THE MAESTRO HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

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She’d been scratching around my strip mine for days and I was about to call off the search party when Yum Yum squealed, “I found it Mrs. But…hmmm, this doesn’t look good. There’s something attached to it”. Like a Meerkat she bobbed up from between my legs, her face pinched with concern.

“Mrs you know doctor said you’re too old to store things down there” glancing down for comedic effect, “But I haven’t” I protested, “well, not since the late ‘90’s”

“Use the jaws the life if you have to” I barked before forcing her back down the mine “just hurry the fuck up”

“Oh…it’s a CD”

“What! VD? Impossible” I said, “The mine’s been out of commission for years”

“No, a ceee deee, like for the music” as if to illustrate the point that I was dumb as well as deaf, she started flapping the disk in my face “Oh it’s from Mr Barbato” I said

Snatching at the CD with my claws, “ahh so that’s where I put it…phew good work”

A couple of weeks ago my good friends at Gianni Barbato gave us a sneak peek of the new collection, and because Barbato produces a monster collection he posts the Despotic Queen the full collection on disk. Of course, when the disk arrived I was busy with the business of being despotic so I stashed if somewhere safe *looks down* for dramatic effect. Wiping the disk clean I sprung out of the stirrups, anxious to see how the Maestro was going to top these Geta inspired wedges.

With luxury footwear on life-support thanks to the slop served up during the S/S 10 collections, independent designers like Gianni Barbato are fast becoming the go-to for the discerning footwear buyer.

Barbato's S/S10 collection clocks in at over 120 styles, the trouble with producing such a large collection is not knowing where to start, so Babarto suggested Imelda kick-off with his new lifestyle range titled ‘LIFE’

Over the past 4/5 seasons Dior Homme and Lanvin have really dug in and established their reputations (in lifestyle category) with their covetous high priced hi-tops, making me wonder if Barbarto’s launch was more a tactical play for the same end client.

Racking up an interesting mix of non-sportive fabrics including woven, perforated, and distressed leathers, Babarto’s lifestyle collection appears to be geared towards an older clientele. The collection also sees team Barbarto introducing bulky lace as a contrasting quarter in-lay for women and mesh inlays used in the men’s hi-tops.

Not Imelda’s cuppa but the collection is tight and likely to be Barbato’s entry price point into the luxury lifestyle market.

Perhaps with an eye on capping his price points, Babarto has used luxe fabrications sparingly, instead focusing on treated leathers and suede. Still it wouldn’t be a Babarto collection without a splash of snake and pony, his pop art coloured snakeskins have been tattooed with floral motifs while his giraffe patterned pony skin sandals perfectly capture the sub Saharan zeitgeist.

Taming his avant-garde styling, Barbato has focused his considerable design talent on producing a range of classically styled gladiator style sandals, pumps and open toe boots.

The influence of Japanese footwear was seen in a number of S/S 10 collections and aside from Babato’s geta wedges the maestro has taken inspiration from the gentle art of origami.

Enveloping the foot, Barbarto’s stone coloured origami sandal is a glorious homage to late 90’s minimalistic chic pioneered by designers like Lang, Demeulemeester and Sander. While the men’s option in aged brown leather is the Despotic Queen’s pick for the season.

With my touchstone of tyranny tingling I should note there were a few questionable (not featured) studded double denim styles, which are bound be a hit with those oil rich Eastern Euros. However, considering the volume of footwear Barbarto produces there’s bound to be a few (forgivable) misses…and mercifully, not a single clog!