London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Vivienne Westwood is one of those fashion dames who compensates the grandeur of her title by a touch of fun and arrogance. Remember, she is the one who is in tha 70ies, introduced punk into the fashion network. tartan, leather boots, pins, hop, with her magic sewing needle, she had transcended the rigidity of the system. Since then, she has been jungling with glamour, Victorian style, rebel looks, rock’n'roll. Tumultuous and fabulous. I remember the polemics when she launched her “faux cul” dresses or her entirely transparent dress!

The general public, us, are so hypnotised by the dress collection that we forget to even look at the accessorizing. Now is the time to look down -  Selridge’s has launched an exhibition reviewing 50 years of… shoe creation. this includes the famous pirate boots – so high Naomi Campbell almost fell on the catwalk. 200 models are presented here, all more improbable than the other, and you have to wonder about some: can anyone even stand in them? Not that it matters, they are amazing. Some are covered in Swarowsky cristals, others are made of recycled Guinness cans, you will see vertiginous high heels, soles cut to follow the precise detail of toes… Don’t miss the glossy plastic ones -  inspired by Alice in Wonderland, so perfect they look unreal.

There is no need to be a fashion fan. Nor to read through her bio beforehand. This is purely visual pleasure… Well, you might want to leave the guys outside!

Are you Vivienne-crazy? Then don’t miss the pantomine she has designed with Jean-Paul Gaultier -  October 12-16, 2010

Vivienne Westwood shoes: an exhibition 1973-2010
Selfridges
400 Oxford Street
London W1A 1A
Until Sept 22, 2010 – free

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