Well Shod, Well Imformed

THE BRIGHT YOUNG NEWCOMERS

After passing the Courvoisier one too many times over the course of the weekend, Imelda thinks (despite the rave party in her head) it’s time to get back to the business of being despotic. Besides, I can only bask in the L’Express afterglow for so long before the Daughters of France start wondering what all le fuss is about.

Over the past two weeks the Palace of Despotism has been besieged by emails from footwear students keen to engage the Despotic Queen’s opinions, and I promise, my quill is scratching out replies as fast as Yum Yum’s stubby ‘lil fingers can write.

The deluge of emails has prompted me to announce a re-structure of 2009’s ‘Imelda’s Footwear Designer of the Year’ award.

This year ‘award’ will be separated into three categories - the main award ‘Imelda’s Footwear Designer of the Year’, which will be open to established designers. A secondary award ‘Imelda’s Graduating Footwear Designer of the Year’ as the title suggests will be open to ALL graduating students and the final award ‘Imelda’s Emerging Designer of the Year’ which will be open to ALL students currently enrolled in a footwear design course.

I realize its only August but Imelda’s pantalettes are already quivering at the thought of all the glorious talent her ‘Emerging Designer’ award will unearth…talent like Emma Hancock and Shimo Imau, two emerging designers Imelda has randomly plucked from her inbox.

Emma Hancock is a second year Cordwainers student currently completing her ‘industry year’. Once completed, Hancock informed the Despotic Queen she’ll be heading back to Cordwainers to finish her third (and final) year of study.

Hancock told the Despotic Queen the inspiration behind her design (below) was “horses / saddlery, James Long and the Godmother of Punk, Patti Smith”. Needless to say I was intrigued and wanted to know more.

What lead you to footwear design?

Forever and a day I’ve been looking and touching but always was on the other side of the design fence. I did a marketing and promotion course at LCF before I enrolled in Cordwainers footwear course; it always fathomed me how things are made. It still does. Sculptures. TV remotes. Rockets. Shoes. 

I think I just woke up one morning and knew design was what I wanted to do; I just needed to get a grip. I had to learn to answer my own question. And I answered it with shoes. 
 
Which designer would you like to work for?

If I could work for anyone in a footwear sense it would be Rick Owens (what a stallion) or Kris Van Assche, Lanvin, Ann Demeulemeester, Comme des Garcons or Mr. Simons.  Aiming high eh?

What was is about James Long that inspired you make these boots?

I really enjoy the protective quality of Long’s clothing plus the dominance of texture. I also heard he’s a big Patti Smith fan, which I am too!

Shino Imuta is a Japanese based Economics graduate. Before studying at Italy’s famed CERCAL, Imuta learned the business side of footwear by selling shoes at a luxury Japanese footwear emporium. She’s inspired by holey socks, interned at POLLINI and is a self confessed ‘Small Imelda’.

Why did you decide to study footwear?

Because I LOVE shoes too much.

From early childhood, I was a shoe collector (like a small Imelda!!) I worked at the shoe selectshop where they have big names such as Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Giuseppe Zanotti, Pierre Hardy...etc. I knew how they are beautiful, how to sell, how to put on, but I couldn’t have satisfaction. Then I realized that I have to know how to make and how to design them.

How long have you been studying / Do you come from a design background?

Not a long time...

I'm 28 years old, I graduated in economy from the University in Japan, and then I worked at the shoe shop. When I was 24 years old, I went over to Italy and worked at the "10 corsocomo". Then I started the school, CERCAL (centro ricerca e scuola internazionale calzaturiera) at the San Mauro Pascoli
which is called the ‘town of shoes’ in Italy. I finished the modellista-stilista di calzature course, then I had an internship at POLLINI Spa as an assistant in charge of the collection office.

Which designer (if any) would you like to work for?

In the future I want have my own line, but I also have to study more great designers. I love Manolo Blahnik, Azzedine Alaia, Pierre Hardy, Bruno Frisoni and Nicholas Kirkwood. I don't know who designs their shoes, but I love also Givenchy, Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent.

What was the inspiration behind your designs?

Everything that I saw. Generally I get inspiration from architecture, industrial arts and flowers. I used holes (from a pair of old socks)  to reveal the foot and explore the architectural lines.

 

THE MIGHTY DANE!

Without further ado (waffling / filler busting or stonewalling) I’m proud to announce the winner of the most illustrious award in footwear (nay the world!) is…

Camilla Skovgaard.

Please join me in congratulating Camilla, runner up Cecilie Tolkum and the 14 other talented and inspired designers – I’m humbled by your greatness.

A special shout to all my Imeldette’s who took the time to nominate and vote, without your participation none of this would have possible. The Despotic Queen hopes your Christmas stocking, like mine, will overflow with riches plundered from the Third World.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Come tomorrow we shall have a victor and this is your last chance to VOTE. 

VOTE OR BE TASERED!!!!!

UPDATE - THE POLLS HAVE CLOSED AND THE VOTING PAGE HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN. 

HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN

Yes, the Despotic Queen of Shoes has uprooted the imperial household and travelled south in search of some warmth for the silly season. Imelda’s cavalcade made haste down the mighty Hume Highway to arrive in Australia’s fashion capital late yesterday afternoon. The only hiccup was getting caught in a hailstorm (just outside Albury), the kind that would make Jerry Bruckheimer's special effects people weep with envy.  However, before we left I summoned El Diablo to upgrad my insurance policy, so the only damage was a frayed nerve or two and after a few nips of something medicinal we pushed on.

This morning Yum Yum drew back the double-sided drapes and ‘quell horror’ it’s a blistering cold winters day!!!! Last summer the Garden State monopolized all the summer sun. So with that in mind I instructed Yum Yum to pack me an assortment of summer appropriate g-kini’s, toe rings and a box of switches.  Thankfully Lady Melbourne (under the duress of my Taser Heels) has come to the party and couriered the Despotic Queen an assortment of her finest furs. Naturally, I didn’t pack any g-kini’s that would complement LM’s Alexis Colby-esque glamour. So to market I sashay in search of something warmer…I’ll report back this afternoon.

Along with the 12 million other things (like catching up on ALL your blogs) I’ve been meaning to post an update on Imelda’s Footwear Designer of the Year.

Last week I would have bet ‘my Presidential pardon’ that Nicky Kirkwood was poised to romp-it-in and claim the most important award of the season, but it’s two beautiful (and talented) Danes that are barnstorming to the top of the polls.

The Balmain-bound Camilla Skovgaard was always a serious contender but it’s fellow Dane, the exquisite Cecilie Tolkum who has caught Imelda off guard. After assessing the voting the Danish Designer is only a handful of votes off the lead. Team Tolkum have injected some much-needed excitement with their impressive (and stealthy) Obama inspired campaign.

So in the final days of voting if your nominated designer wasn’t either Skovgaard or Tolkum then Imelda suggests you rally your troops to get out and vote. All the necessary links and logos can be found at the top left hand corner of the page. 

START YOUR ENGINES

Over the past two weeks I’ve worried myself into near anorexia that some designers who deserve to be nominated won’t be (and some weren’t). But with an over bearing United Nations adjudicating this election I’ve attempted to keep the process fair and transparent.

As expected, the field of nominees is as eclectic as they are deserving. To ALL my Imeldette’s who nominated and seconded our talented field of designers the Despotic Queen offers her humble thanks.

All votes can be cast HERE (or there's a new link to the left); unfortunately the software I’m operating only allows 10 active fields so the nominee’s have been spilt across two polls. Fear not…the Security Council has been all up in Imelda’s trunk to ensure I don’t get up to my old vote rigging tricks. The Designer with the most votes will be declared your winner of Imelda’s Designer of the Year – simple, so let the GAMES BEGIN!