That title actually just makes me think of the intro to Will and Jazzy Jeff’s 1991 classic Summertime, but perhaps that isn’t a bad thing. These shoes make me just as happy as the groove.
I’ve been meaning to purchase a pair of so-called ‘sensible’ work heels for some time now – something comfortable, midway between sky high and completely flat. It’s a liminal space that I’ve never really operated in, which is problematic when it comes to all sorts of normal corporate activities, such as stair-climbing, mid-morning coffee runs and the occasional high speed office dash. Unfortunately, best intentions aside, ‘sensible’ has never been my forté when it comes to fashion.
I started at ALDO and didn’t make it much further. It was something to do with the coquettish black leather frill at the nape of the ankle, coupled with the obscenely geometric perspex heel and, of course, the black and white. They’re the sultry result of a collaboration with Preen called Rise, ALDO’s ongoing fashion community project, which they use as a platform to ‘support, promote and celebrate daring talent’.
I was quite surprised to see a mainstream brand like ALDO working with Preen, a London-based duo well-loved for their eccentric mixing of heritage and newness. It definitely speaks to mass retailers collaborating with smaller, more directional brands in an attempt to quench the public thirst for high fashion, better quality and rarity.
Like the shoes!!