The Armadillo boots were designed by Alexander McQueen for his Atlantis-inspired Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Their design, extremely high heels -some models even denied walking the show because of it- and the fact that they were never meant to go for sale have created a myth around them. So far it was only Lady Gaga who was lucky enough -let’s also say brave- to have worn them, except for the 21 models of the runway show, during her “Bad Romance” video clip.
Two weeks ago, news broke that three pairs of the Armadillo would go for auction. And who put the winning bid? Lady Gaga! Seems that noone else will ever get the chance to make them theirs. And after that, she submitted a note to V magazine for Alexander McQueen:
“There is no diamond, no award, nothing I ever wanted more than a memory of my brief friendship with McQueen. I am sad every day that I enter my closet, knowing he is not here anymore to dazzle the world with his beautiful, dark, limitless, brave mind. These shoes are the only tangible piece I have left of our work together. They came to me this morning, after a dream I had again about him. As the dream goes, I enter my closet and his clothes are no longer there. I’m tortured. The loss is deep. Mourning in my own way constantly, why he is gone, he was so talented. I hate the empty space, not only in fashion, but in the creative consciousness that fizzled when he passed. This morning I got the call I would now be the caregiver to three pairs of armadillo platforms, just like the kind I wore in the “Bad Romance” video, the shoes from his crescendo collection “Plato’s Atlantis,” the ones that made everyone gasp from the front row because they had NEVER seen something like them before. I was reminded this morning that he is still here. He is everywhere. In every store window. In the designs of commercial mainstream retail, fashion, in music, in the heart of every young designer that wishes he could be as free and as fearless as McQueen was. I cried all morning, convinced he was with me. Convinced that I’m loved from somewhere far beyond the eternal body and mind, outside of all the chaos. He wanted me to have them. They made their way back to me. I am here today not just because of my talent, but because he believed in me. My weird brand of art pop manic expression of my emotions was the part of me he knew he taught me. I will be grateful long after I pass and join him wherever it is they put souls like us. Long live McQueen.”
The singer and the late designer, who died in 2010, were close friends. Lady Gaga had even dedicated her 2010 Brit Awards to his memory. Watch her performance below.
