Kerry Washington Brings Patent Edge to Classic Tweed With Louboutin’s Reinvented Miss Z Pump

Christian Louboutin’s latest stiletto made its way into Harlem on Tuesday night, as Kerry Washington joined Audible to kick off CultureCon with the launch of “Prophecy” Season Two. The actress and executive producer punctuated the event in the maison’s Miss Z pump — a pointed patent silhouette that has quickly become a red-carpet favorite among Hollywood stylists.

The Miss Z was designed as a counterpoint to Louboutin’s razor-thin So Kate. Washington’s pair carried a high-gloss finish and a pin-thin heel, but the technical rework was in the structure: a slightly wider toe box that softens the pinch, a padded insole for wearability and the maison’s coated “Everlasting Red” sole built for longevity on the pavement as much as the carpet.

Washington paired the heels with a tweed skirt suit from LaQuan Smith, styled in a boxy jacket and abbreviated hemline. The clean tailoring created a sharp foil to the glossy footwear, creating an overall textural but streamlined look.

For Louboutin, the Miss Z represents a generational pivot. First shown during Paris Fashion Week for spring 2025, the style has already found early adopters in Doja Cat, Nicole Kidman and Ciara. The silhouette also falls in line with Washington’s affinity for minimalist pumps with clean finishes and stripped-down detailing. During Milan Fashion Week last month, that meant burgundy Prada stilettos; on U.S. carpets this summer, she pared it back with classic black pairs at the BET Awards and the Met Gala.

At Harlem Parish, the look doubled as promotion for Washington’s latest project with Audible. She returns as star and executive producer of “Prophecy,” a supernatural audio drama that follows her character, Dr. Virginia Edwards, as she fights to protect her son amid escalating global events. Season Two, which debuted Sept. 25, expands the cast to include Giancarlo Esposito and Dulé Hill.