The Kiki Effect: Nicky Hilton’s Power Move at Marc Jacobs’ NYFW Opener
In a moment that perfectly captured the intersection of uptown elegance and downtown edge, Nicky Hilton Rothschild made a dramatic entrance at Marc Jacobs’ ‘Courage’ runway spectacular at the New York Public Library. The style maven proved once again why she’s fashion’s favorite socialite-turned-tastemaker, commanding attention in a crystalline cream tweed ensemble elevated by the season’s most coveted footwear – the infamous Marc Jacobs Kiki Ankle Boot in gleaming white patent leather.
Let’s talk about these architectural marvels: standing proud on a three-inch platform with a vertiginous six-inch block heel, the Kiki boots have become fashion’s new status symbol. Their multiple-buckle detailing pays homage to the classic Mary Jane while boldly stepping into the future. What started as a show-stopping knee-high statement in Jacobs’ fall 2016 collection has evolved into this perfectly proportioned ankle boot that’s currently setting the fashion world ablaze.
The Kiki’s meteoric rise to It-shoe status has been nothing short of spectacular. Queen Bey herself chose a Swarovski-encrusted version for her Renaissance tour, while the 2023 Met Gala saw a Kiki boot brigade led by Kendall Jenner, Paris Hilton, and Kim Petras. Heaven by Marc Jacobs has kept the momentum going with a kaleidoscope of variations – from Ice Spice’s ballet-pink satin moment to croc-embossed editions and even a fantastical “Wizard of Oz” inspired ruby iteration.
For Monday’s show, Hilton demonstrated her masterful styling prowess by pairing the statement boots with a bejeweled tweed set that whispered old-money luxury while screaming contemporary cool. A diminutive Louis Vuitton satin clutch provided the perfect finishing touch to an ensemble that bridged the gap between classic Upper East Side sophistication and modern downtown irreverence.
The unofficial NYFW kick-off drew an eclectic crowd of fashion’s finest, with Hilton holding court alongside SNL’s Bowen Yang and U Beauty founder Tina Chen Craig. Fresh from his Grammy performance with Charli XCX, model Alex Conansi commanded the runway, while style arbiters June Ambrose, Tina Leung, and beauty sensation Meredith Duxbury rounded out the star-studded front row.
As New York Fashion Week proper prepares to unfold, Jacobs’ ‘Courage’ collection set an impossibly high bar with its Baroque-influenced sculptural pieces. But it was Hilton’s masterclass in contemporary styling that reminded us why she remains one of fashion’s most reliable barometers of what’s next.
