December 6, 2023 |
It’s rare that we stumble across a shoe that we want to keep as a pet, but then again, Phoebe Philo has surprised us once before and she’ll certainly surprise again. Plucked straight from the hotly anticipated second release of the beloved creative director’s already adored namesake brand, the soft square-toe pump has stolen our hearts here at 10. Available in a total of six colours and finishes, the black patent leather and the chocolate brown calf hair are delectable, but the supremely stroke-able cheetah print calf hair had our hearts were beating right through our chest.
Striking the balance between sexy and slightly strange, Philo has flexed this muscle before, during her well-loved tenure at Céline. Philo’s SS13 collection for the French fashion house bore witness to several fluffy footed models on the runway with the iconic ‘furkenstock’ – the perfect intertwining of luxury and comfort to the red, yellow, and white furry heels. More than 10 years later, perhaps Philo is referencing her past work at her new brand.
While using calf hair is nothing out of the ordinary, Philo embraces the fluffier qualities of the material, rather than dampening them to achieve a sleeker look. Much like the furry heels from SS13, the cheetah print pump leans into the more playful elements of high fashion footwear.
Philo’s cult status within the fashion industry is not unwarranted. At Céline, the modern woman was at the forefront of her vision. The woman who, of course, wanted to look chic in the office, but also to be able to run for the bus if necessary. Philo has clearly implemented this same ethos into her eponymous label. Neither form nor function takes the cake, instead it’s a blissful marriage between both. The soft square-toe pump is devastatingly stylish. But it’s not just stylish, it’s genuinely cool. The basic shape is casual enough that it could walk through a foyer seemingly unnoticed, but Philo clearly cherishes hidden details. It’s a shoe that, when looked at closely, drops its facade and the quirkier elements make themselves known. They’re also incredibly comfortable to wear, which only makes them all the more covetable. The cheetah print is subtle yet slightly off-kilter, enough for it to not be garish, but it certainly ensures that it won’t fade into the background.
Whilst we could rhapsodise all day long about this sublime pair of shoes, we highly suggest you go take a look for yourself here and report back when you are equally as lovestruck.
Photography courtesy of Phoebe Philo.
