Rocks in your shoes

Diamonds, rubies, gold and platinum on our feet. The world of jewelry becomes high fashion and turns shoes into accessories so luxurious they have to be stored in a strongbox.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend sang Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'. What can we say about shoes? Shoes are a passion, sometimes an obsession. Loved, sought after, nowadays they are every woman’s favorite accessory, particularly when they are embellished with embroidery, stones and ornamental detailing, they leave behind their original function of protection and become unique, timeless objects.

In the fashion world, every designer, at least once during their career, has focused on designing a shoe which could become

The iconic Armadillo boots from the Plato’s Atlantis collection by Alexander McQueen, 2010

an actual piece of jewelry to be worn on the feet. Alexander McQueen’s attempt was both unforgettable and inimitable. His incredible Armadillo boots, with their rounded, armour-like appearance were inspired by the evolution of the species, particularly the armadillo. The 30-centimeter heel includes an internal platform and during the show a particularly spectacular version highlighted the models’ slender ankles, the effect was dramatic, the models’ legs appeared to end in a shower of sparkly, precious stones.

While McQueen’s futuristic project undoubtedly reached a peak of visionary creativity, there are some shoes which are so precious they are literally worth a fortune. Such models can be found in the luxury House of Borgeize brand which is behind some of the most expensive shoes in the world, they are created by the designer/goldsmith Christopher Shellis. The Platinum Cleopatra shoes are worth a staggering 83 thousand Euros. The structure and heels are made of platinum, the toes and heels are decorated with the purest of diamonds. It took Shellis over four years to create the sketch, find the materials and assemble this precious footwear. In the past, the British designer had already created his first gold and diamond heels, they were pure gold and embellished with over 2200 diamonds. This time he wanted to go even further, in fact he chose to use platinum, which is notoriously difficult to work with, it took him over 100 hours to complete each single shoe. They come with a guarantee for over 1000 years.

Princess Constellation stilettos from House of Borgeize

Stuart Weitzman has also created some fairytale shoes by using diamonds from the celebrated high jewelry house Kwiat. There are two famous models, the Diamond Dream stiletto  featuring diamonds weighing over 30 carats and worth 500

Stuart Weitzman "Marilyn Monroe" shoes set with clusters of shimmering Swarovski crystals from a pair of earrings once owned and treasured by the American actress

thousand dollars and then the 40s-inspired Pompe Retro Rose model which is encrusted with over 1800 diamonds and is worth 1 milllion dollars.

The title of having created one of the most expensive pairs of shoes in the history of costume belongs to an important designer in the world of footwear, Roger Vivier, the inventor of the stiletto heel and who, during his career, made shoes for important people and celebrities all over the world, including members of the British royal family. The model he created in 1962, Princess Soraya, was embroidered with silver thread and decorated with tiny, precious topaz. The same Maison managed to buy back the shoes at an auction for a record-breaking 19,750 Euros.

One of Manolo Blahnik’s most popular designs: the cobalt blue Hangisi satin pumps so loved by Carrie Bradshaw

Some of the shoes tell us about moments in history while others have made the history of film unique. Unforgettable examples include the supremely elegant pale blue court shoes worn by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. These are Manolo Blahnik’s famous Hangisi shoes with a bejeweled buckle on

Ruby Slippers from the House of Harry Winston, created in 1989 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz”

the toe, an absolute must-have for fashionistas as well as mere mortals. And then there are the numerous imitations of Dorothy’s famous ruby slippers in the The Wizard of Oz. One unique example is the pair fashioned by the jeweler  Ronald Winston from the Harry Winston maison who, to mark the film’s fiftieth anniversary, made a pair set with 4600 rubies and diamonds weighing 50 carats.

The SS16 collection by Dolce & Gabbana

Once again jewelry sandals and shoes are a must-have for the upcoming Spring/Summer season, as demonstrated by collections from the most popular brands. Dolce&Gabbana and Miu Miu, Giuseppe Zanotti and René Caovilla, new trends for the summer  point toward an idea of luxury which in fact starts with the shoes we put on our feet • (A.R.)

Mojitos by Julian Hakes, 2012, with twists and curves that look almost like jewelry