Anna Cathcart's burgundy slingbacks sharpen her petite XO, Kitty press look

Anna Cathcart found the sweet spot every petite dresser wants: a look with enough attitude to read fashion-forward, but enough restraint to stay polished. The key piece was her $79 burgundy Charles & Keith slingbacks, which gave a cropped plaid corset set structure instead of costume energy. A pointed toe, a slim ankle strap and a modest 2.5-inch heel lengthened the line of her leg without towering over the outfit.

Cathcart wore the look on April 6, 2026, when she visited TODAY in New York City to promote the third season of XO, Kitty. In the episode, Kitty Song Covey is heading into her senior year of high school in Korea, and the season also brings Cathcart back together with Lana Condor. Netflix says season 3 premiered April 2, 2026, and the reunion lands with a neat bit of nostalgia, since the two characters had not appeared together on screen in four years.

What makes the shoes work for shorter legs is the balance. Charles & Keith’s Sonali Bow Slingback Pump in burgundy pairs dainty bows with slim straps across the instep, a sharp pointed toe and a slender stiletto heel, all details that keep the shoe visually light. The slingback strap matters, too. It adds security, but it also leaves the heel area open, which keeps the silhouette from looking heavy. On a petite frame, that small amount of exposed skin can do a lot of quiet lifting.

The corset set helps for the same reason. REVOLVE lists the Aniye By Daliah Corset Top in Stone Check at $241, and the cropped cut keeps the waist visible, which is exactly where petite dressing tends to look best. A defined waistline and proportion-conscious silhouette do more than chase a trend; they create shape before the outfit ever gets dramatic. That is why this kind of press look reads chic on Anna Cathcart and not overworked.

If you want to borrow the effect for real life, the formula is simple: keep the top cropped or tightly fitted at the waist, swap any ankle-breaking hem for something that stops above the shoe line, and choose a pointed slingback instead of a chunky platform. A low heel in burgundy or another deep neutral will still sharpen the leg, while a strap that sits close to the ankle keeps the look anchored. For petites, that is the difference between wearing a corset set and letting it wear you.