When you think of tweed twin-suits, you think Chanel. When you think of skinny models with distant gazes and awkward poses you think, Gucci adverts. When you think of I’d-rather-go-hungry-than-be-without-them shoes, you think about the boys. Christian, Manolo, Jimmy and Salvatore are the reason many women cannot make rent, but make destitute look good by rocking a pair of fabulous shoes. Louboutin’s, Blahnik’s, Choo’s and Ferragamo’s are at the forefront of designer footwear and they don’t look like they’re stepping down anytime soon.
Apart from the craftsmanship and style, these designers and their famous heels, have become icons for their media buzz. When it comes to shoes, no other designers have had this much success in pop culture. Here are their greatest shoe moments:
When the promotional poster for The Seven Year Itch was released, it was all about Marilyn Monroe’s fabulous, high-flying dress. The shoe connoisseurs among us noticed something else. Marilyn’s feet were well-shod in a pair of shoes from Salvatore Ferragamo. Those white strappy heels were just one of the 40 pairs, Ferragamo had personally designed for Ms Monroe. Among them were a pair of red rhinestone stilettos, which sold for over R300 000. His shoes were also featured in The Devil Wears Prada and The Departed.
Will & Grace are well-known for their guest stars. In one episode James Earl Jones stars in The Iceman Cometh with Jack. Jack’s form of acting, otherwise known as the “McFarlane Method”, is the only thing pleasing the director. To stay relevant, James Earl Jones enrolls in one of Jack’s acting classes. For their scene, James Earl Jones finds himself donning a handbag and pretending to be Carrie from Sex &The City. Whilst pretending to chastise Samantha for her sexual quips, he learns the correct way to pronounce Choo’s and it’s not in his Darth Vader voice. Jimmy Choo was also mentioned in The Devil Wears Prada, when Emily tells Andrea she sold her soul the minute she put on those fabulous heels.
In Sex & the City, Carrie experiences some bad karma after having an affair. The karma comes in the form of a robber with a keen eye for designer footwear. Carrie is shocked and saddened as her watch, ring and bag are stolen, along with a pair of pink suede Manolo Blahnik’s. A certain pink suede pair that are no longer available, as she tells her robber. A pair of royal blue Blahnik’s also proved to be quite pivotal in the Sex & The City movie as Big and Carrie seal their new engagement.
(Image from focusonstyle.com)
Christian Louboutin, however, probably holds the record for the most media buzz about his shoes. Not bad for someone who does not advertise. Oprah has described the shoes as pieces of art. Jennifer Lopez has written a song about them. Both Nicole Kidman and Christina Aguilera wore them on their wedding days. Madonna, Patti LaBelle and Ciara all wear custom pairs for their concert tours. And who doesn’t remember when they were the shoe du jour for Sophie when she was running around Paris looking for the holy grail in The Da Vince Code. Louboutin’s greatest appearance was probably the Oprah Winfrey Show. Come rain or shine, favourite things or a weight issue, no matter what Ms Winfrey is saying you can count on those little red soles making an appearance.
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