Season after season, there is one key piece with the power to send the fashion crowd into a frenzy. The talking point might be a coat, a statement bag or, as for A/W’17, a pair of knee-grazing slouch boots, encrusted with thousands of shimmering crystals and boasting a price tag of $10,000 (or around £6,000)
The shoes in question are Saint Laurent’s Niki Crystal Embellished Boots, which appeared in Anthony Vaccarello’s sophomore show as creative director for YSL. According to WWD, each handmade shoe is covered in around 3,000 rhinestones – and shortly after their catwalk debut, the boots managed to amass major waiting lists at department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman.
Over half a year later and it seems that Kendall Jenner has firmly established herself as poster girl for YSL’s Nikis. The model (who we’re guessing didn’t have to add her name to a wait list in order to acquire them) was first spotted wearing a pair for her 22nd birthday celebrations last week, pairing the defiantly ‘extra’ shoes with ripped jeans and a plain white crop top: the epitome of high-low dressing.
Next, Kendall brought a taste of the front row to the, ahem, front row of a basketball game: a night cheering on rumoured boyfriend Blake Griffin and his team, the L.A Clippers, merited a repeat wear for the statement boots. Again, Kendall kept the rest of her ensemble low key, wearing the Nikis with more distressed denim and oversized roll neck jumper in white. It’s not your typical courtside look, but shoes like these deserve to be worn and worn again…
Kendall certainly isn’t the only star to be taken with this season’s most talked-about boots. Rihanna was (naturally) one of the first to get hold of a pair back in March, and they’ve since been worn by singer Cardi B and unexpected style icon Céline Dion.
As for next season's 'It' item in waiting? Prepare for the likes of Kendall to be spotted in YSL's Yeti boots come spring time...
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