During Paris Fashion Week in March 2012, Kim Kardashian attended Kanye West’s Fall 2012 ready-to-wear presentation at Halle Freyssinet in Paris, wearing one of the designer’s most talked-about footwear collaborations: the pearl-embroidered Giuseppe Zanotti heels created under the Kanye West x Giuseppe Zanotti partnership.
Kim Kardashian layered creamy neutrals and a dramatic fur stole around Kanye West’s pearl-encrusted Giuseppe Zanotti heels, turning the sculptural sandals into the undeniable centerpiece of her Paris Fashion Week look on March 6, 2012 (Credit: Will Alexander / WENN)
With their towering 115mm heels, calf leather construction, and dense all-over pearl embellishment, the sandals reflected an era when celebrity fashion leaned heavily into extreme luxury and statement footwear.
Kim styled the dramatic heels with slim cream pants, a white top, and a fur shawl, keeping the neutral palette soft enough to let the shoes dominate the look.
With sleek straight hair, icy-toned fur, and barely-there makeup, Kim Kardashian leaned fully into the polished excess that defined early-2010s celebrity fashion
The pearl-covered sandals quickly became one of the most polarizing celebrity shoe moments of the early 2010s. Some readers saw them as an extravagant fashion experiment, while others appreciated the craftsmanship and theatrical approach that defined Kanye West’s early fashion projects outside music.
The Giuseppe Zanotti collaboration featured towering stiletto heels wrapped in dense pearl embroidery, oversized bead trim, and exaggerated padded ankle coils that transformed the sandals into wearable couture objects
Because the sandals are so visually dense, they work best with streamlined styling. Neutral tailoring, monochrome separates, or slim silhouettes help balance the oversized pearl embellishments and keep the focus on the sculptural shape of the shoes.
Priced at nearly $6,000 retail, the Giuseppe Zanotti collaboration captured a moment when celebrity-backed designer footwear was pushing toward collectible status. More than a decade later, the sandals remain a snapshot of early-2010s fashion excess, blending couture-level embellishment with the provocative styling choices that helped define Kim Kardashian’s Paris Fashion Week era.
Kanye West’s Giuseppe Zanotti “All Over Beads” sandals combined intricate hand-applied pearlwork with futuristic cage straps and dramatic layered ankle rings, capturing the maximalist luxury mood of 2012 fashion
From Pearl-Embroidered Sandals to Sculptural Statement Heels
Kim Kardashian’s Kanye West x Giuseppe Zanotti sandals remain one of those polarizing fashion moments where the shoe becomes the entire conversation.
Their dense pearl embroidery, wrapped ankle coils, and almost couture-like construction placed them firmly in the world of collectible statement heels—dramatic, expensive, and impossible to ignore.
For more embellished designer shoe moments, these related looks show how pearls, crystals, sculptural straps, and ornate details can transform a sandal into the focal point of an outfit.
👠 Explore Pearl, Crystal & Sculptural Statement Heels:
- 🎧 Their “Cruel Summer” heels continued the collaboration with a stark white sculptural sandal inspired by Kanye West’s album artwork.
- 💎 Giuseppe Zanotti’s “Vanessa” sandals brought pearl embellishment and crystal accents to a double-ankle-strap silhouette with red-carpet drama.
- 🐍 Demi Lovato’s Giuseppe Zanotti “Venere” sandals show the designer’s more architectural side, with crystal-covered serpentine straps and a towering stiletto heel.
- 🖤 Janelle Monáe’s Christian Louboutin “Tudor Bal” sandals mixed pearl embellishments, gold-tone studs, and black suede for a sharp monochrome finish.
- ✨ Your Next Shoes’ embellished designer shoe guide highlights pearl, crystal, bow, floral, and sculptural details that turn heels into conversation pieces.