I would like to introduce the shoes from Alexander McQueen's 2010 spring/summer show Plato’s Atlantis.
Image 1. Alexander McQueen. "Armadillo" Shoes. 2010.
It's a pair of shoes from Alexander McQueen's 2010 show Plato’s Atlantis. Their name comes from the convex shape of the shoes, which resembles an armadillo. Each pair measures approximately 12 inches (30 cm) from top to floor, with a 9-inch (23 cm) spike heel. A layer of iridescent scales covers the shoes.
'Armadillos' were primarily show pieces, not intended for commercial production. 'Armadillo' boots were all hand-carved from wood. The lining and upper were lasted separately, thus requiring four zips (two for the lining and two for the upper) to allow access for the foot. Although it is challenging to wear due to its height and weight, a 'build out' above the toes allows the wearer to lift the boot more easily. (The museum of savage beauty, 2010)
Image 2. Sketch showing the interior construction of the armadillo boot, Alexander McQueen, 2009
With the layer of iridescent scales, the color of the shoes shows gradient yellow and green which reminds me of the scales of some deep-sea fishes or shells. It also gives me a feeling of futurism, as if it is the color from the style of cyberpunk.
McQueen designed these shoes with curved silhouette which consists of natural lines rather than geometric lines. This method made these shoes more related to nature and living creatures.
The inspiration for this show comes from Charles Darwin’s on the Origin of Species (1859). (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2010) Mcqueen introduces this show with '[This collection predicted a future in which] the ice cap would melt . . . the waters would rise and . . . life on earth would have to evolve to live beneath the sea once more or perish. Humanity [would] go back to the place from whence it came.’ (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2010.)
McQueen was good at interpreting societal events through his shows with the garment he and his team created and the stage it presented.
The collection has been celebrated for his stance on the ecological state of the world at the time: through design, he indicated that our universe is composed of figures that evolved from underwater, and if the ice caps continue to dissolve, we could end up returning to the origins of mankind. Those were his predictions, at least. (Yale Breslin, 2015)
I really like this work for two reasons.
One is his preference for interpreting societal events and presenting his unique and brilliant interpretation through fashion design. He was really sensitive to the news and events at that time. There were a lot of disasters that happened in 2010, the united nation news marked 2010 as the deadliest year for natural disasters in the past two decades. (United Nations, 2011.) In this social background, McQueen quickly and precisely grabbed the keywords with the environment, humankind evolving, and future.
Another one is his ability to present his idea of futurism and evolution in fashion design. It's really difficult to come up with a new idea of what people would be like after evolving. McQueen was using iridescent scales and armadillo shapes to design these shoes which was an innovation.
Reference List
THE MUSEUM OF SAVAGE BEAUTY, Armadillo boot. (2010) Available at: https://www.vam.ac.uk/museumofsavagebeauty/mcq/armadillo-boot/ [Accessed 1st February 2023]
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Armadillo" Shoes. (2010) Available at: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/828415. [Accessed 1st February 2023]
Yale Breslin, Alexander McQueen’s Fantastical Boot. (2015) Available at: https://www.christies.com/features/Alexander-McQueens-Fantastical-Boot-6343-1.aspx. [Accessed 1st February 2023]
United Nations, UN: 2010 among deadliest years for disasters, urges better preparedness. (2011) Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2011/01/364952. [Accessed 1st February 2023]
Image Reference List
Image 1. Alexander McQueen. (2010) "Armadillo" Shoes. Available at: https://www.vam.ac.uk/museumofsavagebeauty/mcq/armadillo-boot/. [Accessed 1st February 2023]
Image 2. Alexander McQueen, (2009) Sketch showing the interior construction of the armadillo boot. Available at: Alexander McQueen’s Fantastical Boot | Christie's (christies.com). [Accessed 1st February 2023]
Thank you.
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