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Ye Gods. Are luxury brands chancing their luck? According to Jimmy balenciaga city handbag Choo, "bespoke leathers and finishes, and highly specialised artisans in Italy" all contribute to shinflation (a painful condition in which a love of quality footwear causes serious damage to the health of one's wallet).
In the words of the kitten heelwearing Mandy RiceDavies, they would say that, wouldn't they? But they have a (finely chiselled) point. As shoes become more refined and shed their bondage straps and buckles, there is even more focus on construction. What seemed the acme of sophistication a few seasons ago can now look commonplace, or even crude. "Some of the simplest designs are the most complex to achieve," says a Jimmy Choo spokesperson. "The Anouk (365 to 695), a pointytoe pump, is an example of the balance between balenciaga part time form and function."
As tastes shift from bling and the meta platform (which, by the way, make feet look disconcertingly similar to pigs' trotters), the whole notion of what a shoe represents has changed. balenciaga bag sale
Culturally, for many women shoes now occupy a sacred place once reserved for jewellery: they're viewed as an investment that transcends seasons, and elevate an outfit. This theory gains currency when shoes can cost more than gold balenciaga first bag jewellery on the high street. Plus, shoes are often embellished with (fake) gems they've become de facto jewellery, not just adding twinkle to a woman's toes but affirming today's
de rigueurThe upshot is even high street names have raised their game and prices. Kurt Geiger, which manufactures shoes from 60 for its Carvela and KG labels, also produces Kurt Geiger London collection with shoes up to 395. "Italy, where most styles from our 'Kurt Geiger London' label are made, has experienced big tax increases," explains Geiger's creative director balenciaga handbags Rebecca FarrarHockley. Rising oil and petrol prices have all had an impact on the production of leathers, buckles, studs, crystals.
Yet oddly, apart from Russell and Bromley balenciaga town handbag and LK Bennett, no one is filling the chasm between blowthemortageorbecomeaRussianmoll prices and cheap throwaways.
Until now, that is. When Lucy Choi came to the Telegraph's offices to show me her new line of midpriced shoes (starting at 98 for flat pumps and rising to 270 for boots), I'd never seen such a stampede. Colleagues I hadn't met before stopped to ask if they could buy a pair. They couldn't these were samples but from today they can buy them from Choi's website. They should be a smash hit; 10 heel heights, from 5mm (a flat) to 110mm, she's offering 50 styles in a myriad of leathers and fabrics, and her court shoe (which balenciaga classic mini pompon is rapidly becoming the shape of 2012) are spot on, cut neither too low nor too high.
Choi, 37, has form in this balenciaga purses on sale area. French Sole, the ballet pump specialists quintupled in size in the 10 years she was marketing director and then MD there, until she left in 2011. Her uncle is Jimmy Choo, who founded but no longer works with the eponymous shoe company. Her sister older by two years is Sandra Choi, creative director at Jimmy Choo. "That's one reason I wanted to create a brand at this price level so I wouldn't be competing with my sister. She's worked so hard and I don't want to go against that," she says. "Also, there's such a huge gap between the 700 fantasy and a shoe you can wear every day."
Choi's mantra is quality and a sense of luxury. So how can she provide it and choice at these prices? "No marketing or advertising budgets for one thing," she laughs, "or shops, to start with." Most of the shoes are produced in China Choi says Italy is out of the question balenciaga papier for all but her priciest shoes. "I've been in the depths of China sourcing my manufacturing. I'm totally satisfied with the conditions in the factory I used. I wouldn't do this if I weren't."
Raised by their grandparents in Hong Kong until they were 10 and 12, when their parents sent for their daughters to join them on the Isle of Wight, both Chois are fluent Cantonese speakers. "It was either work in our parents' restaurant or apprentice with our uncle Jimmy," says Choi. "Food Balenciaga can be creative, but it doesn't speak to me like shoes do."