I’m intrigued by strange beautiful shoes that speak to the illusion, the fantasy worlds that shoes can create, tiny little microcosms of shape, fabric, construction enshrouding your feet in mystery. Pierre Hardy is a designer who truly does that for me, going beyond pretty or elegant to bring attention to your gorgeous feet while also playing with hiding them, which isn’t that the most seductive?

I mean, what is this shoe, a reenactment of Where the Wild Things Are in shoe form or Monet’s Giverny garden topped by Basquiat’s crown? Pierre Hardy makes shoes that are the stuff of dreams.

And what is this, a ballpoint pen or a sleek black gun from a Bond film that can transform into a dagger, or is it an architectural sendup to Frank Gehry? Surely it’s not a shoe, because I can’t imagine that’s its only function.

This beauty speaks volumes to me, making me think of David Lynch’s film Blue Velvet instantaneously, and the soft-fabric-meets-hard-lines is a fantastic contrast.

I was a bit disappointed by Hardy’s shoes for the Gap, but it’s the Gap, so they were simple flats and platform sandals. I don’t know what I was expecting.

Someday, I swear I will own a pair of Nicolas Ghesquiere’s wild Balenciaga shoes, which sometimes reach that level of creating fantasy and strange shapes, especially in the case of the grey leather and rubber boot below. And I will learn to walk in them properly. My favorites from the previous season may someday be on sale online, but I’m not holding my breath since you seldom find them on sale. To look back at our post on wild Balenciaga shoes for Spring 2009, go here.

What are your favorite wild shoes? McQueen’s amber heeled high boots?

Marc Jacobs for Vuitton’s strangely attractive Native American feathered tasseled cutouts?

Scherer Gonzalez’ clear floral platforms?

Posh’s heelless Antonio boots?

Sometimes, I see the world through the lens of shoes, and that lens is definitely dreamy and rose-colored. But it’s just that great shoes transport you to another world where things aren’t so black and white! I’m on the lookout for the next impractically beautiful Pierre Hardy!

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One of my favorite things about fashion week are the celebrity looks off the runway. For NY Fashion Week Spring 2009, we saw…

Jennifer Lopez at the Oscar de la Renta show. J Lo wore fall 2008 Alexander McQueen bejeweled pumps featuring a 4.5 inch heel and jeweled, silk vamp. The shoes are available at the Alexander McQueen online website for $995.

At Michael Kors Spring 2009, Blake Lively from Gossip Girls was decked in, what else, head to toe Michael Kors. The lattice A dress is available at Netaporter while Michael Kors’ patent ‘Candi’ double ankle strap pumps are at Zappos.

Lindsay Lohan arrived at the Samantha Ronson show in these hot blue Chloe peeptoes, which are selling at Saks (for forest green only) for $585.

Mary Kate Olsen loves the knee high, bondage, gladiator inspired look (seen in Chanel here). So it came as no surprise that Mary-Kate wore these Spring 2008 Givenchys at the DVF fashion show.

Finally, Nicole Richie was rocking these suede with zipper pull Pierre Hardy pumps. They are 675 euros at Luisaviaroma.

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Pierre Hardy, a designer whose shoes cost well over the $3-400 mark, is designing a reasonably-priced collection for Gap (Shomore has already talked about it here). I strongly urge you to go take a peek (I keep checking for new styles beside the few they have on, can’t wait to see the rest of the collection).

I have to admit, I’m strongly attracted to these Chloe-esque wooden platforms ($98)–very chic and elegant, and pitched at an angle my heel-sensitive feet could probably take:

I’m also entertaining the illusion that these elegant Mary-Jane nude flats (also $98) could actually elongate my legs if worn with the right skirt:

I’ll probably end up getting a pair, as I know myself–a sucker for good and reasonably-priced design!

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