Gabby Thomas embraced the white hot shoes trend in strappy stilettos for the 2025 ESPY Awards red carpet in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The track and field star is nominated in the Best Athlete, Women’s Sports category.
The shoes, which featured a square-toe upper, were made with patent leather and characterized by a slender white strap across the toe box. A second strap was also present, crossing diagonally along the mid-foot for an eye-catching appearance. Although the back of her shoes couldn’t be seen completely, the mid-foot strap appeared to wrap around her ankle for added security. Completing the silhouette was a stiletto heel with an elevated height of approximately 4 to 5 inches.
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Thomas, who’s had a stellar year, matched her shoes with the Feather Trim Oscar Dress from PatBo, which features an asymmetrical cut and a feather trim along the skirt and the right sleeve. Styled in a one-shoulder design, the dress also features an attached neck wrap that adds to its avant-garde appearance. Although the dress is no longer sold in stores, its original retail price was $1,595.
Rounding out her accessories was a gold-toned plated bag with interlocking crystal rings in the front and matching dangling earrings. Sleeking her hair back into a bun, she kept her makeup neutral.
Thomas’s choice of strappy sandals aligns with the trend that many celebrities have been adopting in their recent appearances. Many brands, such as Stuart Weitzman, Chanel and Gucci, offer a wide range of strappy sandals with varying heel heights throughout the season. The shoe is often preferred for red carpets, as well as for formal and casual occasions, due to its versatility and ease of styling.
When Thomas isn’t in heels, you can find her in New Balance, as she is an ambassador for the brand. For the Olympics last year, the track star wore the FuelCell SuperComp MD-X v3 spike for the 200m race, and afterwards, Pete Riley, head of running sports marketing at New Balance, said, “We are beyond thrilled for Gabby winning gold in the 200m here in Paris. Gabby has proven to be a world class athlete and competitor among her many other accomplishments off the track. We’re so proud of her performance tonight and that she’s a part of the New Balance family.”
The 2025 ESPY Awards, hosted by comedian Shane Gillis, air live on Wednesday from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and stream on ESPN+. The annual event, presented by ESPN, brings together elite athletes, celebrities and sports fans to celebrate the most memorable achievements, moments and stories from the past year in sports.