Glitter for the soul

Desire, envy and seduction are just some of the themes underlining the new limited edition collection of bejewelled shoes and bags from Jimmy Choo for Cruise 2015 under the name Vices. They were introduced to Thai fashionistas recently at an extravagant bash at the Bangkok Marriott’s Octave Rooftop Lounge and Bar that was attended by several celebrities and actresses including Janesuda Parnto, Paula Taylor, Nana Rybena, Virithipa Pakdeeprasong, Alicia Laisuthruklai and Cris Horwang.
In designing Vices, creative director Sandra Choi has given full vent to her obsession with precious stones and plays with the seven deadly sins of Envy, Lust, Anger, Greed, Sloth, Gluttony and Pride to beguile and tempt the brand’s faithful followers.
Choi has been collecting gems for years and says she is fascinated by their natural luminosity and an energy that hints at the power to seduce and transform.
“When I look at these gemstones, I am always drawn by their forceful allure,” she explains.
“The coloured gems have an anthropomorphic quality, each beckoning with an energy that alludes to their ultimate form.”
With the Vice collection, Choi has unleashed the stones’ personality, and the shoes and bags have taken their own mesmerising appeal.
Danai Sorakraikitikul, chief executive of A-List Corporate and host of the event, adds that the limited edition bags and shoes are decorated with seven high-quality gemstones including diamond, sapphire, emerald, Jet, black diamond, and citrine. “For most women, it will be love at first sight,” he says.
The Jing-Ruby shoe, for example, is a towering, regal column of royal Ruby Red and a stunning statement piece of the Vices collection. The upper uses a geometric placement of crystals and stones against a luxurious textured base to create a dramatic collector’s piece. Inspired by the deep alluring shades found within rubies, Jing creates a multi-faceted style completely capturing the seductive elements associated with this powerful semi-precious stone. The double lacquered elaphe used on this sandal has been chosen for its rich, luxurious appearance and its luminous shine.
The elegant Paige Black Diamond boasts a simple T-Bar upper disguised with a multitude of rich textures and techniques. The combination of the jewelled detail front and silk organza and beaded back were inspired by grand elaborate chandeliers and reminded Choi of the movement of Josephine Baker’s infamous banana skirt. Producing a single pair of these sandals requires 30 hours of intense skilled labour by artisans the world’s leading Ateliers.
A whimsical twist on a classic silhouette, the Jynx Sapphires’ elaborately detailed front piece portrays a mixture of sweets and candies with the use of playful costume jewellery and semi-precious stones. Creating this stunning piece takes 72 hours of skilled labour and more than 500 individual pieces and 29 different materials are used to create the cluster of embroideries.
For its part, the Madison Emerald, which embraces cultural eclecticism and the creative spirit, is a robust sandal with malachite, green topaz and jade intertwined with resilient leather tubing and finished with a mix of exotic leather skins.
Inspired by the captivating qualities of the iconic diamond, the Vices clutch bag, with chain shoulder strap, combines 622 beautiful baguette-shaped Swarovski crystals in two sizes with a satin base. The crystals are placed in rows of large and small sized stones, creating a dazzling lattice of stones with a diamond-like effect especially when they catch the light. The hardware frame insert features a stunning metallic Stingray panel.
Jimmy Choo has partnered with British contemporary artist Mat Collishaw to realise the visual story of Vices collection. Collishaw has interpreted Choi’s vision for the collection with a dramatic advertising campaign starring model Ondria Hardin.