Jimmy Choo Revives its Archival Designs
Its a line-up that reads like a capsule of fashion's wild at heart - exciting and pulsating with potential action: The Boot. The Thong. The Slide. The Strappy. Each one a distilled archetype of early-aughts glamour, engineered to ignite a frenzy of flashbacks, and probably a few frantic add-to-cart moments.
But, firstly, we need to talk about the Leo. An animal-print, strappy heeled sandal, first immortalised by Carrie Bradshaw in the opening credits of the era defining Sex and the City, twirling in her pink tutu on the streets of NYC. That tutu and those heels came to define the chaotic chic of every twenty-something's vision of downtown dressing. Blink and you might miss it, but that's the moment Jimmy Choo walked right into pop culture – and never left.
The Leo, released in 1998 Photo: Jimmy Choo
Then came the oddly named 72138 — a delicate lilac suede sandal, its toe strap festooned with a band of wispy feathers. Worn by Carrie Bradshaw once again as she scurried through the city, it helped set the stage for one of Sex and the City 's most iconic moments. In an episode titled Where There's Smoke , Carrie's racing to catch a ferry back to Manhattan, chasing down those elusive cabs — only to lose one, and with it, a single shoe. The perfect cue for the perfect line 'I lost my Choo!' she cries as the ferry pulls away. Off-screen, the moment ignited a frenzy. The 72138 quickly sold out and became a shorthand for the brand's mix of whimsy and desirability. It marked a turning point: no longer just a luxury label, Jimmy Choo became the name in aspirational footwear. Women weren't just buying heels, they were buying into a lifestyle, a TV fantasy, a character's closet. 'That was the moment I discovered Jimmy Choo,' shares Duha Bukadi, the shoe designer behind her eponymous label. 'I was still an architecture student and couldn't afford any Choos, but they made me dream, the way fashion still does.'
'I think the feather sandal 72138 has a lot to answer for,' reflects Choi, the niece of the original creator, Jimmy Choo, who founded the brand in 1996. 'It anchored a point of view in what was then regarded as outstanding fashion, establishing the importance of cultural connection from the very early days.' Now, with the original series resurfacing on Netflix and the reboot ( And Just Like That ) pulling in a whole new generation of acolytes, the Carrie/Choo relationship is being reintroduced — and with it, a renewed interest. 'What's nostalgia for some is discovery for others,' Choi adds.
The iconic 72138 established in 1998, re-issued for the first time Photo: Jimmy Choo
Speaking of throwbacks, there's the aptly named Thong heel — a disco ball of a shoe, featuring a slinky, silvered chainmail triangle that channels the Y2K obsession with handkerchief tops. Ill-fated as a piece of clothing, perhaps, yet ever so scintillating as a shoe. There's also the Flower, one of the best-selling styles from S/S 2001, with a silk corsage-like purple bud perched delicately atop a barely-there metallic gold sandal. An impossible shoe, the flower seemingly floating, ushering in yet another frenzy, this time round for groomed heels and glossy pedicures. Back then, a salon in NYC was offering high-end 'Choo-Choo' pedicures, where scraps of paisley and floral prints from Jimmy Choo's summer collection were affixed to nails and sealed with high-gloss polish. An article in Elle magazine in the early aughts even reported a rise in cosmetic foot surgeries across North America, all in pursuit of toes worthy of a pair of Choos. The obsession was real.
The Thong circa early 2000 Photo: Jimmy Choo Photo: Jimmy Choo
'Personally, I love the first Strappy design as a thong sandal on an 85mm heel" writes Choi, with such gusto you can practically hear the enthusiasm in her voice. "Those fine straps casing around the toes and the curve of the arch push just enough sexiness that you forget you're wearing a thong sandal on a high heel, because you're going to have fun looking so fabulous!'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vogue Arabia
2 days ago
- Vogue Arabia
How Instagram Previews Are Killing the Movie Buzz—The Devil Wears Prada 2, We're Looking at You
The first time I watched The Devil Wears Prada in 2008, I remember scribbling cerulean blue in my diary and forcefully using it in a conversation the next day – context? There was absolutely none. When Andy Sachs, played by Anne Hathaway, walks into the room after her makeover – wearing the Chanel boots from its Autumn 2005 collection – leaving both Emily Blunt and Gisele Bündchen's characters gobsmacked, stuttering, 'Are you wearing the Chanel boots?' became the ultimate dream fashion ammunition in my arsenal for when I entered my villain era. Mind you, I was still 14 and had zero feuds with anyone that required a couture comeback. The point being, this movie that I stumbled upon as a teenager (without having watched its trailer) became my introduction to the world of fashion and publications – ultimately, it played a small subconscious role in the career I picked. Yes, I am a fashion journalist who has worked across many titles in two countries – and yes, the movies from the late '90s and early 2000s were my guidance counsellor. While the rumours of a sequel have been doing the rounds since the first film came out in 2006 – especially in 2014, when the book Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns dropped – the follow-up couldn't evoke the same fanfare the first instalment did, and the second movie rumours swirled only for a bit. This was until July 2024, when Deadline officially reported a sequel was in the works at Walt Disney Studios and the original screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna, was back in the saddle for round two. Since then, most of the original cast has reprised their iconic roles with a few new additions – except Nate, played by Adrian Grenier – Andy Sachs's gaslighting, unsupportive boyfriend who we're most definitely not going to miss. Photo: TheStewartofNY (Getty Images) The movie went into production on 20 June 2025 – both original millennial fans (well into their 30s now) and Gen Zs who found this fashion and pop culture gem along the way were finally excited to go back to the theatres. And now I want to sit back and relax and enjoy my evening. When all of a sudden, I hear this agitating, grating voice… Not to quote Abby Lee Miller from season 2 of Dance Moms , but this is exactly how I felt when I saw Hathaway's first look drop on Instagram. Unless you live under a rock, you've probably seen half her wardrobe from the film already. If this was any other film, it wouldn't matter as it doesn't give away the plot – the paparazzi could continue to milk the audience's curiosity. But when it comes to films like The Devil Wears Prada – where the costumes are not only integral, they could very well be described as an additional character that carries the plot, this could be detrimental. Photo: XNY/Star Max (Getty Images) Next thing I know? Fashion pundits on social media and magazine writers were out, guns blazing with their outfit reviews: 'Top 10 items from Anne Hathaway's Devil Wears Prada wardrobe that you can own.' 'From Phoebe Philo to Jacquemus, here's what Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs are wearing in the sequel.' The vintage Coach Metropolitan Briefcase from 1987, spotted on Hathaway in the first look, sold out minutes after the brand's Re(Loved) programme listed a similar version. Now, not only do I already know Emily and Andy's fashion arc in their 40s, I also know what Miranda Priestly will wear to the make-believe Met Gala. Now that is sacred – and where I draw the line. Photo: Aeon (Getty Images) Having to watch the stills of a film you're excited to watch on the big screen on your phone (against your will) does a major disservice to the story, the artists and the viewers who are all equally invested. Whatever happened to a good old mystery? It's the element of surprise that makes the movie even more special – and in a film like this, which isn't horror or a thriller, fashion is the pièce de résistance. The price of a movie being filmed in New York is having to watch most of it on your phone already – a similar trajectory befell films like The Materialist and It Ends with Us . Based on Colleen Hoover's famous novel, It Ends with Us , the movie adaptation starred Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively in the titular roles. From the minute Lily Bloom's first look (played by Lively) was dropped, fans were unimpressed when the version of frumpy-chic described in the book didn't match the on-screen portrayal. With every look drop and its out-of-context, badly angled paparazzi shot, the pre-release bad press regarding the costumes was at an all-time high. I know, ironic, a considerably small blip in comparison to the post-release fiasco. Photo: Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin (Getty Images) But this new-age marketing technique, where the audience is overfed information to get them curious, may just be hurting the project more than it's benefiting. Can we please bring back less-is-more when it comes to show-and-tell with regard to films? The fashion in them, however, can always be OTT.
Vogue Arabia
5 days ago
- Vogue Arabia
Georgina Rodríguez Confirms Engagement Buzz with Diamond Ring and Instagram Post
Skip to main content Vogue Arabia's former cover star Georgina Rodríguez set social media alight after sharing a photo of a dazzling diamond ring with the caption, 'Yes I do. In this and in all my lives,' hinting at an engagement to Cristiano Ronaldo August 11, 2025 Vogue Arabia's former cover star Georgina Rodríguez has sent fans into a frenzy after posting a striking close-up of her left hand adorned with a massive oval-cut diamond ring. The Spanish model and influencer paired the image with the romantic caption, 'Yes I do. In this and in all my lives,' sparking speculation that she is now engaged to her longtime partner, football legend Cristiano Ronaldo. This isn't the first time the pair's potential wedding plans have made headlines. In her Netflix series I Am Georgina , Ronaldo teased that he was waiting for the right 'click' before proposing. Now, after years together and raising a family, many believe that moment has finally arrived. Rodríguez's relationship with Ronaldo has long been a subject of fascination, but as she told Vogue Arabia in her previous cover story, her focus is always on the life they've built together: 'Home is where we are together, no matter where that is in the world. Everything else is just details.' The couple share a blended family and have been together since 2016, with Ronaldo once teasing in her Netflix series I Am Georgina that he was '1,000 % sure' marriage would happen when the time felt right.
Vogue Arabia
08-08-2025
- Vogue Arabia
The '90s Boho Hair Accessory That Everyone's Wearing This Summer
The bandana transcends style tribes, it works if you're a grunge girl, hip-hop devotee or a quiet luxury type. 'I love the bandana because it looks just as at home on Carrie Bradshaw at the farmer's market as it does on Britney, Beyoncé and J Lo in the Noughties,' says Francesca Inverarity, hairstylist at The Hair Bros. 'They're great for pulling your hair off your face in the summer months, plus they also protect it from the sun.' The Noughties is not the only source of inspiration for ways to wear it now. Hairstylist Bobby Eliot, who often works with Abrams, also references French '60s icons, like Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot, who wore the trend full-coverage and granny-style, rather than the shorter boho-style bandana. 'There are so many ways to style them,' says Eliot. 'And they're a great way to give your hair a break from summer styling as well – I love the idea of throwing in a little sea salt spray, letting your hair air dry and adding a bandana on top. So chic.' How Carrie Bradshaw wears the bandana – with diamanté, no less. Cinematic / Alamy Stock Photo Beyoncé's noughties look was also punctuated with optimal amounts of bling. Steve W. Grayson It isn't just A-listers who are head over heels for them, either. ('They've become my personality,' my fellow journalist Phoebe McDowell tells me.) The lazy girl's answer to achieving good hair that looks on-trend without having to actually do anything, she believes their rise in popularity is down to the wider boho trend that is so prevalent right now. The hairstylist Charlotte Mensah has long been a fan, often wearing one to protect her scalp and hair while she's in the sun. 'They're amazing at protecting the hair, especially if you have a curly hair type,' she says, adding that she gets hers from vintage stores and markets. 'I like the silk kind because they prevent frizz and help the hair retain hydration, while the cotton ones tend to suck any moisturising formulas out of the hair.' An obvious purchase if you've got coloured hair, in addition to looking good, bandanas act as a handy barrier between your strands and the sun. 'They stop bleached hair over-processing while you enjoy the sunshine,' says Inverarity. 'A good holiday hack is to apply a hair conditioning treatment, like Davines Oi Liquid Luster Treatment, when hair is damp. Then brush it back with a comb and wrap a bandana over the top to lock in the treatment and let it sink in throughout the day. It's a stylish alternative to the usual summer baseball cap.' How to wear a hair bandana now There are two key ways to wear a bandana. Most of the girlies are doing it '90s or bohemian style: folding the fabric into a triangle, then letting the point sit below the crown of the head. The other is more of a 'granny chic' look, where the fabric is tied around the head and secured under the chin. Whichever you choose, this is an accessory that works for all hair lengths and types; however, Inverarity says it works particularly well on short bobs, mini crops and micro or broken bangs. 'I think it looks great with swept-back braids or with a messy ponytail,' adds Mensah, who also says that you can roll them up as a more straightforward hair band, should you wish. And – the million dollar question – how to successfully tie them? For McDowell, it's as simple as folding a square silk scarf into a triangle, placing it on top of her head, flipping her hair over, then tying a double knot in the back. The best hair bandanas to shop now Look for (vintage or new) silk or cotton square scarves, secure over your hair, and get out in the sunshine.
