Vivienne Westwood is famous for her fanciful designs and innovative ideas and Vivienne Westwood accessories and clothing are filled with the designer's trademark well-tailored shapes, tartans and vivid colours, but nowhere is Westwood's unique vision more evident than in her footwear. Over the years Vivienne Westwood clothing has been sent down the runway paired with towering platforms, winkle pickers and vertigo-inducing heels, many of which have found a place in sartorial history. Now Selfridge's in London is introducing the biggest display of Westwood shoes ever seen in the UK as a way to celebrate the designs of one of this generation's most revolutionary couturières.
According to Vivienne Westwood, "Shoes must have very high heels and platforms to put women's beauty on a pedestal." Of course, that pedestal can sometimes be a fashionistas' downfall, as was seen when Naomi Campbell took her legendary catwalk tumble in 1993. What shoe felled runway veteran Campbell? Westwood's Super Elevated Gilles, seen above. The nine-inch high lace-up platforms will be shown at Selfridges along with over 200 other pairs of Westwood's iconic shoes including her famous Pirate Boots from 1981, luxe Spanish Boots from 1994 and the platform winged sandals from the designer's 1988 Pagan 1 collection.
From now until September 22nd, Westwood fans and shoe aficionados alike can view Vivienne Westwood Shoes: An Exhibition 1973-2010 at The Ultralounge at Selfridges in London. Touring the decades of style, imagination and innovation is a great way to spend the day and, another bonus, admission is free so you can save your pennies to buy your next
Vivienne Westwood bag to go with a pair of the designer's out-of-this-world shoes.
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