For its debut London showing, Jimmy Choo took to the streets of the world for a collection that channeled the spirit of the unconventional lover of fashion. Creative director Sandra Choi was inspired by the Sapeurs of the Republic of the Congo, working-class men famous for their dapper attire, and city and country dwellers worldwide who may live far from fashion’s capitals, but who love nothing better than dressing up.
That translated into fanciful brogues — with hearts, spades, and diamonds instead of holes — for lace-up shoes; others that sparkled with tiny silver studs, and others still with brown saddle leather uppers and a chalky white varnish on the toe cap, giving them a dusty, worn-in look.
More casual looks included slip-on snakeskin espadrilles in cornflower blue, track shoes in dusty pink, a paint-splattered high-top, and slip-on skater-style shoes whose rich red and blue print was influenced by Cuban propaganda posters. The show took place at The Africa Centre in Covent Garden, which Jimmy Choo transformed into an open-air market complete with street food and a cigar stall.