Sculptural Heels: 10 A.W.A.K.E. MODE Styles to Know in 2026

Sculptural heels treat the heel as a shaped object rather than a plain support: a swan neck, a cylinder of wood, a curve, a carved wedge. A.W.A.K.E. MODE builds its footwear around them, from the 90 mm swan-heeled Christine Cousin pump to 70 mm curved wedges, all made in Italy and available at Coveti.

What are sculptural heels?

A sculptural heel is one designed to be looked at, where the shape of the heel is the main point of the shoe.

Most heels are engineered to disappear: a slim stiletto, a neat block. A sculptural heel does the opposite. It takes on a form of its own, curved, carved, cylindrical and sometimes figurative, and it often contrasts with the upper in colour and finish. The rest of the shoe tends to stay quiet so the heel can carry the design.

That is why sculptural heels work so well with simple clothes. A black column dress, a cropped trouser and a plain knit all give the heel space to be seen.

Why does A.W.A.K.E. MODE design sculptural heels?

Because its footwear applies the same thinking as its tailoring: familiar shapes, deliberately cut off balance.

A.W.A.K.E. MODE (shoppers also search it as “Awake Mode”) was founded in London in 2012 by Natalia Alaverdian, formerly fashion director of Harper’s Bazaar Russia, and shows on the Paris Fashion Week calendar. The label is known for classic suiting codes moved out of place: collars at the hem, attached shirt-skirts, volume-contrast jackets. On the feet, that becomes curved and swan-shaped heels, oversized bows and a fan-shaped palm vamp. Read more about the founder in our profile of Natalia Alaverdian.

What does the A.W.A.K.E. MODE swan heel look like?

The swan heel is a figurative, swan-shaped heel set under a square-toe pump, and it is the most recognisable shoe in the range.

It appears on the Christine Cousin Shoes With Swan Heel in black with a contrasting silver and gold heel ($1,700), and on a nude version ($1,640). Both stand at 90 mm. The upper is nappa leather with a square toe, a partial open-toe construction and a delicate strap, a clean frame that lets the heel take over.

The swan is a recurring idea at the label. The Closed Neckline Sculpted Swan Dress ($1,510) carries the motif into ready-to-wear, and the two together make a deliberate pairing for evening.

What is the cylindrical heel on the Christine Cousin pump?

It is a straight, column-shaped heel, set on the same 90 mm Christine Cousin pump as the swan heel.

The Christine Cousin Shoes in brown ($1,300) have a sculptural cylindrical wooden heel, so the grain of the wood becomes part of the design. The red and white version ($1,300) is asymmetric, with contrasting red and white sides and a cylindrical heel in matching colour. Same square toe, same partial open toe, same strap; only the heel changes the mood.

Which A.W.A.K.E. MODE shoes have curved heels?

The Edda, Lauren and Solenne styles sit on curved sculptural heels, and the Remy carries its curve in the vamp.

• The Edda Sandal With Bow ($1,320) pairs a curved 100 mm heel with a giant bow across a square, partially open toe.
• The Lauren Rounded Sandal With Laces ($1,350) is brown nappa leather with rounded toes, lace-up detailing at the vamp, a slingback strap and a curved 100 mm heel.
• The Lauren Sandal in Dalmatian print ($1,490) is printed calf hair with an elongated angular toe and a sculptural curved 100 mm heel.
• The Solenne Shoe ($1,080) is croc-embossed leather with a softly squared toe, a raised vamp panel and a curved 80 mm heel.
• The Remy Shoe ($1,180) has an elongated pointed toe and a curved vamp detail at the front, set on a slim 75 mm heel.

For a lower curve, the Lea Shoe With Palm ($1,320) has a curved 50 mm kitten heel under a fan-shaped vamp of layered strips. It runs large, so take a size down.

What is a sculpted wedge heel?

It is a wedge carved into a curve, so it has the stability of a wedge with the profile of a sculptural heel.

The Arna Shoe in black patent leather ($1,180) sits on curved wedge heels in contrasting metallic silver and gold, which creates an asymmetric detail across the pair. The Arna Shoe in python ($1,220) is python embossed leather all over, with the same textured finish continuing onto the 70 mm wedge.

The same idea carries into boots. The Viggo Boot ($1,510) has a subtly curved, cowboy-inspired silhouette on a sculpted 70 mm wedge. Note that the Viggo runs large. Our python cowboy boots guide covers the Western styles in more detail.

How high are A.W.A.K.E. MODE sculptural heels?

They range from 50 mm on the Lea Shoe With Palm to 100 mm on the Edda and Lauren sandals.

Prices are as listed on Coveti at the time of writing. See every height in our designer heels and designer sandals categories.

Which sculptural heel height should you choose?

Choose by occasion: 50 to 70 mm for daytime and long evenings on your feet, 80 to 100 mm when the shoe is the event.

The wedge styles are the most practical sculptural option, since the wedge sits under more of the foot than a slim heel does. The Arna at 70 mm is the one to wear to work with cropped tailoring. The 90 mm Christine Cousin family suits dinners and events, and the 100 mm Edda and Lauren sandals are for occasions spent mostly seated, where the shoe will be seen.

If you are new to the look, start low. The Lea Shoe With Palm gives you the brand’s sculptural thinking on a kitten heel, and our kitten heel knee high boots guide covers the low-heel boots too.

How do you style sculptural heels?

Keep the outfit simple and the hem short enough to show the heel.

The brand’s own advice runs the same way: wear the pair with cropped tailoring so the shape of the heel stays in view, and let a black column dress do the rest. A full-length trouser that pools on the floor hides exactly the part you paid for. Cropped flares, ankle-length tailoring and midi skirts all leave the heel visible.

Colour helps too. A metallic heel, like the silver and gold on the Arna and the swan-heeled Christine Cousin, works as jewellery, so keep other accessories minimal.

How do A.W.A.K.E. MODE heels fit?

Most styles fit true to size in Italian sizing from IT 36 to 41, with a few exceptions.

Italian and EU sizes are the same scale; as a guide, an EU 38 is about a UK 5 and a US 8. The Lea Shoe With Palm and the Viggo boots run large, and the brand advises taking a size down. The Lauren sandals come in a shorter run, IT 37 to 40. Every A.W.A.K.E. MODE shoe is made in Italy, and the current styles have leather insoles and soles. Full details are in our A.W.A.K.E. MODE size guide, and the complete footwear range is in A.W.A.K.E. MODE shoes. Shop the label on the A.W.A.K.E. MODE brand page.

Frequently asked questions

What is a sculptural heel?

A sculptural heel is a heel designed as a shaped object in its own right, such as a swan neck, a cylinder, a curve and a carved wedge, so that the heel becomes the focal point of the shoe.

Which A.W.A.K.E. MODE shoe has a swan heel?

The Christine Cousin Shoes With Swan Heel, a 90 mm square-toe pump in nappa leather, offered in black with a silver and gold heel and in nude.

How high are A.W.A.K.E. MODE sculptural heels?

They run from 50 mm on the Lea Shoe With Palm to 100 mm on the Edda and Lauren sandals. The Christine Cousin pumps are 90 mm and the Arna and Viggo wedges are 70 mm.

Are A.W.A.K.E. MODE heels true to size?

Most styles fit true to size in Italian sizing. The Lea Shoe With Palm and the Viggo boots run large, so take a size down.

Where are A.W.A.K.E. MODE shoes made?

A.W.A.K.E. MODE shoes are made in Italy, and the current styles have leather insoles and leather soles.