Slingback Kitten Heels Are the Ultimate Spring 2018 Shoe

It took a while for the low slingback heel to shake its reputation for feeling dated (old-timey, even). But lucky for everyone who's currently looking for a new pair of shoes to transition from winter to spring, fashion has come around to what is arguably the very best footwear silhouette. Let's break it down.

These tiny heels—as interpreted by Miu Miu, Prada, Victoria Beckham, and Tibi in recent collections—are incredibly practical: In that awkward period between seasons, a closed toe is key to keeping out the lingering chill, but the open back lets you expose just enough skin to make you feel like spring really is around the corner. (Plus, it makes them effortlessly primed for a fashun favorite styling trick: wearing heels with flashy ankle socks.) The kitten heel—i.e., the one favorited by most brands nowadays—gives the slingback style just enough lift without restricting mobility. Should the versatility argument still leave you skeptical, simply take a look at the array of options currently available, from cap-toed to jeweled to bow-embellished. Whichever version you gravitate towards, it's impossible to ignore the slingback heel's renaissance.

Check out 18 of our favorite slingback kitten heels to shop now.