Couture Fashion Week spring/summer 2021 in Paris signalled a week of firsts. Kim Jones showcased a star-studded model lineup at Fendi (and his first-ever womenswear show), calling on mother-daughter powerhouse Kate and Lila Grace Moss to join his A-list catwalk, also starring Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Demi Moore. Meanwhile, at just 24 years old, Charles de Vilmorin became one of the youngest designers to join the schedule with an eye-poppingly colourful genderless collection.
There was plenty of inspiration for lockdown reemergence too (find a recap of couture SS21’s biggest fashion trends here), including standout footwear. If you can tear your eyes away from Schiaparelli’s sculptured breastplates and knit dresses clad with 200,000 Swarovski crystals, don’t miss artistic director Daniel Roseberry’s surrealist platforms with gold-dipped toes. Over at Valentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli teamed neutral capes with glam-rock platform boots and glossy Mary Janes. Meanwhile, continuing the theatrical spirit, New York’s Area put a couture spin on diamond-encrusted clogs, studded square-toe thong sandals and backless loafers.
Here are eight mesmerising, high-drama shoes we loved from the runways of Couture Fashion Week SS21.
1 / 8
1. Schiaparelli
2 / 8
2. Valentino
3 / 8
3. Valentino
4 / 8
4. Area
5 / 8
5. Area
6 / 8
6. Chanel
7 / 8
7. Iris Van Herpen
8 / 8
