Today’s post is dedicated to one of my favorite accessories, shoes. It’s also dedicated to my former roommate, Kareem. (May we always have the problem of liking our clothing too much to get them dirty and not having shoes meant for long distance. . . )
Kareem is also the one that introduced me to one of the funniest shoe related videos. Years later, I think we always work some quote from this into the conversation. Getting past the weirdness is totally worth it. The video is amazingly quote-able when you are shopping (or defending your shoe collection to your husband/boyfriend/parents/haters. “I think you have too many shoes- SHUT UP!”).
So what exactly is my taste in shoes? Totally extravagant. I never have a good strategy when someone tells me, “Bring your walking shoes!” I panic, thinking:
So does that mean by 3 1/2 inch stilettos or 5 inch platforms? I think the platforms might hurt less, because the front part takes pressure off my foot . . .or I could wear my kitten heels, but they give me a blister after 3 hours. . .
Aside from a towering heel, I love a statement shoe. Red is usually my go-to color, because it’s so attention grabbing. I think that’s why women love Christian Louboutin so much – that little flash of red attracts so much attention. In graduate school, our graduating class had to plan, curate, install, and publicize an exhibition on the prized Louboutins. It was a major success, as you can imagine. So what was my favorite from the show?
Dita von Teese’s swarovski crystal pave cowboy boots. The temptress lent us her shoes for the show. She first work them for a Viva Mac presentation, during which she work the shoes, swarovski studded pasties and matching underwear, complete with a cute cowboy hat. (Kareem, I have so many ideas for next Halloween!) She then did a performance, straddling an enormous tube of Mac glitter lipstick.
Well, today my latest fashion must is a pair of shoes by the brand Le Creative Sweatshop. (Amazing name, no?) Before I show you the goods, let me tell you a bit about the company . . . .
Le Creative Sweatshop is a genius collaboration between 2 French designers: Mathieu Missiaen of NDEUR and Julien Morin or MAKE A PAPER WORLD.
Missiaen has been focused on the development of NDEUR shoes, which does the customization of vintage stilettos.
Morin specializes in communication and marketing. His avid interest in street wear prompted him to launch MAKE A PAPER WORLD in 2007. The company’s focus is creating communication strategies with paper as the main visual medium.
Here’s what their site has to say on the recent projects:
The Creativ Sweatshop studio has already worked on diverse projects such as a demo pack for MAMZ’HELL, a French DJ (www.myspace.com/djmamzhell), the creation of several fashion accessories for the Canadian stylist Heidi Ackerman (link to her website) and the New York photographer Tchad Muller (wall paper magazine/ link to his website).
They’ve also developed an interior design DIY pack in cardboard for a broader audience, in collaboration with Paristik (link). They’ll also be showcasing their work at the Prêt à Porter tradeshow in September 2009 in Paris, in the Shibuya area and will allow visitors to participate to an interactive installation made of 15 000 paper sculptures.
BTW, Here is a link to Heidi’s blog: Link
I couldn’t find the others. :(
This brings me to the point:
GUYS WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO BUY YOUR STUFF! TELL US AND TELL US NOW!
So here are the shoes I’m obsessed with finding and buying. . . .
At first glance, you may think they are a rubix cube gone arwry . . .
Notice the jagged points, and intricate parts that create the surface of the shoe. The colors are out of this world.
Side View: that is one serious inclined shank . . . I wonder if they would hurt to wear? Does it matter?
They also come in white. Apparently, there is a matching cuff bracelet, too! Someome, please tell me where to find these!
And yes, they are real shoes - not a paper creation. They were in ION magazine. This image is from a shoot.
A last look at these amazing shoes . . .
NDEUR makes some other cool graffiti inspired shoes. You can check out his blog here. But still, I can’t figure out where to get them! Will you please tell me how? I will even start selling them for you, if need be!
Here are some great videos for all you new NDEUR fans out there
Super charming, and you get to see him design a pair of shoes! Notice that an ART GALLERY is selling his work. Hmm, is fashion art?
Great interview
