Feathers Boutique: December 2009

Guy Bourdin

Coolest images. Ever. The saturated colors and lighting are perfection. Guy also shot for Charles Jourdan so there's lots of great shoe images. He found interesting ways to show the merchandise in his ads while making all of the models look incredible. I think it's safe to say he was quite a leg man!

Emily

Stevie

No one has been a larger fashion influence on me than Stevie Nicks. Giant bell sleeves, witchy dresses, beautiful shawls, leather and lace, amazing jewelry, the best platform boots I've ever seen...and a tamborine!

Emily

Art Shoes

I have always been obsessed with shoes and think of them as more than footwear. They are the art all over my house in lieu of chotchkies. Check out these amazing shoes:

This Ferragamo platform is my all time favorite. They would be so much fun to wear!

Satin and beaded heels from Alexander McQueen S/S 2010

OMG! Pikachu and game boy platforms?

These remind me of Maud

Frizons.

These Vivienne Westwood shoes will remain in infamy for Naomi Campbell.

Love the thorn heel on these beautiful rose sandals.

I'd love to try and walk in these.

These Toga metal platforms are seriously tough.

What would the shoe guy would say if you brought him these to him?

This black fetish shoe reminds me of my painful point shoes.

In modern times, women can feel powerful in a great pair of heels. They are the ultimate statement piece. Throughout history, it was the men that put women in extreme footwear:

These beautiful lotus shoes were a tradition in China for nearly 1000 years. Women's feet were bound to fit in the 3-4 inch shoes and they had to be carried around because they couldn't walk.

These are chopine from Italy. They were in use primarily in Venice from the 16th-18th centuries. This pair would've been used for wading through tall flood waters.

This gorgeous pair of chopine would've been worn by an Italian prostitute. Men had women wear them so they weren't able to walk very fast.

The Victorian period was also known for fetish shoes. This black lace up pair is an extreme example of a shoe that's not meant to be walked in. I would love this boot with a more reasonable heel.

Emily