I.
Long-time readers, hardcore torpedophiles, and shoe lovers everywhere may recall a post from December 2012 in which I described the Levitate by Prada; an insanely beautiful shoe combining the old school formality of the
brogue with the urban cool of the Nike Air sneaker, topped off with a golf fringe as an almost ludicrous addition just for the hell of it: click here.
I said at the time it was the perfect item of men's footwear and I still think that now (and there isn't a day goes by when I do not mourne the loss of these shoes).
Perfection, however, is not a unique quality; it's a standard that can be met (albeit rarely) by multiple designs. And so, here's another example of what I believe to a perfect shoe: the Hammerhead, designed by Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood for their Pirate collection (A/W 1981-82).
II.
The Pirate collection was McLaren and Westwood’s first official catwalk show together and it informed the post-punk aesthetic of their King's Road store now renamed and reimagined as Worlds End. The black bondage pants that defined Seditionaries were replaced with romantic brightly coloured outfits, plundered from history and from around the world.
And brothel creepers and biker boots were replaced with hammerhead shoes ...
The shoe pictured above, features a python-effect embossed upper, set on a formal leather sole and low heel. Named for its elongated square-toe silhouette, the piece is accented with sporty red and black racing stripes along the sides and features a lace-up design, as well as a contrasting red heel tab with an embossed cutlass motif.
Whilst comfort isn't everything - isn't even a primary consideration when it comes to the beauty and the politics of a shoe - it has to be said the Hammerhead, made with wonderfully soft leather, is extremely comfortable to wear. It's real magic, however, is that it makes one feel heroic and at odds with the everyday world in its more sensible forms of footwear.
Note: for an interesting (and nicely illustrated) take on the Hammerhead shoe in 713 Magazine - a digital publication and creative platform devoted to contemporary fashion, art, and culture - click here.
This post is for Fiona Stuart and everyone at Rellik.
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