How is a Louis Vuitton shoe made?

Like this...

Orgy of Shoes!

This post is really just an excuse to show some sexy shoe pics, but I thought I'd talk a little on summer/winter shoes since it's coming into summer now in Australia, while the fashion world is still in its Autumn/Winter season.


I really love the thigh-high boot as a winter shoe. This one is Burberry Prorsum (but of course!). They may look a little skankalicious just on their own, but I think they look super glamorous when you wear them with a trench coat or long jacket, in the style of the Burberry catwalk below.

Another trend that I don't really understand is the shearling obsession. It may just be because I live in tropical-climate Australia where we basically don't even have a winter season, but I do see the practicality of shearling I suppose. What I do love for winter is the mountain-style heel. Above is Burberry Prorsum combining the shearling and mountain styles and below is a pic of the incredibly cool Alaia shoes, posted at Sea of Shoes.

Coming into the s/s season, I still really love the wedge as a summer shoe. I'm pretty sure this is stemmed from my obsession with the show Weeds, and the teeny shorts and high wedges of Mary Louise Parker's character. The wedges above don't really give that summer feel, but hey, they're John Galliano and they're sexy!

The studded pumps above are Christian Louboutin - Kylie Minogue wears the gold version in her video Get Outta My Way.

I really love the shape of both the heel and the toe of all of these blue YSL beauties.

Noritaka Tatehana has a Swarovski crystal version of his Night Makers available on his online boutique and they are amazing! Could you imagine walking around in these babies? Lady Gaga eat your heart out!

I discovered these Dsquared2 skeleton-heeled shoes ages ago, but I'm so lazy I didn't bother uploading a pic. I think they are so edgy

Designer Profile: Noritaka Tatehana & His New Exhibition

Noritaka Tatehana appears to have soared to unprecedented popularity in the same vein as his most famous patron, ‘overnight’ pop superstar Lady Gaga.

Like Gaga, the Japanese visionary’s ionization into the fashion world seems to be constrained by no bounds, and having an international pop star shifting global media and fashion attention onto his designs, Tatehana sure has solidified (and earned) his unimpeded soar into fashion consciousness.

Noritaka Tatehana graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts just this year, having specialised in a type of Japanese dyeing called ‘Yuzen’ and ‘Katazome’. Tatehana learnt at a young age from his mother - who he says “teaches how to make Swedish dolls” – of the power of creation and produces shoes and bags using entirely self-taught methods.

Japanese fashion and culture has always fascinated me; from the seemingly innate national obsession with cuteness to the edgy contrasts of youth fashion on the streets of Harajuku. Japan appears to be the only place on Earth where there are no aesthetic rules and avant-garde flourishes out of obscurity and into the everyday wardrobe.

In contrast, I’m also an avid traditionalist when it comes to culture and history and, it would seem, so too is Tatehana. Talking with MTV, the designer explained, “I am interested in history and in the old culture and would like to divert them into modern world.” This is where Tatehana is different.

Tatehana designed the heelless Lady Gaga pumps as homage to “Kan Pokkuri,” which he explains “used to be clogs made of empty cans,” adding that “in the old days, Japanese children used to make these clogs, passing a cord through holes made in the cans.” The designer has also created several pieces which are almost entirely traditional with modern tweaks to satisfy the fashion desires of the Japanese youth.

The idea of a heelless shoe is certainly not new; from Nina Ricci’s fall 2009 heelless creations to costume designer Jochen Kronier’s uber-futuristic sci-fi pumps, which Kronier has produced since the mid-nineties. So what makes Tatehana’s designs so great? His passion! When I look at Tatehana’s work I can literally see the passion that has been concentrated and applied to create the pieces. Every item is expertly hand-crafted, and from his most recent exhibition just this week, showcases beautiful embossed textures and remarkable leather work.

It’s designers like Noritaka Tatehana who make me wish I didn’t say the words ‘amazing’, ‘beautiful’, and ‘awesome’ every four seconds so the words had more meaning when I describe their work! So instead I’ll urge everyone to continue to watch Tatehana, who in his embryonic stage of design, is the next Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin.

Visit Noritaka's website for more information.
Images by TokyoDandy.com

Roman-style shoe showcasing Tatehana's ah-mayzing texture work.

A modern twist on traditional Japanese footwear.

Yes... Those gold skyscrapers are actually really, really, really high shoes!

Light-Up Shoes: Stripper Chic or Fashion Innovation?

So there seems to be a bit of a trend with lights in fashion recently; from Katy Perry's Costume Institute Gala gown to the new - grown up's version - of those flashing kid's sneakers... Light up heels.

I'm not necessarily a fan of shoving lights in fashion pieces just for the sake of it, but these pumps by Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte are ah-mayzing. My main problem with light-up clothing is its uselessness and the whole idea of just shoving lights in fabrics 'because we can'. Aesthetics are important too!

The illuminated heels of these Rodarte beauties actually serves a purpose; it enhances the unique fabric and lights up the otherwise understated texture of the heel. The light doesn't look strange either; it brings the whole look together evoking a sort of exotic chandelier-meets-silk kind of feeling. It's basically a sumptuous French Chateau's ceiling on each foot.

Nicholas Kirkwood for Rodarte

Whereas the Jimmy Choo 'Zap' below looks like it belongs in a Las Vegas strip club. I don't mean to hate on Jimmy Choo, but honestly a see through heel with stripper-pink lights doesn't exactly scream class, does it?

The 'Zap' has something like one hundred hours of light then it runs out of power and can't be 'recharged'. For USD $2,495 you'd think they would include extra batteries!

Jimmy Choo 'Zap' booties

Shoe Disgrace!

Somebody tweeted this image to Dannii Minogue today and I was just thinking; if I had that many Louboutins, they wouldn't be all packed in there like that! Those poor shoes, they deserve to be proudly displayed in all their glory. How would you even find anything in here?

Oh My Lanvin!

How is it that Lanvin doesn't move more shoes out the door than Louboutin? These pumps from Alber Elbaz's summer 2010 Lanvin collection are pure perfection!

Noritaka Tatehana Takes Shoes to the Next Level

Literally.

The designer of Lady Gaga's heel-less pumps, Noritaka Tatehana, has revealed these beautiful feathered booties.


The shoes are called 'Hummingbird' and they're incredibly high... That angle is surely flirting with the 90 degrees mark!


The Japanese visionary has also produced a heeled version of the Gaga shoes, aptly named 'Nightmare'.

Noritaka's 'Artisian Collection' is updated throughout the year as new pieces are produced.