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YSL Palais Mohawk Suede Pumps

YSL Palais Mohawk Suede Pumps

You know basic black pumps.  I know basic black pumps.  Everybody knows basic black pumps.  We all own basic black pumps.  My favorite thing to do involves finding a black show with a twist – or some hair, as is the case with these Palaise Mohawk Suede Pumps ($935 at Net-a-Porter) by Yves Saint Laurent.  I am not entire sure if I’m a fan or not, but I will say that they definitely caught my attention.  You have to give them that.

Let’s take a look at some of the more mundane specs, shall we?  The heel is about six inches, which is a pretty decent height.  The platform is subtly curved and goes about an inch high.  Naturally, the pumps are made of suede; you can only assume that it feels just as luxurious as it looks.

Now let’s talk about that mohawk, what do you say?  Leave it to Yves Saint Laurent to take it back to the ‘70s and make it look interesting.  See, the silhouette of the shoe, while classic and elegant, is a little bit boring.  It isn’t that the shoes aren’t beautifully made, just that we’ve all seen it done.  Back it up just a little bit though, and bam!  There’s hair on there!

Hair, not fur.  What you’re looking at here is a fringe made out of goat hair.  I am not sure what I think about that.  I can’t even picture a goat without thinking of the Fabulous Beekman Boys, their Beekman Mansion, and their goat farm, which lies just up the road from my parents’ home.  My first thought is that Josh Kilmer-Purcell needs to see these now, because Aqua could have rocked them to death.

Here’s what makes me curious though: what do you guys think about the use of goat hair?  Is YSL edgy and hip, or is this a no-no?  Is it better than using fur?

Yves Saint Laurent Palais Mohawk Suede Pumps, $935 at Net-a-Porter