Ariana Grande Shoes

Ariana Grande is known for towering heels, but her shoe story is wider than that. In recent years the headlines have covered a $495 ballet pump with a block heel, a $1,050 Valentino bow pump, sparkly platforms that one outlet called some of the tallest it had seen, and a pair of UGG boots worn on stage for a very practical reason.

Here are 6 Ariana Grande shoes moments, what each outlet reported, and simple ways to copy the idea. For her life story, see our Ariana Grande autobiography guide.

Quick Facts

• Newest pair on this list: Sandy Liang ballet pumps, reported on August 12, 2026.
• Priciest pair with a listed price: Valentino Garavani Bowow Pumps, listed at $1,050.
• Tallest pair: GCDS platforms that Who What Wear said had to be at least seven inches tall.
• Most practical pair: knee-high UGG boots worn after a foot injury.
• Best budget route: a block-heel pump, a ballet flat with socks or a plain knee-high boot.

1. The Sandy Liang Ballet Pumps

Marie Claire, in an article dated August 12, 2026, reports that Ariana wore Sandy Liang’s White Ballet Pump 40 on August 10 in New York City, shortly before her Eternal Sunshine Tour resumed in London. The shoes have 1.5-inch block heels, a small bow and a rounded patent leather toe, and the outlet lists them at $495 at SSENSE.

The outfit was relaxed: a black crewneck, dark straight-leg denim and a polka-dot tote. She wore the heels with socks.

What makes it work: a small heel and socks turn a dressy shoe into an everyday one.

2. The UGG Boots on Stage

The Tab, in a story dated September 1, 2026, says Ariana wore knee-high UGG boots on stage because she was recovering from a foot injury. According to the report, she had a deep cut on her foot, which was bandaged, and she said it was not a sprain or a muscle problem. She told fans on her Instagram Story that she would need “cozy footwear” for the show and possibly the next night, and that she might struggle to put weight on the foot.

The outlet places the performances on the final dates of her Eternal Sunshine tour, around August 31, 2026. It cites her Instagram Story and fan posts on X.

What makes it work: a soft, flat boot is a comfortable swap when heels are not an option.

3. The Valentino Bow Pumps in Tokyo

Who What Wear, in an article dated February 20, 2025, names the shoes as Valentino Garavani Bowow Pumps in Kidskin 45mm, listed at $1,050. The outlet says they have an oversize bow, a square-almond toe and a low block heel, and that they debuted in Valentino’s Avant les Débuts spring 2025 collection before being reimagined in the Pavillon des Folies collection. They also come in black and dusty rose.

A photo caption places her at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, wearing the white pumps with a long black coat and white lace tights. The article does not say when the photo was taken.

What makes it work: a big bow on a low heel is sweet without being hard to walk in.

4. The GCDS Platform Heels

Who What Wear, in an article dated November 8, 2021, says Ariana wore pink-and-white sparkly platforms from GCDS that “had to be at least seven inches tall.” The heels have ankle straps with the brand’s logo and first appeared at GCDS’s spring/summer 2022 runway show in Milan.

She was filming an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The article describes a custom GCDS “seashell-inspired” minidress with a separate strapless top, an oversize GCDS jacket listed at $952 and a choker with a pink teardrop diamond pendant. The outlet says it happened “last week” but does not give a date.

What makes it work: when the shoe is the loudest thing, the rest of the outfit can stay short and simple.

5. The Unravel Thigh-High Boots

Yahoo reports that Ariana wore baggy platform stiletto thigh-highs from Unravel for one song in an orange look, with a ruched tangerine miniskirt. The show was on a Monday night in Albany, New York, where her Sweetener tour opened. The article does not give a calendar date.

The headline calls the boots 7-inch heeled, but the body of the article gives no measurement.

What makes it work: one bright color from boot to skirt makes the whole look read as a single outfit.

6. The Thigh-High Heeled Boots

Who What Wear published an article on March 28, 2019, updated that August 14, saying Ariana is rarely seen without a pair of towering heels. The photo captions credit boots from Gianvito Rossi and Stuart Weitzman. The headline calls the style controversial but the article never explains why.

What makes it work: a thigh-high boot makes a legs-first look the centerpiece of the outfit.

What Ties Her Shoes Together

Across these reports, one idea repeats: height and shape do the talking. The shoe is either very tall, very sweet or very comfortable, and the clothes are built around it. A bow, a sparkle or a bright color gives each pair one clear detail. The 2026 reports also show a practical side: a casual pump with socks on a day off, and a soft boot when an injury called for it. Both are easier to copy than a seven-inch platform.

If you are shopping for the idea rather than the brand, ask three questions before you buy. Is the shape clear from a distance? Does it have one detail, such as a bow or a strap? And can you walk in it all day? Those answers matter more than any logo.

Her Shoes at a Glance

• March 2019: thigh-high heeled boots (Who What Wear).
• Sweetener tour opening: Unravel thigh-high boots in Albany (Yahoo, no exact date).
• November 2021: GCDS platforms on a talk show appearance.
• February 2025: Valentino bow pumps at a Tokyo airport.
• August 10, 2026: Sandy Liang ballet pumps in New York.
• Around August 31, 2026: UGG boots on stage.

She moves between very tall heels and softer shoes. That is our reading, not a claim from the outlets.

How to Copy Her Shoe Style

You do not need her brands. These ideas follow the shapes in the reports. We have no verified prices for lookalikes, so check them yourself.

• For the ballet pump look: a rounded-toe block heel with a small bow, worn with socks and jeans.
• For the bow pump look: a low block-heel pump with an oversize bow, worn with a long coat.
• For the platform look: a sparkly platform with an ankle strap and a short, simple dress.
• For the thigh-high look: a snug thigh-high boot with a mini skirt in one bright color.
• For the comfy look: a plain knee-high boot, soft and flat.

A simple rule: pick one standout pair and keep the rest of the outfit quiet.

Where the Sources Disagree

• The boot height. Yahoo’s headline calls the Unravel boots 7-inch heeled, but the article gives no measurement. Who What Wear says the GCDS platforms had to be “at least” seven inches, which is an estimate.
• Dates. Yahoo’s tour-opening report, the Valentino photo and the Tonight Show appearance have no exact date on the page.
• The tour end. The Tab places the UGG performances on the final dates around August 31, which is approximate.
• “Controversial.” Who What Wear’s 2019 headline uses the word but the article does not explain it.
• Prices. We list only prices that an outlet gave.
• Sources we skipped. Many low-quality websites rank for this topic, with copied text and no sources. We did not use them.

FAQ

What shoes does Ariana Grande wear? Mostly tall heels and thigh-high boots, plus softer pairs such as ballet pumps and UGG boots.

What ballet pumps did she wear in New York? Sandy Liang’s White Ballet Pump 40, listed at $495 at SSENSE by Marie Claire.

Why did she wear UGG boots on stage? The Tab says she was recovering from a foot injury and needed cozy footwear.

What are the white bow heels she wore in Tokyo? Valentino Garavani Bowow Pumps, listed at $1,050 by Who What Wear.

How tall were her GCDS platforms? Who What Wear said at least seven inches.

What boots did she wear to open her Sweetener tour? Yahoo reports baggy platform stiletto thigh-highs from Unravel, worn in Albany, New York.

Where were the Valentino pumps photographed? At Haneda Airport in Tokyo, per a Who What Wear photo caption.

How can I copy her style for less? Start with one block-heel pump or a plain knee-high boot and keep the rest of the outfit simple.

Final Thoughts

Ariana Grande’s shoes are as clear as her ponytail: one strong shape, one bold detail. A sweet bow, a huge platform or a soft boot can each carry an outfit. You can copy the shapes with items you already own, and the right pair matters more than the brand.

For more of her story, read our Ariana Grande autobiography guide or browse the whole Celebrity category.

Sources: Marie Claire · The Tab · Who What Wear (Valentino) · Who What Wear (GCDS) · Who What Wear (boots) · Yahoo