Alexander Wang Shelly Perforated Leather Boots, $585 via Neiman Marcus

I never really anticipated liking a shoe with perforated leather, or anything with perforated leather for that matter, but something about the Alexander Wang Shelly Perforated Leather Boots just…works. Let’s investigate, after the jump.

It’s the combination of several elements that allows this design to carry off a material that’s generally unpopular with consumers. First, finish is important. Instead of being soft and matte, this leather is sleek, a bit stiff and buffed to a semi-gloss, the overall effect of which is very modern. The structure of the shoe matters too; instead of going for a platform or something with additional design elements, the material is made the star of the show with a hard-edged, extremely contemporary structure. The lines of the shoe are perfect, and they work well with the material to create a finished product that is very, very cool.

And that’s Alexander Wang’s goal, if he has one that can be singled out – to make things that are achingly, devastatingly cool. It’s the hardest sartorial quality to pin down by a long shot, but I count these boots as a success. Well played, Mr. Wang. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $585.

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