As announced recently on the Alexander McQueen Instagram account, three pairs of McQueen‘s iconic “Armadillo Boots” are being auctioned off for charity.
According to Fashionista, the shoes were designed by the late designer himself and made their debut at his spring 2010 ready-to-wear show, titled Plato’s Atlantis (video is below). The shoes were never mass-produced, and there are just 21 original pairs in existence today—mostly in the hands of private collectors. Jezebel similarly reports on the auction, sharing links to several celebrities who have been spotted wearing the shoes, including Lady Gaga, Daphne Guinness, and Kelis.
According to The Daily Beast, each pair of shoes is handcrafted in Italy from wood and python skin, during a process that requires 30 days and five people. These particular pieces were manufactured specially for the auction, which is currently underway at Christie’s. Bidding starts at $10,000 per pair, and is open until July 23. The auction will be raising money for UNICEF’s earthquake relief efforts in Nepal.
