The year was 1997, and Princess Diana arrived at the Royal Albert Hall in London for a gala performance of Swan Lake, in a pair of Jimmy Choo slingback pumps paired with a form-fitting ice blue dress. This was the moment that catapulted the brand onto the world stage, just one year after it launched. And the rest was history.
More than 20 years later, the late princess remains a fashion icon in many ways, thanks to her iconic sartorial choices, often emulated successfully by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. And so, it makes perfect sense that Jimmy Choo would pay homage to the lady who started it all, but with a 21st-century update.
This Spring/Summer ’18, Jimmy Choo teams up with streetwear label of the moment Off-White, under the creative direction of Virgil Abloh, DJ and streetwear designer aficionado, for a fresh spin on luxury footwear. Drawing inspiration from the much-loved princess’s signature ’90s style, the collection of exclusive designs with the golden Abloh touch is guaranteed to attract a whole new audience to the brand.
Describing the left-field union, creative director of Jimmy Choo, Sandra Choi, says, “To collaborate with a brand like Off-White allows Jimmy Choo to explore a new avenue and take part in a different conversation. I love to mix it up by getting together with a different creative mind, identifying our synergies and combining our DNA to create a beautiful and surprising collection with unexpected links to the roots of our brand.”
The highly coveted shoe collection premiered at Off-White Spring/Summer ’18 during Paris Fashion Week in September last year. Comprising of reiterations of the nine iconic styles the princess wore and loved, the collection is configured for the modern-day princess, featuring conceptual plastic, ruched tulle, cascading embellishments, punchy floral motifs, and most prominently, PVC.
A standout is the Claire 100, the iconic Jimmy Choo Lance sandal wrapped in clear glossy plastic—a tongue-in-cheek reinterpretation of Cinderella’s glass slippers—that was spotted on Rihanna in New York last October, months before the collection hit the stores. On the runway, the edgy heel was styled with a mishmash of off-the-shoulder and form-fitting cycling jerseys.
If you are after killer knee-high boots, the Elisabeth comes encased in a whirlwind of ruched tulle and shiny PVC varieties, while the feminine au courant bow of the Sloane Rangers are rendered in XXL versions on the AM-to-PM ultra-refined Mary 100 pumps.
Other notable styles include Sara, padded snow boots in polar white nappa or punchy floral moiré with a circular cone heel for the off-duty princess snow-stepping through alpine resorts; and the elegant Victoria, satin pointy toe shoes with tear-drop crystals that reflect the the royal tiara.
The Off-White c/o Jimmy Choo designs are as collectable as they are wearable, ones that Diana would clearly approve.
Available at www.jimmychoo.com and Jimmy Choo, 2.55, Level 2, Pavilion KL.
Tel: 03-2141 3999
