Maison Martin Margiela Sock Boot

via theshoebuff

I've really got a thing for knitted elements on footwear. No idea why. Exhibit A.

Maison Martin Margiela Wood Effect Shoe

via theshoebuff

Rather silly but fairly subtle. The toe is a good shape.

Maison Martin Margiela 22 Waxed Leather Baseball Trainers

via oki-ni & coutequecoute

I should really keep an eye out for different fastenings that could be applied to footwear. These are from the Maison Martin Margiela f/w 10 collection.

Maison Martin Margiela Open Lace Shoes

via oki-ni

Recently I featured the Maison Martin Margiela wedge boots with the same kind of nailing of the upper to the sole. These men's shoes use the idea incredibly well. Really simlple yet quite out of the ordinary.

Maison Martin Margiela Cutout Wedge Ankle Boot

via net-a-porter

Ha ha. Very cute. References the clog trend without being just another bloody clog.

Maison Martin Margiela f/w 10

via luisaviaroma & elle.com

Styles that distort the foot are always impressive (Alexander McQueen s/s 10) and this is something Maison Martin Margiela f/w 10 played with quite well. I love how the shape of the top examples are fairly subtle but still very awkward and how the woodgrain leather on the first shoe enhances the shape even more.

Maison Martin Margiela Overlap Pumps

via net-a-porter

Often the most interesting ideas are subtle. Scrolling through the wild - and often beautiful - creations on net-a-porter, I was a bit bored with what I saw. Then these grabbed my attention. In the small thumbnail pic I see basic pumps in gray and can tell that something is going on near the heel but couldn't see what, however being Margiela I knew it was something cool. It was. They look like the shoe is coming apart. Interestingly dishevelled footwear.

Maison Martin Margiela Glass Slippers

The thought of glass shoes kinda makes me sick. I imagine them smashing. This video made me feel better as it had me both laughing-out-loud and rolling on the floor laughing.

Maison Martin Margiela Half Covered Heel Boots

via maisonmartinmargiela

Doing things by halves. Not always a bad thing.

Hooves

Um. This is curious. Shoes that look like hooves. It is particularly intriguing how all these examples come at the same idea from different angles. The A.F. Vandevorst shoes (top) are delightfully hoof inspired, but the only thing that gives this effect is that the platform angles outwards rather than inwards. The iconic Maison Martin Margiela boots are not hoof inspired at all, rather just heeled versions of the traditional Japanese "Tabi" however the effect is heightened by the colour and finish on this particular pair. The piece by artist Iris Schieferstein is a literal interpretation and the ones featuring horse shoes are fetish wear for "pony play."

top to bottom:
A.F. Vandevorst f/w 09 via elle.com
Hoof diagram via chestofbooks
Maison Martin Margiela via aperfectguide
Iris Schieferstein & Fetish Boots via buzzfeed

Capped Heels

I love a good sculptural heel and this effect of extending the heel up the back of the shoe is a great way of giving a simple heel a sculptural edge.

top to bottom:
Maison Martin Margiela via thefashionpolice
Jil Sander via style.com
Sophia Kokosalaki via shoelust