If you are a high-heels lover and haven’t yet encountered the fetishistic shoe line LaRare by Nathalie Elharrar you are missing out. With a portfolio that includes work for names such as Balmain, Guy Laroche, Thierry Mugler, and Lagerfeld, this is a designer who already had a large body of work behind her when she released her own shoe line in 2007.  And, by the way, mad props from me right now on her managing to find success with her new business project during what can only be described as one of the more turbulent financial environments the retail world has seen in decades. So many businesses – from the young to the well-established -  floundered or failed over the last few years, that congratulations on the apparent success of the LaRare brand are in order.

All that, and I still haven’t managed to show you the shoes yet? How silly of me.

Let’s start with my two favorites, the LaRare ‘Sweety’ tall boots and ‘Sweetbabe’  ankle boots:

Inquire on availability via  the LaRare website: listed at €1990 & €700

If you don’t want to call Paris but would like to purchase a pair here in the states, Gregory’s currently carries a handful of LaRare styles.

LaRare ‘Vitaly’  $1395 at Gregory’s

LaRare ‘Barbarina’ $1195 at Gregory’s

LaRare ‘Lady Tiger’ $1395 at Gregory’s


LaRare In & Out $1295 at Gregory’s

You can also occasionally find styles by LaRare on Farfetch.com.

What can I say?

These shoes are sinfully sexy.  But what would else would you expect, Nathalie  Elharrar’s LaRare Myspace page is subtitled ‘Elitist Shoes for Shoes Fetishist’ – there’s not a whole lot of ambiguity there….. Unlike the trademark hardware attached at various points (most commonly the outsole arch or back of the heel) of her shoes.  Sure, it could just be me, but  this particular ring detail calls to mind the symbolic Story of ‘O’ finger rings seen in certain quarters of the fetish community.

LaRare ‘Priska’ via LaRare.fr website

VS.


Detail of ‘O’ ring/Story of ‘O’ finger ring via Google images

Intentional or unintentional references to fetish shoes aside, it’s not like these shoes actually needed any help to exude sensuality. Slip on a pair of these heels and I have few doubts that you would find yourself instantly channeling your own inner, towering, shoe-goddess….which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Other articles/links that may be of interest:

The Swelle Life, featuring photos of older styles by LaRare

LaRare on Facebook

LaRare main website (English language site, as of this writing, several links are broken on the french-language version)