Converse and Vaquera Turn a Skate Shoe Into a Kitten Heel With Kim Petras
The skatepark meets the nightclub in this unexpected new silhouette.
Converse and Vaquera are back with another footwear curveball, introducing the VX-1 Heel, a new silhouette that takes the classic skate shoe and gives it an unexpected night-out twist. Fronted by Grammy-winning pop star Kim Petras, the latest release continues the duo’s shared love of subverting familiar fashion codes. We did not see this one coming.
Inspired by Converse’s archived CS Pro-1 skate shoe, the VX-1 Heel pairs a padded, sporty upper with a kitten heel, creating a hybrid that feels ready for both the skatepark and the club. The design features a perforated suede upper, padded mesh tongue and wide laces threaded through molded eyelet covers. Star Chevron branding, a co-branded rubber tongue label and translucent heel detailing round out the look, while a gum rubber outsole keeps its skate-inspired roots intact.
For the accompanying campaign, Petras is photographed inside a miniature house, using exaggerated scale to play with the idea of refusing to be boxed in. It’s a fitting visual for Vaquera, the New York-founded label known for its surrealist approach to fashion and penchant for challenging convention.
The release follows the pair’s first partnership in 2025, which reworked the Chuck Taylor All Star into slouchy, wedge-heeled styles. This time, they’re taking things further with an entirely new model that brings a rebellious edge to the kitten heel. If you thought you’d seen the last of sneaker heels, think again.
The VX-1 Heel launches on October 27 via the Converse and Vaquera websites.
In other news, Hypebae caught up with Mert Alas to talk about shaping Miley Cyrus’ new era.
