Charlotte Olympia

Fashion Week Shoes: Charlotte Olympia x Matthew Williamson Spring 2012

by Amanda Mull

Images via Vogue.com

The problem with runway shoes is that they have to function perfectly. They’re photographed in motion, with the weight of a human being (albeit a light one) on top of them, so their flaws are laid bare for all to see in a way that stock photos don’t allow for. You can see that problem well in these photos of Charlotte Olympia x Matthew Williamson Spring 2012; the pumps look great, but the thin-strapped sandals have feet sliding through them left and right.

I wouldn’t entirely blame Charlotte Olympia designer Charlotte Delal; if Williamson wanted this shape and this fabrication, there’s little that could have been done to make the feet more secure, not to mention that this isn’t a shoe that shows up in her eponymous line. So try and focus on the pumps, which are truly beautiful, and on the fun color and pattern combinations in the sandals. Whatever you do, avert your eyes from the toes.

  • Perry p

    Those straps do not work at all and those toes are falling right off the shoe. Bless those girls for walking in them.

    • irma

      thanks for the warning…but i just could not avert my eyes on the toes. the pumps were lovely though :)

  • ninjaninja

    This is why I do not wear open toe shoes.

  • Merve

    Guess there is no such thing as model feet

  • Yvonne

    Actually, there’s nothing wrong with the sandals. They look like that because shoes arrive at shows in varying sizes btwn 39 and 41 and are not fitted to each particular model. Chances are, the shoe the designer means to pair with the ensemble will likely not be a perfect fit for any particular model, and the model is asked to make do. THAT’S why these pictures look as they do — the models’ feet are too large or too small for the shoe.

    • CEC.LV4eva

      I agree with Yvonne. These are all prototype shoes for the runway. The models don’t have their own choice for what size they want like the normal customer.

      As for their toes, like my dad always says, “not many people in the world have beautiful feet.”
      The ideal model foot should be small, slender, narrow width, with average length toes that are equally spaced and decrease in proportional length from medial to lateral aspect. No toe should be longer than the big toe. At least this is for many modeling agencies in Asia’s, although culturally I believe a Morton’s toe is considered to be esthetically pleasing dating back from ancient Greece. Nails should of course be trimmed and pedicured, which is almost never the case with any runway show.

    • Amanda Mull

      Even when the shoes look like they fit, though, there are some toe issues. Normally I try not to look at feet or toes at all in the shoes because of what you described – shoes can’t be altered to fit like a dress can be once a model is chosen – but a plastic strap of that size when paired with such an extreme heel and minimal support is a recipe for toe slippage even in a perfectly fitted shoe. It’s just not a functional structure choice, even if they’re really great shoes to look at otherwise. And these definitely are, as is almost always the case with Charlotte Olympia.

  • Edoardo

    WOnderful shoes, they are perfect for Williamson and the platform of Charlotte Olympia here is so so so cool and amazing gorgeous!

    http://fashiondoesntexist.blogspot.com/

  • rizalogy

    the model’s toes in no. 3 are hideous!…ewww…

  • NK

    Can I just say I get the whole “we don’t have your size” thing, but really… I feel like I should be sending them a nickel a day from my couch or something. Too distracting.

  • bebe

    Those toes are disgusting! doesn’t the models get paid enough for them to have a pedicure before a runway show…

Neiman Marcus