Valentino Rockstuds Steal The Spotlight Again
If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 15 years of collecting and wearing luxury, it’s that one viral moment can completely shift how we feel about something. Case in point: Valentino Rockstuds. Just a two-second glimpse of Miranda Priestly wearing a red pair in the recently-released Teaser Trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2 was all it took for the shoe to come back into the spotlight and become desirable again. The shoe, which we all considered “so outdated”. The shoe, which for many years now has been topping the lists of “out of style” luxury. So, what’s different now? Is it the Miranda Priestly effect? Nostalgia? Or have we all collectively decided that maybe… just maybe… Rockstuds are cool again? Let’s discuss.
Valentino Rockstud Phenomenon
Valentino Garavani’s Rockstud shoe style first debuted in the Fall/Winter 2010 collection as a heeled slingback pump—and it instantly became a modern classic. The design was said to be inspired by the “bugnatos”, pyramid-like shapes adorning the historical edifices of Rome, the city that houses Valentino Garavani’s main headquarters, and it was an instant success, with editors, celebrities, and just luxury fashion buyers all gravitating towards the unexpected mix of ladylike elegance and punk-inspired detailing of the shoe. Not to even mention that as the demand grew, Valentino expanded the Rockstud line into flats, sandals, booties, and later even handbags and small leather goods.
The slingbacks, however, remained the heart of the collection. Their pointed toe, T-strap construction, and instantly recognizable hardware made them one of the most photographed heels of the decade. Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, as well as every major fashion blogger of the time, seemed to own a pair in the mid-2010s.
But like all trends, the Rockstud eventually hit its saturation point. By the late 2010s, the shoe became over-saturated, leading a lot of people to move on to other styles. And even Valentino’s attempt to revive the shoe for its 10-year release anniversary back in 2020 didn’t help the brand much—the Rockstuds remained unwanted.
So, what’s changed now with the shoe’s feature in the trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2?
The Big, Big-Screen Return
Well, let me start by saying that at the time of writing this article, Valentino has admitted to sponsoring the shoe’s placement in the movie (their head of integrated marketing made a post about it on LinkedIn). Thus, it was done deliberately to garner attention to the shoe. And it worked: just a 2-second feature in the trailer has caused the searches for the Valentino Rockstuds to skyrocket, with some versions of the shoe selling out across authorized retailers practically overnight.
And you know what’s really fascinating? How quickly public perception of the shoe has shifted. I mean, for years everyone considered Rockstuds dated. But the moment Miranda Priestly stepped out in them in The Devil Wears Prada 2 Teaser Trailer, the narrative changed. Suddenly the studs didn’t look tired—they looked bold, nostalgic, and honestly kind of fabulous again.
So what changed now? Maybe it’s the Miranda effect. Maybe it’s fashion’s love for a good comeback story. Or maybe we collectively realized that an iconic shoe never really goes out of style—it just waits for the right moment to shine again.
What are your thoughts on the Valentino Rockstud shoes? Are you excited about their comeback, or do you still see them as a trend best left in the 2010s? Let’s chat in the comments!
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