April 7, 2022 |
Gear up and get your funk on because it’s Casadei’s Blade heel’s 10th anniversary. For a decade now, this thrilling stiletto, as razor-sharp as the name suggests, has flourished as a symbol of elegance, unapologetic femininity and has functioned as a handy tool in the art of seduction.
Surviving fleeting trends, the Blade heel has remained a key reference point for footwear aficionados around the globe since its conception in 2002. The heel is continuously reimagined and reinvented by creative director Cesare Casadei who finds inspiration listening to Pink Floyd, reading retro Marvel comics and eyeing classic films. Each and every season he births brand new Blade variants – this time around it’s a sexy ankle boot and a cuissard crafted from transparent vinyl, as well as a geometric cut-out sandal offered in black and white.
The Blade has also cemented its status as a Casadei trademark and a celebrity staple, stepping out onto the red carpet upon the toes of A-listers like Naomi Campbell, Hailey Bieber, Angelina Jolie, Zendaya, Heidi Klum and more. However, Mr. Casadei tells us that he actually prefers to see his creations on “normal, everyday women”. He said: “I believe every woman can feel like a celebrity when she finds confidence in herself.”
Alongside the SS22 edit, this celebratory capsule collection is captured using the visual textures of the discotheque through the unmistakably ingenious lens of Ellen von Unwerth. A sexed-up campaign, it’s a timeless tribute to the classic steel-design sandal featuring highly saturated rococo images that are absolutely beguiling. “Ellen is still such a powerful source of creative energy,” Cesare said. “It is amazing to see women through another woman’s lens.”
Modelled by two women that appear somewhere between fem-bots and 1980s disco queens, get ready to indulge in kaleidoscopic colours, sanguine silhouettes and all-glitter everything in the excessive, iridescent images that make up this glam campaign. According to Cesare we can expect new materials, shades and shapes. “The razor-sharp Blade heel will continue to withstand the wave of trends and continue to propel and hold up the most fabulous and strong women in the world.”
Photography by Ellen von Unwerth.
