The Polarizing Trend Taking Over Footwear: Clear Heels

Remember when mesh Mary Janes took over? (Thank you, Alaïa for designing the summer 2024 it-girl shoe.) This summer is all about the clear heel. While the see-through heels trend may be the child (or even distant relative) of the PVC pleaser heels known for their popularity among pole dancers and pop stars (like Lady Gaga, an ardent wearer of the style), they've been given a new life on the runway. They were a standout footwear trend in many of our favorite designers' Spring/Summer 2025 collections.

From Paris to Milan, designers like Gucci and Rabanne showcased different iterations of the translucent heel. Each shoe is a little different, with the ones at Victoria Beckham showcasing the full-foot (so much so they come with a medical warning), versus the ones at Gucci taking the see-through heels trend just to the wedge. In either case, they're chic and bound to be seen in the streets of fashion capitals this summer.

Other call-outs include Bottega Veneta's clear, flower-embellished mules, Rabanne's little clear jackets layered over heels, and Versace's translucent stilettos with circular heel caps. Dries Van Noten and Courrèges brought their own iterations of the shoe down the runway, certifying this as a bonafide footwear trend. Bohemian-style cork wedges connected to translucent pink straps were shown at Chloé, while Diesel brought edgier pleaser-esque heels down the runway. The clear heel might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely on our radars.

Click through the gallery below to see some examples of clear heels on this season's runways. The story continues after.

Celebrities are also increasingly embracing the clear platform heels look. Kim Kardashian, Doja Cat, and Janelle Monáe all incorporated the shoe into their highly anticipated 2024 Met Gala ensembles with Kardashian dressed in Maison Margiela, Doja Car in Oscar de la Renta, and Monáe in Vera Wang. A characteristic from nightlife's favorite heel seems to becoming a high fashion staple, again.

Keep scrolling to shop our favorite pairs of clear heels.

12 Editor-Approved Pairs of Clear Heels

We are obsessed with the see-through wedge heels featured on the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 runway. These mules feature a double strap and an embossed logo. Wedged mules are another major footwear trend and this pair is right on target.

Gucci Women's Wedge Mule, $1,590, Gucci

These asymmetric Alaïa heels are from the Spring/Summer 2025 collection presented at the Guggenheim in NYC. For those looking to add a little edge to their footwear, this pair comes with one ankle-strap heel and one mule to create a perfectly imperfect look. Inspired by the energy of New York, these heels are perfect for a summer night out in the city.

Alaïa Asymmetric patent-leather and PVC sandals, $1,390, Net-a-Porter

These McQueen shoes are another example of the beauty of when the see-through heel and wedged mule trends merge to make a great shoe. The shoes are titled "hard," as they are said to resemble shards of pure glass. They are made fully from PVC in Italy and are meant to give the appearance that the wearer is levitating.

McQueen Shard Transparent Mules, $1,061, Farfetch

These shoes are perfect for those who want to embrace the clear-heel trend but also want something relatively refined, despite their classic red bottoms. Made in Italy from PVC, the mule-style shoes feature two rubber straps and leather soles. These shoes are perfect for a summer daytime for those who gravitate towards heels for everyday wear. 

Christian Louboutin Just Loubi 85 PVC sandals, $845, Mytheresa

These shoes are perfect for those looking for a lower price point, but they do not lack any of the glamour. The twisted, sculptural 3.75-inch heels are a perfect slip-on mule for daytime wear. They're called the "Madonna," and we can't help but admire the drama of these shoes.

Larroudé Madonna Lucite Vinyl Mules, $330, Saks Fifth Avenue

Looking for Marc Jacobs shoes at a fair price point? These funky clear heels in a mule silhouette are for you. This pair is from the Marc Jacobs x Melissa collaboration. They are made from Transparent Melflex PVC and feature an open square toe and 3.25-inch heels embossed with the Marc Jacobs logo.

Marc Jacobs Transparent Melissa Edition Heeled Sandals, $124, Ssense

This Steve Madden pair, with a slightly lower heel and a much lower price point than our other picks, is great for those curious about the clear heel trend but are not ready to invest in it. They feature cute sphere heels and a big toe strap. And much like the other shoes on this list, they are a perfect mule design.

Steve Madden Glinda Clear, $109.95, Steve Madden

For those who are maybe not too fond of their toes, but want to rock a clear heel, this Tory Burch pair is for you. These transparent slip-on pumps have contrasting toecaps and a square toe. And as far as the clear heel trend goes in the workplace, these are great.

Tory Burch 90mm Clear pumps, $572, Farfetch

This Manolo Blahnik pair is a classic take on the clear heel trend. The shoes made from PVC feature nude leather soles and a stiletto heel. As far as the latest PVC-pumped footwear trend goes, these shoes are perfect for taking a risk while not being necessarily avant-garde. 

Manolo Blahnik Scolto Clear Two-Band Slide Sandals, $745, Bergdorf Goodman

This pair of see-through heels is perfect for a day-to-night situation. These stretchy sandals could be worn casually with denim or even paired with a summery going-out dress. The 3.5-inch heels are made in Italy from PVC and are perfectly on trend with the mule design. 

Bottega Veneta Stretch PVC Slide Sandals, $950, Moda Operandi

Amina Muaddi knows how to nail a PVC heel and these plateau slippers remind us of true pleasers. Made in Italy from transparent PVC, this pair is for those looking to make a statement. With 5.5-inch glass heels and a 1.5-inch plateau guarantee some serious height for the wearer.

Amina Muaddi Dalida Glass Plateau Slipper, 1,535, Amina Muaddi

The Cult Gaia Demi Sandals feel like summer, but if that seems too far away, they are perfect for any warm vacation on the itinerary. The shoe features clear, vinyl ankle and toe straps, a metallic leather sole, and a beautiful teardrop-esque heel. 

Cult Gaia Demi Sandal, $498, Cult Gaia