Tracee Ellis Ross modeled two popular footwear trends via one shoe look while appearing as a guest on the podcast “Aspire with Emma Grede,” thanks to her Alaïa shoes, which merged the animal print trend with the thong sandal trend.
Ross wore a pair of leopard-print mule sandals with a minimalist construction; the set featured a classic flip-flop thong strap, an almond toe, and a stiletto kitten heel measuring 2.25 inches. Crafted with dyed horse hair, the style retails for $1,350 from the luxury brand founded by the late Tunisian designer Addezine Alaïa.
Alaïa mule
The animal print look is proving to be hot right now in footwear, from Nike unveiling zebra and cow print versions of the Field General sneaker to Conner Ives reimagining archival Jimmy Choo styles in cheetah print and zebra in collaboration with the brand. Similar to the big cat theme, snakeskin shoes are trending as well, with stars like Sofia Richie and Jennifer Aniston showcasing the reptilian look lately.
Meanwhile, the thong silhouette became one of the most popular footwear looks of the summer, and it made its way onto spring 2026 runways as well. Balenciaga, for example, is keeping the look going for next year, having presented interesting updates to the style with platforms and fun straps during Paris Fashion Week.
The flip-flop has been very much embraced in the celebrity world, serving as an easygoing accent to outfits like Hailey Bieber’s blue jeans, white T-shirt and black leather jacket combo or Zoë Kravitz’s vintage denim suit. In Ross’ recent look, the thong sandal was given extra flair courtesy of the on-trend leopard print. Thanks to their wild design, the shoes stood out as a statement piece contrasting Ross’ all-white ensemble, which included a breezy white tiered skirt and a button-down blouse.
Emma Grede and Tracee Ellis Ross
