Kaia Gerber Embraces 1950s Dressing in Ballet Block Heels and Polka Dot Dress for Tribeca Film Festival

Kaia Gerber embraced retro feminine fashion at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday with a pair of low-heeled ballet shoes and a polka-dot dress. She attended the premiere of the film “Gonzo Girl” directed by Patricia Arquette.

The actress and model opted for a balletic heel to complement her red and white polka dot dress. A spin on a pump and a ballet flat, the ivory-hued shoes featured a low-cut vamp, rounded toe and a short block heel; a small bow at the vamp emphasized the daintiness of the shoes.

Gerber stepping out in this set could be viewed as part of the kitten heel resurgence, though Elizabeth Semmelhack, director and curator of the Bata Shoe Museum, said, “A kitten heel isn’t just a shoe with a lower heel, the heel must be a very low stiletto heel to qualify.”

Though Gerber wasn’t modeling short stilettos, she was still embracing the subtlety of a low heel — a retro aesthetic that aligned with her dress.

Gerber paired the shoes with a pattern that’s trending this season: polka dots. The classic pattern has been showcased in designer collections and worn by a range of celebrities, including Sarah Jessica Parker. Gerber modeled the look with a halter-neck dress from Réalisation, featuring small white polka dots against a bold red backdrop. The dress featured a V-neck and a flowy skirt that reached around her knees. The actress maintained her dainty aesthetic with a thin gold necklace.

Gerber recently lent her modeling talent to Sarah Burton’s first campaign for Givenchy.

“Kaia Gerber and Halina Reijn captured something I love about how creative women collaborate,” Burton said in an exclusive statement shared with WWD. “The idea behind my first campaign for Givenchy was to focus on the friendship between a film director and an actress. I wanted it to celebrate the female gaze.”