From birds to mushrooms, Paris couture shoes push elegance further

I like to believe that I am fairly responsible when it comes to money, but lately, as I observe economic trends and follow an algorithm that keeps feeding me a stream of posts claiming it is far more profitable to buy a Birkin than stocks, I cannot stop thinking that maybe Carrie Bradshaw was right to invest all her money in Manolo Blahnik shoes instead of a down payment on an apartment. There are many things I disagree with Carrie about, so passionately that I even made a list, but when it comes to her love of shoes, I think she is absolutely right. And during Paris Haute Couture Week, which has just come to an end, so many beautiful shoes were presented that I am very close to crossing over to her dark side.

The season was especially exciting thanks to two long awaited couture debuts, Jonathan Anderson for Dior and Matthieu Blazy for Chanel, but as is usually the case during Haute Couture Week, many other fashion houses also captivated us with their collections and surprised us with creative approaches to their shows. For example, the Valentino show was held in a Kaiserpanorama, a 19th century device, while the fashion house Giorgio Armani Privé presented its first couture collection after the death of the legendary designer. Schiaparelli unveiled a mesmerizing collection full of intriguing figures, including creations shaped like scorpions and birds, and it was precisely birds that also appeared on the so called Bird Pumps, among the most interesting shoes of the season. I am extremely drawn to objects that resemble other objects, or in this case living beings, so it comes as no surprise that I cannot stop thinking about these shoes.

And speaking of objects that look like something entirely different, Chanel turned heels into mushrooms, which is probably the sweetest, most whimsical detail I have seen in quite some time. If you are looking for an activity to do instead of scrolling through Reels, I suggest browsing the accessories from Jonathan Anderson’s Dior collections, it has become my new hobby. Of course, the designer did not disappoint with his couture collection for Dior either, presenting shoes adorned with flowers, feathers, shells, and other elements from nature. Below, I highlight several of the most interesting shoe designs from Paris Haute Couture Week.