LOOKS I LOVE...Balenciaga's architecturally and artistically crafted MASTER SHOES

      Confession: regardless of whether or not I actually know Nicholas Ghesquiere on any level, the genius creative director behind the fashion house of Balenciaga has remained and will continue to remain to be my my deeply, soulfully pitted fashion crush. 
     Lately, I've found myself delving deep into the archives of many a runway collection for not only the clothes but also for the creatively crafted shoes that adorn models' feet while they are attempting to strut gracefully in impossibly uncomfortable and highly elevated shoes down a slippery and largely hazardous runway. These gorgeous, chunky heels come straight out of Balenciaga's Fall 2010 line (a little late, I know) and are, aside from McQueen's armadillo claw shoes, the most intriguing pieces of work I have yet to see encaging models' feet. The main reason I find these so unusual is because of the emphasis places on the "tongue" of the shoe, a feature more commonly (but not as strongly) emphasized in a sneaker of all shoes. The "hand made"/"wood shop 505 (senior thesis level of course)" feel of these shoes takes retro/futuristic fashion to a completely different place. Much of what is being considered modern and retro in today's fashion consists solely of clean lines, simple coloration, and a sleek silhouette. These shoes are edgy, chunky, loud, and whacked out in the best way possible.
     Designers are always trying to find ways to think outside the box and defy the norm, but what I have been noticing lately on the runways is a large amount of similar clothing resulting from designers attempting to stray from what is familiar and common all in the exact same manner...except for Nicholas Ghesquiere *dreamily sighs.* It is only a fashion crush, but what more could you ask for in a lifelong fashion relationship? I think I've found it all.  :)
     Want to try a chunky statement shoe? For "real person wearability," pair a statement shoe with a simple solid color to amp up your outfit even more or with a black ensemble to spark some contrast. If you choose to go with a colored ensemble, layer clear, chunky jewelry to add in texture without overloading on color and looking like bad tye dye job (actually, I think all tye dye jobs are bad). With a black ensemble, layer in jewelry in a similar shade to the shoes you are wearing or, if the shoes have many colors, in a shade from your shoe! Have fun, don't overload, be safe, and prep yourself to be stared down...out of jealousy of course!