Tracee Ellis Ross turned to a signature silhouette for her appearance on “Watch What Happens Live” last night, stepping out in a pair of white Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps.

The So Kate, long known for its sharply contoured toe box and lacquered red sole, remains one of the brand’s most distinctively sculpted styles. Ross wore a version in glossy white patent leather, perched on the model’s steep 120mm stiletto.

This isn’t Ross’ first appearance in the So Kate, which she’s famously called a “torture device” rather than a shoe. Despite the pain, she owns at least three pairs — once referring to them as her “wedding shoes.” Last year, she wore a cobalt version to the New Museum Spring Gala with a hand-painted Marni gown. And at Marc Jacobs’ spring 2025 show in February, she opted for platform pumps with a sharply upturned toe — a silhouette that mirrored the collection’s focus on shape and scale.

Her shoe choices often favor structure and shape over comfort. From feather-adorned Ferragamo pumps to convex heels and thick-soled boots, Ross gravitates toward pairs that add dimension, even when they push against current trends. She’s also known to use footwear strategically. At Kendrick Lamar’s Grand National tour in May, she wore Bottega Veneta’s Lug boots, a flat, oversized style she’s said helps balance out her long legs.

Ross paired the shoes with a sleeveless ivory midi dress, softly draped through the waist and hem. The clean palette continued down to black leggings layered underneath, while a vivid red mesh fascinator lent graphic contrast above the neckline.

On “Watch What Happens Live,” the So Kate served as a sharp counterpoint to the draped volume of her dress. It’s one of Louboutin’s most recognizable styles — not revised, not softened — and for Ross, despite whatever discomfort she may be feeling, it remains a go-to.