Unveiling Alexander McQueen’s Iconic Armadillo Shoes: Avant-Garde Masterpiece

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Alexander McQueen was not only a brilliant designer and showman. He was also a non-conformist, a rebel, a radical, and a visionary.

Before his unfortunate passing, he made this all the more clear by presenting outrageous and ridiculously life-threatening shoes as part of his 2010 Spring Collection. I am, of course, referring to none other than the jaw-dropping 10-inch Armadillo shoes. They look like the eerie alien claws from the movie “District 9” (sorry, these shoes don’t seem like lobster claws to me).

A daring leap into avant-garde fashion, these Alexander McQueen Armadillo shoes from the Spring 2010 collection merge the boundary between art and attireA daring leap into avant-garde fashion, these Alexander McQueen Armadillo shoes from the Spring 2010 collection merge the boundary between art and attire (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / Flashpoint)

Whatever the British designer comes up with seems to make quite an impression. After the show, Lady Gaga booked the shoes for her “Bad Romance” video.

Other celebrities who have been courageous enough to wear the Armadillos include Daphne Guinness and Kelis (who went all out in a spiky cat-looking costume).

Daphne Guinness made a stunning appearance on the red carpet at the Nars 15th anniversary party in New YorkDaphne Guinness made a stunning appearance on the red carpet at the Nars 15th anniversary party in New York on November 12, 2009 (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / Flashpoint)

Daphne Guinness styled her striking shoes with a dress from the same McQueen Spring/Summer 2010 collectionDaphne Guinness styled her striking shoes with a dress from the same McQueen Spring/Summer 2010 collection (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / Flashpoint)

Daphne Guinness in Armadillo shoes buy Alexander McQueenDaphne Guinness was the first celebrity to showcase the iconic Alexander McQueen shoes with their extraordinary 12-inch height (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / Flashpoint)

Designer Kelly Nishimoto, pictured with Ryan Starr, wearing Alexander McQueen shoesDesigner Kelly Nishimoto, pictured with Ryan Starr, wearing Alexander McQueen shoes while attending Los Angeles Fashion Week Fall 2010 – FGILA’s bi-annual Meet the Designers & Their Muse held at The Standard in Downtown Los Angeles on March 16, 2010 (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / Flashpoint)

Kelly Nishimoto dons Alexander McQueen pumps, showcasing the timeless elegance and bold design characteristic of McQueen's workKelly Nishimoto dons Alexander McQueen pumps, showcasing the timeless elegance and bold design characteristic of McQueen’s work (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / Flashpoint)

In a way, the ‘Armadillo’ was the footwear highlight of McQueen’s collection, but there were other equally exciting shoes on the runway that many people overlooked.

If you’re a collector or intend to collect any of these shoes, purchasing a pair will cost you between $3,900 and $10,000. Good luck getting your hands on a pair, though. Most of these runway shoes come in limited numbers.

So then comes the question: if you had the chance to wear one of these alien-driven fantastical McQueen shoes for FREE, which pair would you wear for fashion’s sake (reason and logic aside)?

Models walk the runway during Alexander McQueen Pret a Porter show as part of the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on October 6, 2009, in Paris, France

Models walk the runway during Alexander McQueen Pret a Porter show as part of the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on October 6, 2009, in Paris, France

Models walk the runway during Alexander McQueen Pret a Porter show as part of the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010Models walk the runway during Alexander McQueen Pret a Porter show as part of the Paris Womenswear Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2010 at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on October 6, 2009, in Paris, France (Credit: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN / Flashpoint)