Egon Schiele’s and Francis Bacon’s stirring renderings of bizarre characters. Physical deformities out of David Cronenberg movies. Transformation and evolution. Sound like a high-heel designer’s inspiration list? I didn’t think so! But take one look at Tuscan-born Alain Quilici’s sandals and the eccentricities might start to make sense. Quilici follows a specific formula when designing shoes: “form follows function follows vision.”
While the carved heel – is it more of a weapon or a drill? – of this strapped-up sandal could have come from some antique machine, it looks like the vision might have stemmed from a medieval relic. With varying leather straps that don’t quite add up and a wooden platform that grounds the creation, this shoe has an incongruous quality that I can’t quite put my finger on. Which is what makes it eye-catching and mesmerizing. And it also promises to be on the comfortable side; a double layer of platforms subdue the incline and the series of bands, along with the ankle strap will keep you well-secured. Statement shoes that are also fairly versatile don’t come around every day (it’s a tricky combination), but Alain Quilici has hit the nail on the head with this one, even if he’s done it with blunt force. Sometimes a little savagery gets the job done. The word beautiful might not come to mind here, but striking doesn’t always come in a traditionally pretty package. On Luisa Via Roma for $1,306.
Pair with: Add some rugged glitz to your high-heeled oddity with 3.1 Phillip Lim’s cognac leather motorcycle jacket encrusted with sequin beading. On Ssense for $1,500.
