Tassel Heels: The Sebastian Milano Signature, Style by Style

Tassel heels are shoes with a tassel, a small bunch of tied strands, set on the heel itself rather than on the toe as on a tassel loafer. At Sebastian Milano the tassel heel is a house signature, carried on a 95 mm heel across the Fifi slingback, the Rama ankle boot, the Martine mule and the Vanessa and Stella sandals, all in designer heels at Coveti. The house has a second signature too, the 95 mm Coco heel, which you will also find on the styles in our Sebastian Milano slingbacks guide.

What is a tassel heel?

A tassel is a bunch of threads tied together at one end and left to hang as decoration. In shoes, most people know it from the tassel loafer, where the tassels sit on the front of the shoe. A tassel heel moves the detail to the back. It hangs from the heel, so you see it as the wearer walks away, and it moves with each step.

That placement is the whole point. The front of a tassel heel can stay plain, with a pointed toe and a clean vamp, while the detail sits where few other shoes put anything at all.

Why Sebastian Milano uses it

The house describes the finish on the Rama as its “house tassel”, on a 95 mm flute heel. The same signature runs through five styles at Coveti, from a slingback to an ankle boot, which makes it the easiest way to recognise the brand across a room. Sebastian Milano began in 1970 as a shop in Via Gesu, making handmade shoes for big Milanese evenings such as opening night at La Scala, and the tassel heel belongs to that dressed-up tradition.

Sebastian Milano tassel heels, style by style

Fifi Slingback

The Fifi has an open back held by a slim slingback strap with silver buckles, and a toe that tapers to a point. It is the tassel heel to start with, because a slingback shows the heel more than any other shape. The Fifi Slingback in burgundy leather is the autumn choice; the Fifi in white silk satin is the one to look at for a wedding, and our Sebastian Milano bridal shoes guide covers it in that role. There is also a brown silk satin version. Note that the burgundy Fifi is listed in EU 37 to 41 only.

Rama Ankle Boot

The Rama takes the tassel onto a boot. It stops just above the ankle bone, with a pointed toe and buckles at the side, and the 95 mm flute heel ends in the tassel. The Rama in olive green patent with silver buckles is $1,030, and the black nappa version with gold buckles is $1,090. For autumn winter 2026/27 it is the most wearable tassel heel in the range, since it goes under trousers and with tights. More boots are in our guide to Sebastian Milano boots.

Martine Mule

The Martine slips on with no back strap, which leaves the tassel heel fully on show. The Martine Mule in black and cream patent is a two-tone that works with black tailoring, and the silver and black textured leather version is the evening one. Both are lined in nude goatskin leather with a black leather sole.

Vanessa and Stella sandals

Both sandals have straps across the toes and around the heel on the same 95 mm tassel heel. The Vanessa Sandal in black and red is $930, with a silver and black version alongside it. The Stella Sandal in gold grained leather with gold buckles is $720, the lowest price of any tassel heel here. For party dressing, see how to wear gold heels.

The other signature: the Coco heel

If the tassel heel is the soft signature, the Coco heel is the hard one. It is a 95 mm sculpted metal-tone stiletto, and it shows up on three styles at Coveti. Where the tassel moves, the Coco heel catches light.

Louise, Rene and Karen

The Louise Slingback in burgundy patent has silver buckles and a pointed toe, and also comes in black and white patent, at $830. The Rene Slingback in black textured patent is $810, with a fine strap holding the heel. The Karen Pump is the closed version: a black textured patent pump with a pointed toe on the Coco heel, at $860.

Which signature should you pick?

Choose the tassel heel if you want movement and a softer, more decorative finish; it suits silk, satin and bare legs. Choose the Coco heel if you want a sharper, more graphic shoe for tailoring; it reads better in black patent with a dark trouser. Both are the same height, so the choice is about look, not comfort.

How to wear tassel heels

Show the heel. The tassel is at the back of the shoe, so a cropped trouser, a midi skirt and a bare ankle all let it be seen. A floor-length hem hides it.

• Fifi in burgundy with grey wool trousers cut just above the ankle.
• Martine in black and cream with a black slip dress.
• Stella in gold with a long column dress for an evening event.
• Rama in olive with dark denim and a cream knit.

Keep the rest of the outfit quiet. A shoe that moves when you walk does not need sequins above it. For more party options across brands, see our edit of party shoes.

Fit and sizing

The house recommends going half a size up when you are between sizes. Coveti stocks whole EU sizes from 35 to 42, so between sizes means the next whole size up. Mules and slingbacks hold the foot with less material than a closed pump, so a correct length matters more on the Martine and Fifi than on the Karen.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tassel heel?

A tassel heel is a shoe with a tassel, a small bunch of tied strands, hanging from the heel instead of sitting on the toe. It moves as you walk and is seen from behind. At Sebastian Milano it is a house signature on a 95 mm heel.

Which Sebastian Milano shoes have a tassel heel?

At Coveti the tassel heel appears on the Fifi slingback, the Rama ankle boot, the Martine mule and the Vanessa and Stella sandals. All five stand on a 95 mm heel. Prices run from $720 to $1,090.

What is the Sebastian Milano Coco heel?

The Coco heel is a 95 mm sculpted metal-tone stiletto. It is the second Sebastian Milano signature heel. At Coveti you find it on the Louise and Rene slingbacks and the Karen pump.

Are tassel heels comfortable to walk in?

The Sebastian Milano tassel heels are 95 mm high, which is a mid to high heel, so comfort depends on how often you wear that height. The Rama ankle boot holds the foot best because the whole foot is enclosed. The Martine mule has no back strap, so it needs a precise fit.

What should I wear with tassel heels?

Choose hems that show the back of the shoe, such as cropped trousers and midi skirts. Keep the rest of the outfit simple so the tassel is the detail people notice. A floor-length hem hides it.