Standing 5’4” (162.6 cm) with a US shoe size 6, Bebe Rexha leaned into a monochromatic, toy-inspired aesthetic for the Teen Choice Awards on August 12, 2018, at The Forum in Inglewood, California, using towering Prada Flame wedges and a bubblegum-pink latex look to visually elongate her petite frame.
Bebe Rexha emulates Barbie at the 2018 Teen Choice Awards held at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 12, 2018 (Credit: WENN / Adriana M. Barraza / Brian To / FayesVision)
Her look centered on a bubblegum pink latex suit by La Roxx, layered over a Swarovski crystal mesh bra by August Getty Atelier.
While the ensemble captured the bold, playful energy of the era, the standout element was her choice of archival-inspired footwear.
Bebe Rexha in a pink bubblegum La Roxx latex two-piece suit with an August Getty Atelier Swarovski crystal mesh bra underneath
She paired the suit with Prada’s “Flame” sandals, a design that serves as a bridge between the label’s past and present.
While Rexha’s accessories included a mix of metallic chains from Norman Silverman and Lili Claspe, the sculptural silhouette of the wedges lent the outfit the most visual weight.
Bebe Rexha completed her head-to-toe bubblegum-pink Teen Choice Awards look with Prada’s sculptural Flame wedges, using the towering hot-rod-inspired heels to add height and amplify the exaggerated toy-like energy of her latex ensemble
Prada’s iconic Flame motif returned for Fall 2018 with a sharper, more futuristic edge, transforming one of Miuccia Prada’s most recognizable “Ugly Chic” designs into a neon-charged statement piece.
First introduced in the label’s Spring 2012 “Women and Car Engines” collection, the original Flame heels drew inspiration from 1950s Americana, hot-rod paint jobs, chrome tailfins, and the exaggerated glamour of mid-century car culture. By reworking those deliberately “tacky” references in glossy Italian patent leather, Prada turned low-brow nostalgia into collectible high fashion.
Prada’s Fall 2018 Flame wedges paired fluorescent green laser-cut patent leather flames with sculptural white wedges and sheer logo socks, reimagining the brand’s iconic hot-rod-inspired shoe motif through a futuristic cyber-neon lens
For the 2018 revival, the house traded much of the original collection’s pastel retro charm for fluorescent laser-cut flames, metallic finishes, and heavier sculptural wedges that felt more industrial and cyberpunk than rockabilly. Rather than functioning as decoration alone, the jagged flame appliqués became part of the shoe’s architecture, wrapping dramatically around the ankle and wedge heel to create a sense of movement from every angle.
The construction itself reflected Prada’s obsession with craftsmanship and visual tension. Precision laser-cut patent leather prevented the flame edges from fraying, while layered appliqués created a dimensional flickering effect reminiscent of chrome flames on vintage Cadillacs. The exaggerated wedge base also balanced the visual weight of the trailing flames, allowing the shoe to remain surprisingly wearable despite its theatrical silhouette.
By the time Prada reintroduced the design in 2018, the Flame shoe had already achieved near-mythic status among collectors and fashion historians, often cited as one of the defining “It shoes” of the 2010s. Original pairs frequently resurfaced on the archival resale market for prices rivaling — or exceeding — their original $1,100 retail cost.
Prada Flame Patent Leather Wedge Sandals in glossy red patent leather with sculptural flame cutouts and a dramatic curved wedge heel, originally retailing for $1,100 and revived as part of Prada’s Fall 2018 return to its iconic flame motif design
Why Prada’s Flame Sandals Still Feel Wildly Modern
As this concludes our look at Bebe Rexha’s bubblegum-pink Teen Choice Awards outfit, her Prada Flame wedges remain the detail that gives the ensemble lasting fashion relevance.
Originally tied to Prada’s playful, automotive-inspired runway experimentation, the sculptural heels helped turn exaggerated wedge sandals into collectible statement pieces that still stand out years later.
From Katy Perry’s pastel-heavy styling to Elizabeth Banks’ polished revival of the “Hot Rod” silhouette, Prada’s flame motif continues to resurface whenever fashion swings back toward bold, theatrical footwear.
🔥 Explore Prada Flame Sandals & Iconic Fashion Moments:
- 🚗 Prada’s original Spring 2012 Flame sandals introduced Miuccia Prada’s now-iconic automotive-inspired heels, blending retro Cadillac curves, comic-book flames, and sculptural wedges into one of the decade’s most collectible shoe designs.
- 💚 Fergie’s St. Patrick’s Day look in Prada Flame wedges showed how the dramatic flame motif transformed even a monochromatic green outfit into a full-on pop-fashion statement.
- 🎨 Katy Perry embraced Prada’s playful flame sandals at Paris Fashion Week, pairing the colorful wedges with mismatched pastel layers that mirrored the cartoonish energy of Prada’s Spring 2012 runway.
- ✨ Elizabeth Banks revived Prada’s legendary “Hot Rod” heels years after their runway debut, proving the flame motif still feels striking when styled with modern silhouettes and polished tailoring.
- 👠 Gabrielle Union’s sculptural Prada wedge moment explored the brand’s continued obsession with architectural heels, tracing the evolution from Flame wedges to perforated metallic platforms.