Alexander McQueen’s infamous Armadillo boots have been worn by the likes of Daphne Guinness and Lady Gaga. Now, three lucky people can be the owners of a pair of the almost 12-inch heels. The outlandish bootie was designed mostly as a showpiece, save for the few McQueen clients who dared to walk in them.
Three pairs of the design have been re-commissioned and will be on sale at Christie’s in New York from July 14-23. All profits from the auction will be donated to UNICEF’s relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Nepal. Christie’s expects the pairs to fetch $10,000 to $15,000 each. All three pairs were handcrafted in Italy from wood and python skin.
For those who prefer to look and not buy, the McQueen “Savage Beauty” exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is still on display through August 2. The show is so popular that the museum had to expand viewing hours: Through its last two weekends, the exhibition will be open around the clock.
The museum has a python pair on display that is similar to those that Christie’s is auctioning. There’s also a pair from McQueen’s Atlantis spring ’10 collection, which is covered in iridescent paillettes inspired by sea life.
The three pairs are on view at Christie’s Rockefeller Center location as part of a handbags-and-accessories sale that is available for online bidding.
