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The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are being celebrated with a star-studded opening ceremony on Friday, including a performance from Mariah Carey.
Ready for chilly temperatures in Milan — though not as cold as Cortina, about 250 miles away — the celebrity and athlete guests are gathering at Teatro Alla Scala in ensembles reflective of the winter season. Naturally, there are plenty of boots on display, along with other styles such as platform heels.
Below, FN rounds up the standout shoe looks from the opening ceremony, from Usher to Donatella Versace.
Usher went with a pair of brown suede almond-toe boots to ground his denim-on-denim ensemble. The blue jean look was complemented by a belt, a brown fur-lined bomber jacket and black scarf repping the USA and showcasing the Olympics logo.
Benito Skinner wore a pair of dark brown leather lace-up boots with a chunky silhouette including a lug sole. He also wore cream-colored pants, a USA sweater over a collared shirt and a multicolored coat.
Adam Rippon delivered a unique shoe look with Christian Louboutin boots, the brand’s Melon Spikes style. The black Chelsea boots featured a squared cap toe with melon spikes, bringing an edge to the set. A line of red streaked the midsole, nodding to the brand’s signature color. These shoes went with black pants and a patterned turtleneck sweater for the U.S.
Versace modeled a tightly fitted knee-length red dress and striking black pointed-toe platform pumps from Versace. In addition to a soaring heel and ankle strap, the shoes notably featured a platform, which jutted out beyond the upper for an extra chunky appearance.
Michelle Yeoh also went the platform route with an sky-high sneaker style. The white shoes showcased a stacked platform design with a black section providing color contrast. The sneakers stood out against an all-black ensemble including skinny pants, a silky top, a fur coat and a fedora.
The 2026 Olympic Winter Games kick off on Friday and conclude on Feb. 22. Officially dubbed the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, the games will be held in Italy. Ice hockey, figure skating, alpine skiing and more events will take place over the course of the fortnight. Returning Olympians include Lindsey Vonn, Alysa Liu and Chloe Kim will return to the Winter Games representing the U.S. Coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics will air on NBC, which will broadcast daily coverage and primetime, as well as streaming on Peacock.
