Why Tracee Ellis Ross Used a Height-illusion Styling Hack in Boots for Kendrick Lamar's Concert

When Tracee Ellis Ross attended the Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National tour on Friday in Los Angeles, she was dressed largely for comfort. The actress wore a pair of leather shorts and a t-shirt while attending the event at SoFi Stadium in a celebrity-packed suite, which included Amelia Gray Hamlin and her sister Delilah Belle. Over the shirt she wore a blue high-neck canvas jacket from Chloe featuring gathering at its epaulettes. She anchored the look with a pair of chunky boots.

Though the Bottega Veneta “Lug” boot matched well with the leather shorts, for Ross, the thick shoes served another purpose. The daughter of Diana Ross has said she uses the footwear for its thick, flat soles to mitigate the appearance of the length of her legs, which she attributes to having extra long femurs.

As a result, Ross has collected shoes like the Bottega Veneta Puddle as well as the oversized Balenciaga Triple S. She also owns multiple other pairs of chunky Balenciaga sneakers. The “Lug” combat boot falls squarely within this pattern.

The “Lug” includes a thick midsole as well as a treaded, titular, lug sole. The lace-up iteration hails back to the company’s fall 2022 collection, which was the debut for Matthieu Blazy at the brand.