforms to McQueen’s surreal silhouettes, these unforgettable styles prove that balance can be just as much about confidence as it is about design.

Rear view of the sculptural heel-less design, highlighting Zanotti’s signature curved silhouette

Part of Giuseppe Zanotti’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection, these avant-garde creations — along with the sleek pump version worn by Alicia Keys — were instant collector’s items. Unsurprisingly, they’re long since sold out, living on only through vintage archives and celebrity street-style memories.

Giuseppe Zanotti Spring/Summer 2012 heel-less open toe booties, $1,127.23

For fashion fans who couldn’t wait for the official release, Giuseppe Zanotti also offered a heel-less d’Orsay pump — a slightly more refined take on the same gravity-defying design.

Sleek, sculptural, and unapologetically bold, it captured the daring energy of the early 2010s footwear scene, when statement shoes ruled every red carpet.

Giuseppe Zanotti heel-less platform d’orsay pump, $895.00