Iris van Herpen for United Nude

Iris van Herpen, the Dutch designer who studied under Viktor & Rolf and Alexander McQueen, has paired with United Nude to create a shoe that will keep people talking for a long time. 

The shoe, which comes in nude and black, is an artistic mix between excentricity, VIP attitude and amazing crafting techniques. As the designers describe them, what makes these ankle booties different and special are the "smooth round lines and golden leather detailing on the front and back of the shoe, with three-dimensional characteristics. Transparency, reflections and movements create the effect of visual estrangement." The shoes are so well crafted using complicated techniques and precision that they are 100% hand made with quality Italian leather.

At first I was a bit skeptical about them: the resemblence to the McQueen alien booties is too obvious. However, when documenting this article I have found that there is a reason to it: Iris von Herpen has been an aprentice in the creative studios of both McQueen and Viktor & Rolf. She has gradued in 2006 the Artez Institute of Arts and has launched so far 6 complete collections during fashion weeks in Amsterdam, Tokyo and London. The latest collection is called Synthesia and talks, through the mindblowing techniques and fabrics of sound, movement, colours in a futuristic manner.

The booties designed for United Nude are somehow spiritually connected to her latest collection: they seem to carry the same message about fabrics, colours and future, they share their attitude and the designer's signature style.

In the new light of all of the above mentioned, I feel that these shoes are indeed similar to what we have seen on the catwalk of Mr. McQueen, but this is done as a tribute, not as a shameless way of getting attention by "borrowing" the idea. 

Moreover, these booties are more tamed and I honestly seem myself wearing them at a fancy party/event while I would never wear the McQueen ones. Their great success is given by this wearability,  the quality leather, the smooth finish, the metalic twisted details which make them very urban - perfect for a girl who thinks deep down inside that she is the next Lady Gaga.

The shoes are available for online purchase here.

What do yo think? Do you like them?

photo source: unitednude.com