We’re currently in something of a golden age of weird shoes. Designers like Charlotte Olympia and Nicholas Kirkwood try adventurous things and, increasingly, are rewarded with both increasing sales and profiles within the industry. Italian powerhouse Dolce & Gabbana also seems keen to get in on the game of bizarre fabulosity – Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2013, for example, has covered its shoes in velvet, gemstones, mini mosaics and occasional flowers.

Out of necessity, most of the heels in this collection are thick – serious embellishment on the heel can only be achieved if there’s surface area on which to do it. The most striking shoes are the ones that feature heels and platforms made out of caged climbing gardens, which call to mind a couple of Charlotte Olympia’s favorite tricks. The collection also includes a few very fancy kitten-heeled pumps; for some reason, they make me think of the chicest Italian grandma on Earth, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Dolce’s shoe team had the same inspiration.

[Images via Vogue]