Christie Brinkley brought a flash of tactile color to the East Hampton Library’s 21st Annual Authors Night on Saturday, arriving in a pair of bright red velvet Mary Jane flats.
The model and author’s shoes featured a rounded toe and low, flat rubber sole, grounded by black edging along the base. A slender strap crossed the instep, secured with a small, polished gold-tone buckle. The plush velvet finish gave the silhouette a saturated depth that stood out against the grassy venue.
Christie Brinkley attends the 21st Annual Authors Night Fundraiser to benefit the East Hampton Library on Aug. 9, 2025 in East Hampton, New York.
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The choice of a flat, closed-toe silhouette marked a comfortable turn for the model and entrepreneur, who earlier this week attended the Solving Kids Cancer annual luncheon in flowing Donna Karan Urban Zen separates alongside daughter Sailor Brinkley Cook. There, she kept her footwear understated beneath the breezy coords. Saturday’s look put more emphasis on the shoes, using texture and color to anchor the outfit.
A closer look at Christie Brinkley’s velvet Mary Jane flats.
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Brinkley paired the flats with tailored white shorts, cut high on the thigh and finished with front pleats and gold button fastenings, along with a white jacket embroidered with multicolored floral appliqués layered over a printed blouse. She finished the look with a straw tote trimmed in black and cream, adding a beach-adjacent note to the Hamptons evening.
Velvet Mary Janes tap into a wider movement toward tactile, low-profile flats — a seasonal shift that’s also fueled the resurgence of mesh, crochet and woven ballet styles. While the crochet flat has been a breakout favorite this summer, worn by names like Jennifer Lawrence, Lily James and Bella Hadid, Brinkley’s pair opts for plush saturation over transparency, aligning her with the trend while making it distinctly her own.
The Authors Night fundraiser remains one of the Hamptons’ most celebrated summer fixtures, drawing more than 100 authors and a roster of high-profile guests. Brinkley used the occasion to sign copies of her new memoir, “Uptown Girl,” which reflects on her life and career — including her marriage to Billy Joel — making the evening as much about storytelling as style.