Jenna Ortega has been making Marrakesh her runway. Over the course of the International Film Festival, the actor has delivered a masterclass in modern red-carpet dressing, moving seamlessly between designers with the confidence of someone who understands fashion as both armour and art. There was emerald green by Nigerian designer Torlowei, a sculptural, feathered moment from Bevza, and an ivory Dolce & Gabbana gown punctuated with a devotional cross. But amid the couture rotation, it was Ortega’s footwear that delivered the clearest fashion message of all: the stacked heel is back—and she’s intent on making it unavoidable.
For the festival’s closing night, Ortega stepped out in a scarlet Lanvin gown that clung and draped in all the right places. The dress, fastened at the neck with a silver choker and finished with a single bell sleeve, was pure drama. Below the hemline, however, lay the true headline: towering silver Dolce & Gabbana platform sandals, complete with a substantial block heel and ankle strap engineered for what might best be described as elegant defiance of gravity.
This wasn’t an isolated styling choice. Ortega, who stands at a petite 4ft 11in, has long embraced vertiginous footwear as part of her signature silhouette. Her relationship with height-enhancing shoes is both practical and expressive—allowing her to inhabit sweeping gowns with sculptural ease. She paired her dramatic Bevza look with Roker Highbury boots (a near-four-inch platform and a heel soaring well beyond seven), a favourite she’s worn from museum galas to low-key New York outings. Elsewhere, metallic Dolce & Gabbana platforms and stacked Christian Louboutin sandals have rounded out her off-duty rotation.
What Ortega is tapping into is a wider fashion revival. The stacked heel—once synonymous with ’70s decadence and early-2000s excess—is quietly reclaiming its place in the spotlight. At Chloé, Chemena Kamali continues to make a compelling case for the bohemian wedge. Valentino’s jewel-toned platforms refuse to fade into archive status, while Sabrina Carpenter remains loyal to Versace’s sky-high Medusa Aevitas. Even Prada has revisited its platform history, reworking archival derby-espadrilles for a new generation—less party-girl, more intellectual edge.
As party season accelerates and awards-season red carpets loom, Ortega’s message feels timely and deliberate. The stacked heel isn’t about subtlety or restraint; it’s about presence. Expect to see more platforms, more height, and more unapologetic footwear moments in the months ahead. If you’re wondering whether to add a pair to your own rotation, consider this your cue—Jenna Ortega has already done the groundwork.
