The Ultimate 2010s Power Heel: Paris Hilton’s Tom Ford Padlock Pumps at Leather & Laces

In January 2014, Paris Hilton attended the 11th Annual Leather & Laces party at the Liberty Theater in Times Square, New York City, wearing a coordinated black-and-nude Haus of Milani set styled with one of the era’s most recognizable statement heels: Tom Ford’s padlock ankle-strap pumps.

Paris Hilton wears her blonde hair in curls at the 11th Annual “Leather & Laces” two-night party presented by Axxis Sports & Entertainment during Super Bowl XLVIII held on January 31, 2014, at Liberty Theater in Times Square, New York City (Credit: Alberto Reyes / WENN / Adriana M. Barraza / Dimitri Halkidis)

By that point, Paris had already spent more than a decade shaping early-2000s celebrity style through reality television, nightlife fashion, and heavily photographed red-carpet appearances.

Events like Leather & Laces reflected the flashy, body-conscious aesthetic that defined much of celebrity party dressing in the early 2010s, with platform heels, cutout silhouettes, and designer statement shoes dominating entertainment coverage.

Paris Hilton pairs her cutout black-and-nude Haus of Milani ensemble with signature Tom Ford padlock pumps at the 2014 Leather & Laces party in New York City, alongside sister Nicky Hilton

While the Haus of Milani outfit drew attention, the real standout was her footwear.

Paris Hilton accessorizes her Leather & Laces look with dark gemstone serpent jewelry and glitter-tipped nails that complement the outfit’s edgy geometric detailing

The gold padlock detail and slim ankle straps made the Tom Ford heels instantly recognizable on red carpets at the time, and the style was also worn by Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez, helping cement the design as one of Tom Ford’s defining celebrity shoe moments of the decade.

Paris Hilton’s glossy black Tom Ford pumps feature slim double ankle straps and the designer’s instantly recognizable gold padlock charms.

This wasn’t the first time Paris had worn a Haus of Milani creation.

Paris donned a nude tulle dress by the same brand to the 2014 Grammy Awards. The outfit, which featured a beaded high neck and white sequins, landed Paris on pretty much every worst-dressed list at the time.

Paris Hilton arrives at the 2014 Grammy Awards in a sheer, heavily embellished Haus of Milani gown with dramatic illusion panels and an open-back silhouette on January 26, 2014, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles

Even if you don’t like the above outfits, at least they were less revealing than the commando dress that Paris wore to the pre-Grammy party.

Why Tom Ford’s Padlock Heels Still Define 2010s Celebrity Shoe Style

More than a decade later, Tom Ford’s padlock heels remain one of the most recognizable celebrity shoe designs of the early 2010s. The combination of sharp pointed toes, slim ankle straps, and signature lock hardware captured the era’s fascination with overt luxury and high-gloss evening dressing. Paris Hilton’s Leather & Laces appearance perfectly reflected that moment in fashion, pairing body-conscious styling with statement footwear that instantly commanded attention on the red carpet.

While the Haus of Milani outfit divided opinion at the time, the Tom Ford pumps have aged far better, continuing to stand out as one of the designer’s most memorable celebrity shoe creations. The style was embraced by everyone from Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez to Naomi Watts and Khloé Kardashian, proving how versatile the padlock silhouette could look across different red-carpet aesthetics.