Saint Laurent’s Lightning Bolt platform pumps were among the brand’s most distinctive footwear designs of the early 2010s, combining towering heels with a metallic zigzag detail inspired by a lightning strike.
Two celebrities showcased different versions of the statement shoe within weeks of each other in late 2013 and early 2014. At the Girls Season 3 premiere in New York City, Zosia Mamet paired metallic gold Lightning Bolt pumps with a sharp-shouldered Saint Laurent little black dress.
Across the Atlantic, Leslie Mann styled a black version of the same platform silhouette with a Viktor & Rolf jumpsuit at the London premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.
Zosia Mamet Stuns in Saint Laurent Little Black Dress and Lightning Bolt Platform Pumps
Standing at 5ft 4 in (162.6 cm), the Vermont-born actress wore a little black dress by Saint Laurent featuring bold shoulders, a V-neckline, and gold cuffs.
Zosia Mamet elevates her 5ft 4in (162.6 cm) frame in metallic gold Saint Laurent Lightning Bolt platform pumps, perfectly complementing her bold-shouldered little black dress at the Girls premiere
She completed her head-to-toe Saint Laurent look with an $1,195 18-karat yellow gold over sterling silver bracelet and metallic gold leather platform Saint Laurent Lightning Bolt pumps, which added height and elongated her petite frame for a more statuesque red carpet presence.
Allison Williams also attended the premiere in a cute blue silk-leather-and-satin cocktail dress by Dior.
Zosia Mamet, Lena Dunham, Jemima Kirke, and Allison Williams showcase their distinct red carpet styles — from metallic Saint Laurent platforms to glittering and satin gowns — at the Girls Season 3 premiere in New York City on January 6, 2014 (Credit: WENN / Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / C. Smith)
Lena donned a silver crystal-embroidered, bonded-silk dress from Rochas’s Spring 2014 collection. The sleeveless dress, which retailed for $27,395, featured a velvet floral pattern and a panel-seamed tea-length skirt.
Lena Dunham wears her hair down at the “Girls” Season 3 premiere held on January 6, 2014, at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City (Credit: WENN)
Lena Dunham wears a silver crystal-embroidered Rochas dress on the red carpet (Credit: Dennis Van Tine / Future Image / WENN / C. Smith)
Actresses Zosia Mamet, Lena Dunham, Jemima Kirke, and Allison Williams attend the “Girls” Season 3 premiere in New York City (Credit: WENN)
The American filmmaker and actress styled the dress with crystal-embellished “Tartini” high heel pumps from the Jimmy Choo Cruise 2014 collection.
The glittering “Tartini” pumps from the popular women’s shoe label were covered with silver crystals for maximum sparkle and featured 120 mm stiletto heels, leather soles, and pointed toes.
Lena Dunham sparkles in crystal-covered Jimmy Choo “Tartini” pumps (Credit: WENN)
Interestingly, Leslie Mann also stepped out in a striking pair of Saint Laurent Lightning Bolt pumps — but styled them very differently for the Anchorman 2 premiere.
Leslie Mann Turns Heads in Viktor & Rolf Jumpsuit and Saint Laurent Tweed Coat at Anchorman 2 Premiere
Though she didn’t appear in the film, actress Leslie Mann caught our eye at the UK premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.
Amid gowns and cocktail dresses, Leslie was white hot in a serene Viktor & Rolf jumpsuit. She layered the sleeveless jumpsuit beneath a very chic Saint Laurent tweed coat, which not only made her look runway-ready but also kept her warm from the cold!
Leslie Mann elevates her 5ft 5 (165.1 cm) frame in black Saint Laurent Janis Lightning Bolt platform pumps, pairing them with a chic Viktor & Rolf white jumpsuit and gray Saint Laurent tweed coat at the Anchorman 2 premiere
The then-41-year-old finished her ensemble with a killer pair of Saint Laurent pumps. The black pumps are a variation of the popular “Janis” we’ve seen on several celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence and Nicole Scherzinger.
Leslie Mann with her husband, Judd Apatow, at the premiere of ‘Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues’ in London, United Kingdom, on December 11, 2013
Standing at 5ft 5 (165.1 cm), Leslie Mann wore a striking pair of Saint Laurent pumps featuring an eye-catching lightning bolt motif in white mesh and towering 5.5-inch heels. These pumps elongated her frame and perfectly complemented her winning red carpet look.
Leslie proudly posed on the red carpet with her husband, Judd Apatow, who produced the film. The two have been married since 1997! Not bad for a Hollywood marriage!
A close-up of Leslie Mann’s black Saint Laurent Janis Lightning Bolt platform pumps, featuring metallic zigzag detailing and towering 5.5-inch heels that added dramatic height to her red carpet look
Saint Laurent’s Lightning Bolt platform pumps have since become a distinctive relic of the brand’s mid-2010s footwear era, known for their towering silhouette, pointed toes, and signature zigzag detailing.
No longer in production, the dramatic style occasionally appears on luxury resale platforms, where collectors and Saint Laurent enthusiasts continue to seek out original pairs.
Saint Laurent’s black-and-white Lightning Bolt pumps combine towering platform proportions with a graphic zigzag overlay, turning a classic pointed-toe silhouette into one of the brand’s most recognizable statement heels of the 2010s
The red-mesh Lightning Bolt pumps showcase Saint Laurent’s glam-rock aesthetic, pairing a dramatic stiletto platform with a bold crimson zigzag motif that draws the eye from heel to toe
For those drawn to the shoe’s statement-making height and bold design, Saint Laurent’s current lineup offers modern alternatives, including the enduring Tribute platform sandals, the chunky Debbie and Chandelle platforms, and the sculptural Opyum pumps, which deliver a similarly striking visual impact through the house’s iconic YSL-logo heel.
Meanwhile, styles such as the Babylone and Voltaire slingbacks carry forward the sharp, elongated toe shape that helped make the Lightning Bolt pumps so memorable on the red carpet.
More Saint Laurent Pump Moments Worth Revisiting
From the Lightning Bolt’s glam-rock zigzag detailing to the razor-sharp lines of the Janis, Palais, and Paris pumps, Saint Laurent has produced some of the most recognizable high-heel silhouettes of the past decade.
If you’re fascinated by the brand’s dramatic approach to footwear, these celebrity style moments showcase how different generations of Saint Laurent pumps have appeared on red carpets, press tours, and fashion events around the world.
👠 Explore Saint Laurent Pump Moments:
- 🔥 Jennifer Lawrence sharpened her Catching Fire press-tour style with studded Saint Laurent “Janis” pumps, pairing the towering platform silhouette with a Proenza Schouler dress built around bold turnlock hardware.
- 🖤 Nicole Scherzinger used black Saint Laurent “Janis” pumps to ground a daring Julien Macdonald bodysuit, letting the pointed-toe platforms add polish to one of her boldest London looks.
- ✨ Demi Lovato balanced gold sequins with Saint Laurent platform pumps, giving her X Factor finale look a strong, structured finish from the ground up.
- 💗 Jennifer Garner and Rumer Willis helped define the sculptural appeal of Yves Saint Laurent’s “Palais” platform pumps, proving how the same architectural heel could feel polished in pink or sharper in black.
- 👠 Kim Kardashian made Saint Laurent “Paris” pumps part of her early-2010s luxury uniform, styling the razor-sharp stilettos with a Celine coat and her George Condo-painted Hermès Birkin.
- 🤍 Hailey Bieber contrasted black Saint Laurent leather with crisp white slingback pumps, turning a monochrome WSJ Innovator Awards look into a study in clean, high-impact styling.