Black Heels Are Fine, But in Portofino, Everyone Knows That This Shoe Color Looks Chicer With Dresses
If there were one thing I learned from my trip to Portofino two summers ago, it's that the small fishing village turned glamorous vacation destination and hub for luxury pop-ups has some of the best people watching, well, ever. Sure, there are interesting characters all around the yacht-lined harbor, but I mostly enjoyed sitting back at a café and checking out the view because of the outfits everyone there wore. Let's just say that summer style was on display, and I was taking notes.
Of course, that was two years ago, so perhaps circumstances have changed. But after perusing some paparazzi photos taken there this weekend of actress Tessa Thompson and her boyfriend, Brandon Green, I'm convinced that Portofino street style is still as elite as ever. And this time, my notes had just one takeaway: Ditch my black heels and swap them in for red ones whenever I'm wearing dresses for the rest of summer 2025.
On Tessa Thompson: The Row Vika Leather Sandals ($1100)
For a stroll through the seaside town, Thompson donned a cream-colored sundress with black sunglasses, a camo-print bag, and a pair of The Row's near-sold-out red Vika sandals. She could have easily chosen the same style or another heeled sandal in black, a "safer" choice, but she didn't, and her vacation outfit benefited from the decision. Her red kitten-heel sandals offered an unexpected twist to the traditional summer dress-and-sandals ensemble, turning it into an instantly copy-worthy look.
Follow Thompson's lead by shopping the selection of dresses and red heels below.
Shop dresses with red heels:
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
-
FYI: If You Wear This Dated Sneaker Trend in Fall 2025, Make Sure It's With Baggy Jeans
Because Gwyneth Paltrow says so.
-
Stylish Women All Over Milan Are Suddenly Swapping Out Their Classic Pumps for This "Dated" Shoe Trend
Spotted on Shailene Woodley.
-
Yes, Fashion People Are Still Wearing Leggings, But Only This Specific Style (and Not With Sneakers)
The comfy-chic pairing we spot on every L.A. and New York It girl.
-
Not Black, Not White: The Very 2025 Sneaker Color Trend Fashion People Are Wearing to the Airport RN
Spotted on Emily Ratajkowski at JFK airport.
-
Breaking: Meghan Markle Just Endorsed Wearing Navy With This Über Rich Shoe Color (It's Not Black or White)
Both her halter dress and classic heels are still available.
-
I'm a Gen Z Fashion Editor—This Is the NYC-Approved Fall 2025 Outfit Trend I'm Copying Bar for Bar
Tessa Thompson knows the key pieces.
-
Not Ballet Flats, Not Loafers—Amelia Gray Just Wore the Flat-Shoe Trend in Italy That's Everywhere This Fall
Spotted at Milan Fashion Week.
-
Spotted at JFK Airport: The Anti-Trend Sneakers Olivia Wilde Swears By for Long-Haul Flights
Affordable, comfortable, and beloved by It girls in London, Paris, and NYC.