Well, looky here (from The Telegraph, London
Graduate's high heels for men are staggering for models
By Hilary Alexander, Fashion Director
(Filed: 10/06/2005)
While women have for decades plundered the male wardrobe, few men have been happy to embrace feminine sartorial style.
But Rui Leonardes, a young shoe designer, took a step towards balancing the score at the Royal College of Art's MA Fashion Graduate show in London yesterday with a collection of high heels for men.
Male models wearing high-heeled shoes from Leonardes' collectionHis models teetered down the catwalk in six-inch, spike-heeled stilettoes. The shoes, ingeniously constructed, were hand-made in a mix of leather, denim, tweed, wool and bright nylon to match various suits and trousers. One bright pink floral pair came with a matching jumpsuit.
"I wanted to question masculine stereotypes," said Leonardes, originally from the Azores.
"I practised walking in them myself for two days. It's not too bad. It's a bit like walking in cowboy boots, only higher."
The models were not so sure. "I was certain I was going to fall over," said Tilal Imani.
Thomas Donocik added: "They pinch your toes a bit, but I don't mind. It's very rock 'n' roll."
Tibor Rohaly, a tutor in menswear technology at the RCA, had just 15 minutes backstage to master the art of the catwalk stiletto-strut when one of the male models was pronounced incapable of walking without wobbling. Other menswear collections featured variations on the skirt and kilt, with Dracula cloaks and suiting recurrent favourites.
Womenswear tended to be warrior-like and the footwear was generally practical and flat.
Stephanie Aman's collection featured chain-mail and silver lace battle-tunics emblazoned with crusader crosses, accessorised with knee-high gladiator boots.
Vrettos Vrettakos showed leather corsetry, seamed and pleated like armour, with flimsy chiffon draperies and Boadicea boots.
The Royal College of Art show, which featured the work of 29 MA graduates, brought the 2005 student fashion season to a close.