Phillip Lim's Bizarre Ankle Boots Give The Illusion Of Wearing Pumps and Fishnets.

The ‘Francis’ Mesh and Leather Ankle Boot from 3.1 PHILLIP LIM is a black leather ankle boot with a mesh covered nude suede insert. The shoe gives the illusion of fishnet tights and peep toe heel.








Almond toe. Stiletto heel. Exposed zip down back. Leather lined. Cushioned leather insole. 70% Sheep Leather, 30% Polyamide Upper, Leather Sole.

USA:
$625
buy the Francis Ankle Boots here

UK:
£565
buy the 3.1 Phillip Lim Francis Ankle Boots here.

Artist Boyarde Messenger Hand Paints Charlotte Olympia's Dolly Pumps As Famous Paintings For Neiman Marcus.

Designer Charlotte Olympia re-interprets her Dolly shoe by taking inspiration from the great painters of the Twentieth century for Neiman Marcus and Art Basel Miami. Charlotte Olympia hired British artist, photography and body art painter Boyarde Messenger to reinterpret the works of Pablo Picasso, Howard Hodgkin, Vincent Van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Piet Mondrian on her signature Dolly Pumps. Boyarde hand-painted 100 pairs for the Neiman Marcus Charlotte Olympia project.


above: Boyarde Messenger painting the Van Gogh shoes for Charlotte Olympia (photo courtesy of http://boyardelovesart.wordpress.com)

With each pair painstakingly hand-painted by Boyarde (you can see her entire process here), the results are high-heeled works of art.







Composited shoe and art images shown above by If It's Hip, It's Here.

The shoes were created for the Neiman Marcus Charlotte Olympia project and debuted at Art Basel.

Boyarde Messenger
Charlotte Olympia

Voltage - Shockingly Cool Couture By Iris van Herpen With Electrifying Kicks for United Nude.

The edgy fashion designer from the Netherlands does it again with her latest shoe design for United Nude, part of her latest Haute Couture Collection named Voltage, all of which is shown after the shoes.

The Voltage Shoes by Iris van Herpen for United Nude:
Continuing the collaboration for the seventh season, United Nude and Iris Van Herpen joined forces to create another shoe for her Haute Couture show in Paris. These handcrafted leather ankle booties were made for Van Herpen’s Voltage collection and their availability will be very limited.



United Nude

Iris van Herpen SS 2013 Haute Couture Voltage Collection:


For her fourth collection presented in Paris as a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, Iris van Herpen explores the idea of electricity and the light it creates. Experimenting with its use in the field of creation, this collection seeks to render its tangible movement and power.




This light and electricity’s ability to change states and bodies is being reproduced using the most innovative technologies. Described as an alchemist fashion approach, Van Herpen’s designs perpetually initiate new collaborations with artists, architects and researchers.




As part of the show there was a performance arranged by New Zealand artist Carlos Van Camp, echoing his notion of controlling high voltage electricity and its interaction with the human body. Van Camp became known for founding “The Lords of Lightning,” an innovative show that depicts two fighters exchanging real lightning with three million volts running through their bodies.



Van Herpen shares Canadian architect Philip Beesley’s fascination with materials and structures. They focus specifically on how the reaction of chemistry and electricity causes structures to respond to their environment and react as living beings.

Iris van Herpen is also know for being todays leading fashion designer in the use of 3D printing. Drawing on the idea of movement, this technical revolution is the result of collaborations with Neri Oxman Keren Oxman of the MIT Media Lab, architect Julia Koerner, and Materialise.

United Nude
Iris van Herpen

A Shoe Lovers' Holiday Fantasy. Red-Soled Christmas Trees For Christian Louboutin Boutiques.

Shoe lovers and Foot Fetishists will delight in these designer Christmas Trees. Studio XAG has created fabulous red-soled Christmas Trees inspired by Christian Louboutin's classic Pigalle spike-heeled pumps that are featured in the windows and interiors of the Christian Louboutin boutiques in Paris and Geneva. As admirers of the brand know, the red sole is an attribute of the luxury label's stunning shoes.



A cast of the brand's classic Pigalle shoe served as the bulk of the design for the trees:








Each red-soled tree is topped with a sparkly Pigalle open-toed pump in various colors as the 'star':



The trees in the windows are set against mirrored backdrops and rotate for the full effect:


photos (some cropped) by Susie Rea, courtesy of Studio XAG

Holy High Heels! People Climbing Platform Leather Boots by United Nude.

A brand new not yet released limited edition shoe from United Nude features a black leather zippered platform ankle boot embellished with three dimensional gold-tone metal human figures atop some of the highest heels I've ever seen.






On their facebook page, United Nude commented that perhaps Lady Gaga, who is launching her new perfume at Macy's in NY today, would rock them. I can't really think of anyone who better suited to do some steppin' in these outrageous shoes.

United Nude

Fierce, Furry, Feathery & Floral. The A/W 2012-13 Alexander McQueen Collection.

Sarah Burton's fourth collection for Alexander McQueen is her most feminine collection to date. But not without an edge. The Womenswear collection for Autumn/Winter 2012-13 is filled with flowing and soft materials coupled with metal edged shoes, accessories and eye shields.





The Textiles
Marabou Feathers, Mongolian lamb, mink accents and dense layers of organza and tulle in pale pinks, lavenders, taupe, mauve, grey, black, ivory, white and a vibrant fuschia make up the collection. Feathers, furs and silver dandelion and enamel blossom embroideries float on textured surfaces. Funnel necks, Mongolian lamb collars, trapeze lines, cape-backs and bell-shaped, rolled skirts dominate. Pale silk and mohair jacquards appliquéd with felt flowers give way to black and white laser-cut pony-skin over leather and hand-massaged printed, degradé silks and ruffled organzas.












Like one fierce fairytale, the models -with slicked back hair- were clad in shield-like eyewear that covered most of their faces as they donned ensembles that resembled a new species of organic flora.




Hammered metal harnessing (which resembles belts and jewelry) added a hard edge to the otherwise soft and flowing fabrics.






The silhouette becomes increasingly three-dimensional and overblown as the collection progresses. Shape, texture, print and embellishment explode, initially from the waist and finally from the neck down.

The entire Alexander McQueen Fall Winter 2012-2013 Womenswear Collection:































The Shoes:













A video of the runway show:


Alexander McQueen