Chinoiserie Feet

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>> I'm going to say the same thing I did about these Rodarte x Nicholas Kirkwood shoes of which I took an unneccessary amount of different angled piccies of at the Kirkwood showroom in Paris, that I did about Louis Vuitton's show today (yay, now I've seen pretty much the lot of it save for Milan in person, I can SEE the season with two eyes open anda brain filled with strands trying to weave things together).  That I'm glad it's Chinoiserie here that we're seeing as opposed to a direct stroke-for-stroke referencing.  Chinoiserie has cropped up in a number of forms this season but the first instance of it was at the Rodarte show, most evident in the shoes. 

My measure of own-culture (as in Chinese…) appropriation in fashion tends to be low for myself and high for anyone who'll take it, only because I'm a wuss who doesn't really want to be walking through Chinatown looking like I'm dressing to audition for a themed dim sum restaurant that has costumes (Actually, does that exist?  Where do I sign up?).  These shoes, once again in the hand of Nicholas Kirkwood are different beasts together, with dragons, flowers, trees and some historical renactment.  This convo about Chinese or South Eastern culture influences won't end here with the shoes though given the amount of Chinoiserie that has filtered the season.   Just some deets to get it all going though…

 **EDIT** I trailed off with some UTTER nonsense in this post because my eyes were drooping as I typed and instead of typing asdjfjasldfjof I think I was just spewing out random words. 

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37 comments

  5. Ha! Can’t agree with you more on the Chinese comment (my ethnicity as well) but the Chinoiserie suggestion here is far removed enough we can get away with it, if failed, can always save them to wear on Chinese New Year… I LOVE THOSE SHOES! Especially that carved wood heel, looks like Chinese arm chairs!

  6. Thanks for showing these up-close. Your unnecessary amount of photos is our gain 😉

  7. When you own a pair of shoes that is a work of art, like these, you “live” in them. Now…..which pair will it be?

  9. This is so cool. Though I’m not so sure I can wear it 🙂 Thanks for sharing the photos. appreciate seeing all the details of the shoes. 🙂

  10. The first time I saw these shoes I fell in love!! they are amazing!!! I love the intricate detail in the wedge heel and the combination of textures and patterns just make them brilliant!!
    fashionanatomie.blogspot.com

  11. these are gorgeous. i’m going to go curl up in the fetal and DREAM about them. seriously though – amazing shoes.
    xoxo,
    carrie

  16. oh wow these are gorgeous, i especially love the first pair (with the blue upper). so intricate, i won’t be able to get them out of my head now!

  17. wow the patterns on the heels are shocking．
    love the last pair’s heels though~it looks like treasures half-buried on an ocean floor, are they made out of wood?

  19. You have the funkiest, most unique collection of shoes! You should post a picture of your shoe closest.. it must be amazing to walk into every day..!

  21. They are SO amazing. Unbelievably beautiful. I would love to own the blue ones and put them up as decoration in my flat. The craftsmanship and the amount of time that must have gone into them. <3
    skiepies.blogspot.com/

  25. The heels look a crazy lot like the Miu Miu baroque shoes from about 4 years ago- fab all around.
    I feel you on not wanting to dress up in the looks/costumes most commonly associated with my ethnic background too- it feels weird, like telegraphing the message that I’m {my ethnicity/nationality} first and me second. And I don’t really care to look like a walking stereotype- it’s pretty much exactly as you say.

  28. My heart skipped a beat when I laid eyes on the pair of ‘porcelain’-carved wedges. No exaggeration here. Everything is so exquisite. Love the textures, the deep woody parquet and cherry wood tones. Such a fresh idea! Gorgeous!!!

  33. The detail is amazing! Really beautiful, I’d wear them. Christian Siriano also incorporated a bit of Chinoiserie in his shoe designs for Spring 2011. Love it!

  34. I was working the kirkwood showroom! But you were in and out so quickly and talking to C so I couldn’t say hello/anything other than offering you cawfee/tea. Those shoes are so fantastic; working there gave me serious doubts about whether i should be spending money on rent or being the most stylish homeless person in paris.

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