LET’S KEEP THE RABBITS IN THEIR HOMES

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Teresa Cannata'

Animal-inspired accessories have always had a special allure: whether humble (Hello Kitty collections) or luxurious (Cartier panther jewellery, anyone?), they have often become objects of desire. Their shapes are playful and bring childhood memories back, when animal-shaped objects ruled our world. Shoes, in particular, seem to be the favourite items to play with: Charlotte Olympia’s Kitty velvet flats have recently paved the way for the last generation of animal-inspired accessories. The slippers designed by Charlotte Dellal have quickly become a must-have for fashionistas, but other less-known designers have paid homage to animals. Minna Parikka, for example, is a Helsinki-based artist who has a very precise idea of what the function of shoes is: “They’re not just symbols of power but its Holy Grail.” Now, imagine a Holy Grail with rabbit ears and rejoice.
Angora is the name of these beautiful black pumps. I’ve fallen in love with them as soon as I saw a picture of them in the Instagram account of my friend (it was taken from Shoe-aholic magazine). 3cm platform and 12cm heel, leather lining and ponyskin vamp are the “technical” details, but the most notable element are the cute bunny ears that embellish the front. The same “ears” can be found in other pumps by the Finnish designer – Pfeiffer (9cm heels) and Cuniculus (7cm heels).

As a cultural reference nerd, I think many are the sources of inspiration behind these pumps. The first is obviously the figure of the Playboy Bunny, but let’s imagine that Parikka turned to something different. A possible inspiration could be this 1975 iconic picture of Elsa Peretti by Helmut Newton, where the model-turned-designer was wearing a rabbit mask by Halston.

The Texan-born designer was the creative mind behind another legendary accessory: the white fur rabbit mask worn by Candice Bergen at Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball, held on November 28, 1966 at the Plaza Hotel in New York. 

Parikka’s Angora pumps, so playful and sexy, would be perfect in a masculine evening outfit – white and black tuxedo jacket by Emilio Pucci, silk-blend crepe tuxedo pants by Burberry London and a Judith Leiber Streamline Beekman rhinestone clutch. I would also wear them with a Chloé checked cropped sweater, a Donna Karan wrapped pencil skirt and a cute Lunatic clutch by Charlotte Olympia.

http://www.minnaparikka.com/