Though 2023 was the year of Barbiecore with its bubblegum pink hue taking over the world, 2024 may be ushering in a different trend based on dolls. As we see youthful, feminine aspects trending in a variety of ways — namely in the ongoing fascination with bows, — there’s been increasing wear of shoe styles that can be viewed as inspired by Polly Pocket dolls.
Chunky platform style shoes have been spotted increasingly on celebrities recently. Bella Hadid was spotted in a pair of platform loafers from Gucci in May while walking around New York City. They have been seen in slick iterations as seen with Alton Mason, who wore a pair of almost toy-like platform Thom Browne combat boots to the Met Gala. But it is the nexus of these styles, platform, plastic-like and often monochromatic, that the Polly Pocket trend sits.
Of the labels that represents it most is Sabato de Sarno’s Gucci. At the cruise 2025 show earlier this year, held in London, multiple front row guest swore the company’s Horsebit platform slingback.
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The shoe features a thick, block heel as well as a bulky platform. The Horsebit hardware is a direct reference to the company’s equestrian history. Some like Dua Lipa went dark in an all black outfit. And though the color isn’t typically associated with dolls, in many other ways it’s right on trend.
A red version seems more in-line with something Polly Pocket might wear in terms of color. Daisy Edgar-Jones and even Lila Moss wore that version at the Gucci show. But Lily Gladstone took it further, wearing the shoes at Cannes. She slid into the blocky leather heels for a jury photocall at Cannes Film festival.
But it hasn’t only been Gucci: the beige platforms that Jennifer Lopez wore for the Mexico City red carpet premiere of her new film “Atlas” last week were from Elie Saab. Seen in the brand’s pre-fall 2024 collecition, the peep-toe heels seemed to be a sandal, peep-toe mule hybrid with a massively chunky base.
Though Lopez opted for nude, styled by Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, the brand also showed the shoe in brighter hues like red and green.
Gwen Stefani’s shoes at the American Country Music Awards were likely the most intricate of the trend, though Polly Pocket does include some intricate styles. The signer took to the red carpet wearing sky-high sandals from Roberto Cavalli.
Those shoes were sandals with thin, cage style straps around the foot, and an ankle buckle but a chunky platform, characteristic of a toy heel. Her version were bronze, seemingly made of patent leather.
