A Snippet of Style

Walking a mile in these 10″ heels by Alexander Mcqueen would certainly be a memorable (and possibly torturous) experience. These shoes were the highlight behind the Plato’s Atlantis show which took the fashion world by storm at Paris Fashion Week. The Spring/Summer 2010 collection is inspired by environmental issues and evolution, showcasing an underwater-esque fashion style that brings us back to our original roots from the sea (as per Darwin’s Theory).

This ancient-inspired show pushed the boundaries of technology to bring the show live to audiences around the world. The show was so immensely popular that the site crashed after receiving 29000 hits in one second! Alexander McQueen noted: “The audience at home is actually going to see more than the guests at the show. We’re filming from a load of different angles, and two big cameras will actually be a part of the performance.”

Heavy makeup and prosthetics created otherworldly bone structure and gills on the models, lending them an alien air. Their skin was snake-like and shimmering and hair was twisted up into horns. They wore modernized animal skin inspired minidresses paired with extreme 10″ heels. Human evolution was seen in the upright nature of the humanoid forms with some animal features, as well as “clawed” and “hooved” feet. The collection showed us how little our forms have evolved from the animals that we once were, and yet how far we have come in other ways.

There were no limits on the imagination with sequins, animal skins, painted designs and plastic shoes all to be found in the show. Animal prints went beyond the usual zebra and leopard and explored various other types. The underwater aesthetic was evident in the staging and mise-en-scene created, especially for those who watched the show from home.

Elements of ancient culture and modernity were brought together by merging futuristic technology together with fashion artwork inspired by humans of the past. This bridge between modernity and ancient times hinted at future aspirations of humankind as we continue to evolve further. This show really used the transformative power of fashion to display the evolution of humankind.

I have absolutely no idea how the models walked in these shoes but they are definitely to-die-for (in more than one sense of the term). I struggle to walk in 3″ heels and my feet ache just by thinking of how painful these would be to wear. Not to mention the destructive power these heels carry in their structure — you could cause a lot of damage with a pair of these. They pay homage to the pure animalistic power that we have lost as we have evolved and become “civilized”. They should definitely be kept away from your power-hungry boss though .

A lot has been debated about how these shoes are simply a gimmick to create buzz by creating a modern form of foot torture (reminiscent of ancient foot-binding practices). Others would say that in a purely aesthetic and theoretical sense, this show has made quite a statement about the issues it aims to address. I always say that fashion should aim to push the boundaries of what we see as “normal” and this has certainly also succeeded in that particular department. While I doubt any woman would run out to buy a pair of these shoes, they certainly provide some food for thought.

What do you think? Do you think this show is just a gimmick or has a certain statement been made through its staging?

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