... I give to you...
... seven irregular choices...
... six movie dresses...
... five gold rings!..
... four sassy cats...
... three ballpoint pens...
... two in/appropriate characters...
... a little souvenir.
Every year I follow a day of dresses with shoes which, as I pick them, I do think about whether they could go with the Day 6 dresses or not. For me it always makes eliminating options much easier.
Every year, I almost always include a pair of Irregular Choice high heels, and every year my little sister says how much she hates the shoes the brand creates, and every year I threaten to dedicate the entire day to the truly insane shoes that this brand carries.
Established in 1999 by Dan Sullivan, Irregular Choice was his response to seeing 90's footwear becoming neutral, yet seeing that was a demand for something a little more individual which would make the wearer stand out against a sea of black and boring shoes. This was never intended to be a brand that followed seasonal trends in fashion or what other fashion brands were doing, it was a brand created to be unique.
I love them, I have done since probably the early 2000's or whenever Schuh started stocking them (at least the one nearest me did). They've always fascinated me and if I could walk in high heels and had the legs to pull them off I'd probably have more than two pairs. Which is why every year I do this post, you can almost guarantee I'll include a pair, which then leads to my little sisters disapproval. Thus the theme for today started rattle around my mind.
So, sorry pickle, that today is the day...
Top: Irregular Choice 'You're Invited' Limited Edition in Red via Bubblegum Boutique
Bottom Left: You're Invited - Irregular Choice Snow Globe Heel via Irregular Thinking
Bottom Right: Day 1139 - Shoesday Tuesday via The Shoe Girl Diaries
Starting off with a bang and a shoe that definitely embodies the unique too much aesthetic that Irregular Choice is known for. Released in 2018, the 'You're Invited' were a Limited Edition (only 130 were made across all sizes) wedge heel features metallics, glitter, LED's, pom pom trim, embroidery, tassels, a removeable ankle strap and, oh yeah, did I forget to mention a carousel horse in a water filled snow globe in the heel?
They're insane. They're quite clearly insane, and I can't imagine the outfit you'd wear, or whether you could actually walk in them - though Gemma of The Shoe Girl Diaries said in her review that they were extremely heavy, but with a snow globe full of water in your heel, that's hardly surprising.
They're unique, statement high heels that if you were going to a circus themed party and wanted to dress up as the ring master, then these would be your perfect shoe.
So long as you were allowed to sit in a chair all night and instruct people to bring you drinks.
Link || Irregular Choice 'You're Invited' Limited Edition in Red via Bubblegum Boutique
Link || You're Invited - Irregular Choice Snow Globe Heel via Irregular Thinking
Link || Day 1139 - Shoesday Tuesday via The Shoe Girl Diaries
All Images: 'On The Web' - AW20 Halloween Collection in Black/Purple via Irregular Choice
'On The Web' - AW20 Halloween Collection in Black/Purple
Every Halloween my little sister wears a jumper with a skeleton on it and orange pumpkin socks. She saves them all year for one night... I just wear black and wear a slightly darker smoky eye with eyeliner and a slightly darker lipstick... and it's her nod to the spooky season. And in 2020, with no chance of trick-or-treaters coming to the door, we watched Hocus Pocus (1993) while making dinner.
My sister loves Halloween and in my heart of hearts, I genuinely think on this list that the 'On The Web' heels from 2020, are my best opportunity to get her to like a pair of Irregular Choice shoes, in all their iridescent, glittery spiderweb, 3D spider glory.
Here's my pitch: Imagine Sarah Sanderson wearing these shoes...
Hocus Pocus (1993) I'd also like to decree as one of the best Halloween movies. Hands down. I'll fight anyone who disagrees.
Link || 'On The Web' - AW20 Halloween Collection in Black/Purple via Irregular Choice
Top & Bottom Right: 'Louder! Louder!' Irregular Choice X Muppets Heels via Atom Retro
Bottom Left: The Disney Muppets X Irregular Choice via Milled
'Louder! Louder!' - 2017 Limited Edition Irregular Choice X Disney's Muppets
Over the years Irregular Choice has had lots of collaborations, and one of the biggest being with Disney. They've created shoes featuring Disney's Mickey Mouse, Snow White (1937), Dumbo (1941), Bambi (1942), Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), Sleeping Beauty (1959), The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), Mulan (1998) and Toy Story 2 (1999).
Basically if you can think of a Disney franchise, Irregular Choice has probably created at least one set of shoes, though more likely a full collection, based on it.
Which brings us to the wonder that is the 2017 Irregular Choice X Disney's Muppets collection and my favourite shoes from the insanity, the Animal based 'Louder! Louder!' peep toes where the opening for the toes is his mouth. I hate peep toes but these are nuts and I weirdly love them. They're furry, they have even furrier heels, Animal's face at the toe, massive eyes, brows and a pompom nose. If these were novelty slippers they'd almost be expected, but as a peep toe high heel? Crazy.
And they highlight something I've always loved about Irregular Choice shoes, the way they treat the insoles and soles or their designs. There's no red nail polish painted souls ala Louboutin, instead you have all the other Muppets (and Animals tongue at the tip of the toe!). There's as much care and attention taken in making the inside and base of the shoes interesting as the outer, and it's another reason these crazy shoes are unique. It's also one of the reasons I've found it difficult to actually wear the shoes I do own. I don't want to ruin the pretty designs on the soles.
Plus, they look way better on than I would have imagined. If they didn't have the furry heel, they'd actually not be quite as insane. Also you know if they were slippers you wouldn't think they were quite as weird. Just saying.
Link || 'Louder! Louder!' Irregular Choice X Muppets Heels via Atom Retro
Link || The Disney Muppets X Irregular Choice via Milled
Top: Irregular Choice 'Death Star' Booties via Pinterest (Originally via Office)
Bottom: Irregular Choice 'Death Star' Booties in Black via Ashbury Skies
'The Death Star' - 2015 Limited Edition Irregular Choice X Disney's Star Wars
Obviously I left out one of Disney's most recognisable franchise, and that's Star Wars.
The 2015 collection included heels made to look like Stormtroopers, Darth Vader, R2D2, and Yoda, there were furry Chewbacca the Wookie boots and C3PO flats...
There were different styles, different colourways, soles printed with stills from the movie and then there was a second collaboration! In this second collection there was more designs, more colourways, and even a Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) embroidered 'Day of the Trooper' platforms with the Stormtrooper heel painted in traditional Day of the Dead makeup.
And if I told you these 'Death Star' heels were probably the most subtle of the platforms they released, you might think I'm lying, however I'll allow you to Google that yourself. (Or follow the link back there because I'm feeling nice).
Is it wrong to like the way these look on? If they were a more reasonable sized heel (without the Darth Vader or the Stormtrooper) I actually think the frost fern style metallic finish on the black leather is really beautiful, and modified they could be a really nice set of boots.
Link || Irregular Choice 'Death Star' Booties via Pinterest (Originally via Office)
Link || Irregular Choice 'Death Star' Booties in Black via Ashbury Skies
Link || The Death Star - Star Wars via Irregular Thinking
Top: Irregular Choice 'What the Duck?' in Blue via Atom Retro
Bottom Left: Irregular Choice 'Bubble Bath' in Silver Pink via Lotties Atik
Bottom Centre: Irregular Choice 'What the Duck?' in Pink via Pinterest
Bottom Right: Irregular Choice 'Bubble Bath' in Gold Purple via Succubus
'What the Duck?' & 'Bubble Bath' - 2019
Rubber duckie you're the one
You make bath time lots of fun
Rubber duckie I'm awfully fond of you
Rubber duckie joy of joys
When I squeeze you, you make noise
Rubber duckie you're my very best friend it's true
Oh, every day when I make my way to the tubby
I find a little fellow who's cute and yellow and chubby
Rub-a-dub-dubby
Rubber duckie, you're so fine
And I'm lucky that you're mine
Rubber duckie, I'm awfully fond of you
(Sesame Street)
Yeah, it's rubber duck heeled shoes... I did mention at the beginning of this that I was going to be finding song of the weirdest wackiest Irregular Choice shoes, right?
These are just quackers...
... it's okay, I'll take myself to pun jail.
Link || Irregular Choice 'What the Duck?' in Blue via Atom Retro
Link || Irregular Choice 'Bubble Bath' in Silver Pink via Lotties Atik
Link || Irregular Choice 'What the Duck?' in Pink via Pinterest
Link || Irregular Choice 'Bubble Bath' in Gold Purple via Succubus
Top: Irregular Choice 'Disco Bunny' in Black via Wanelo
Bottom Left: Irregular Choice 'Disco Bunny' in Green via Ashbury Skies
Bottom Right: Irregular Choice 'Disco Bunny' in Green via Pinterest
'Disco Bunny' - AW14 Halloween Collection
One of the things I often end up saying about Irregular Choice shoes is that if they had a different heel, or took off a bow I'd like them more, and in some respects that's how I feel about the 2014 'Disco Bunny' heels. The sequin upper is so nice, and then the giant gold bunny is so ridiculous, I both kind of love it and kind of hate it.
It's also a trend within the brand, some of the shoes will be relatively simple (smothered in sequins or glitter, but simple) and then they'll add a statement heel to turn something you'd potentially see in any other shoe shop, into something unique. Which is there goal.
Link || Irregular Choice 'Disco Bunny' in Black via Wanelo
Link || Irregular Choice 'Disco Bunny' in Green via Ashbury Skies
Link || Irregular Choice 'Disco Bunny' in Green via Pinterest
Link || Disco Bunnies - Green via Irregular Thinking
Top & Bottom Left & Right: 'Glissade Ballerina' Wedges via Irregular Choice Twitter
Bottom Centre: Home Before 12' Irregular Choice X Cinderella Collection via Irregular Choice Facebook
'Glissade Ballerina' & 'Home Before 12' - 2014/16
The Irregular Choice 'Glissade Ballerina' wedge is a pretty iconic shoe within the brand. A pretty standard bootie shape you could buy it in duo-chrome green, black suede, red velvet, patent baby pink, faux pearl encrusted or a tie dye denim colourway... and those all of those as standard wedges with their decorative ribbon laces would make them heels I would be instantly drawn too. But this is Irregular Choice, and that would be too standard.
I started with a snow globe in the heel of a shoe, so it only seems appropriate to end in the same manner. And in the void within the five and half inch heel, the brand has inserted a transparent hollow heel, and placed inside of it a tiny ballerina, who dances.
Never to do anything by halves, having a ballet dancer not dance just wouldn't be right. So hidden inside of the heel is a clockwork motor, which you can wind via a small winding key hidden in the heels sole. And what is a ballet dancer with music? Yep, the shoe is also a music box and plays Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
Well, unless you're Cinderella. The classic quirky design was reimagined in 2016 in two pairs, 'Home Before 12' and 'Call me Cinders', as they once again collaborated with Disney on a Irregular Choice X Disney's Cinderella collection. Unfortunately Disney wouldn't allow the brand to include any music and so Cinders has to silently dance by herself, trapped inside a glass slipper.
Link || 'Glissade Ballerina' Wedges via Irregular Choice Twitter
Link || 'Home Before 12' Irregular Choice X Cinderella Collection via Irregular Choice Facebook
Link || 'Call Me Cinders - Cinderella via Irregular Thinking
Okay, I get. They're over the top, and a lot of them look like the designer's dipped them with glue and rolled them around in a box of glitter, sequins, buttons, bows, LED's, children's toys etc etc, but I kind of love that. I love the excess and ridiculousness of them. There's not Tim Gunn telling the designers at Irregular Choice to edit, take things away and "make it work", though I imagine even if they did have a Tim Gunn, and they did take something away, they'd still be left with a wacky amount of decorative touches.
However, that insanity and too muchness is exactly what people love about Irregular Choice. There are blogs and Instagram accounts dedicated to their personal collections, to the new designs coming out and the joy that they get out of wearing these shoes.
And sometimes you need that. You need someone to be the person who never knows when to stop and wants to make people feel beautiful, and silly, and whimsical.
This is a company with a too much gene... and I love it!
Happy New Year & Merry Christmas! Day eight tomorrow...
..................................................................................
Listening: Dancing Shoes - Arctic Monkeys
No comments:
Post a Comment