High Fashion Meets High Heels: A Look at the World of Avant-Garde Shoes

the classic that started it all

As anyone who watched the VMA’s red carpet special already knows, in the world of fashion, form and function don’t always work in unison. This is especially true when looking at the avant-garde, as the beauty and artistry associated with corsets, head pieces, and heavy drapery often outweigh the “need” for comfort and practicality. Recent developments in the fashion industry have used this trend of the gorgeously-impractical to shed light upon the often overlooked work of shoe designers. Step aside Manolo, theres a new sheriff in town and he’s packing heels like you’ve never seen before!

Here are just a few styles (ranging from ornate to insane) that have hit the runways over the past few seasons:

these are purely "indoor shoes"

all hail McQueen!

be your own knight in shining armor

Carrie Bradshaw meets Far-Eastern flair