Naomi Campbell’s Surrealist Schiaparelli Gold-Toe Sandals Are a Walking Work of Art

On April 29, 2022, Naomi Campbell attended the memorial service for her longtime friend André Leon Talley at The Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York City.

The appearance became one of several standout looks she wore that spring, from Schiaparelli’s sculpted gold-toe sandals to dramatic Valentino couture gowns and a crystal-covered Burberry look at the Met Gala.

Taken together, these outfits highlight Campbell’s ability to move between solemn occasions, red carpets, and international film festivals while maintaining a distinct point of view on fashion—and, in several cases, memorable footwear.

Honoring André Leon Talley in Custom Schiaparelli and Sculpted Gold-Toe Sandals

A pioneering figure in fashion journalism and a longtime friend of Campbell’s, André Leon Talley died on January 18, 2022, at age 73. Campbell joined fellow designers, editors, and models at the Harlem memorial service honoring his life and influence.

Campbell and Talley shared a close friendship that frequently brought them together at fashion’s most important events. At the 2006 Met Gala celebrating AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion, Campbell wore a romantic Alexander McQueen Fall 2004 gown with statement heels, while Talley complemented her look in a custom kimono-style coat worn over a tuxedo, showcasing the distinctive elegance that made them one of fashion’s most memorable duos.

American fashion journalist André Leon Talley arrives with Naomi Campbell at the AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion opening gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 1, 2006, as Campbell paired a pale green embellished gown with metallic strappy sandals and coordinating emerald jewelry (Credit: Everett Collection / Shutterstock)

Following the service, she shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, thanking Schiaparelli and creative director Daniel Roseberry for her custom look.

The ensemble paired a feathered coat with a white dress featuring a plunging neckline and thigh-high slit, finished with a statement belt accented by Schiaparelli’s signature gold hardware and anatomical motifs.

Fashion icon Naomi Campbell honors André Leon Talley in custom Schiaparelli, completing the look with the house’s signature gold-toe ankle-strap sandals in New York City on April 29, 2022 (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)

Naomi styled it with a white fascinator, oversized sunglasses, a white purse with a gold chain strap, and gold jewelry. One of her necklaces had a large “A” pendant in honor of André.

But the most striking element was her footwear: Schiaparelli’s signature sculpted gold-toe sandals, one of the defining accessories of Daniel Roseberry’s tenure at the French fashion house.

Set on a clean white leather base with slim ankle straps and a modern square toe, the design transforms the front of the shoe into a surrealist sculpture, complete with molded gold toes and metallic toenails.

The style became instantly recognizable in the early 2020s, helping reintroduce Schiaparelli’s tradition of turning parts of the human body into wearable works of art.

A close-up of Naomi Campbell’s white Schiaparelli ankle-strap pumps featuring the house’s signature sculpted gold-toe caps, one of the most recognizable footwear designs from Daniel Roseberry’s surrealist era (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)

The design also reflects Schiaparelli’s long-standing connection to Surrealism. House founder Elsa Schiaparelli famously collaborated with artists such as Salvador Dalí in the 1930s, creating pieces that blurred the line between fashion and art. Roseberry revived that spirit for a new generation through gilded anatomical motifs—including ears, fingers, noses, and toes—which became some of the brand’s most recognizable signatures.

The gold-toe concept quickly became one of Schiaparelli’s most influential accessories of the decade. Naomi Campbell wore the ankle-strap sandal version for André Leon Talley’s memorial service, while Doja Cat later chose the gold-toe mules from the same collection for the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, helping cement the surrealist design as one of fashion’s most recognizable statement shoes.

Schiaparelli’s signature surrealist footwear reimagines the human foot with sculpted gold toe caps and metallic silver toenails, transforming classic pumps and mules into wearable works of art (Credit: Schiaparelli)

Met Gala Glamour: Burberry Crystal Gown and a $6.6 Million Diamond Necklace

Just days after the memorial service, the tall supermodel returned to the spotlight at the 2022 Met Gala in a custom, crystal-embroidered Burberry gown.

While the sweeping, floor-length hem intentionally concealed her footwear to create an uninterrupted silhouette, reports later confirmed she paired the look with classic black pointed-toe evening pumps.

Naomi Campbell attending the 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2022, in New York City (Credit: JOHN NACION / startraksphoto)

Campbell extended the crystal-covered theme with jeweled face accents and an impressive collection of diamonds, including drop earrings, a statement ring, and a chunky choker.

Layered behind it was one of the evening’s standout pieces: a Jacob & Co. yellow diamond necklace reportedly valued at $6.6 million.

Naomi Campbell wearing facial jewels and a 6.6 million-dollar Jacob & Co. necklace at the 2022 Met Gala (Credit: ABACA / INSTARimages)

Cannes in Pink: Valentino Floral Couture at the Women in Cinema Gala

Like many of the looks in Valentino’s Fall 2022 collection, the ensemble was conceived as part of Pierpaolo Piccioli’s monochromatic “Pink PP” vision, where garments and accessories were often styled in the exact same vivid shade.

Naomi Campbell in Valentino Fall 2022 pink floral appliqué gown at the Celebration of Women in Cinema Gala on May 21, 2022, in Cap d’Antibes, France (Credit: Ammar Abd Rabbo / ABACA / INSTARimages)

While any shoes worn beneath the dress remained out of view, Valentino frequently paired its Pink PP runway looks with towering platform pumps and sandals in matching hues to maintain the uninterrupted head-to-toe effect.

Valentino Haute Couture Drama at the “Decision to Leave” Cannes Premiere

Naomi Campbell brought her signature sense of drama to the premiere of Decision to Leave in a black Valentino Spring 2022 Haute Couture gown.

The design paired a dramatic plunging neckline with a voluminous feather-trimmed skirt that swept to the ground, concealing her footwear and creating an uninterrupted silhouette.

Naomi Campbell in Valentino at the “Decision to Leave” premiere during the 75^th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2022, in Cannes, France (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

As with many couture creations of this scale, the shoes served a largely structural role, providing height beneath the gown while allowing the craftsmanship, movement, and proportions of the design to take center stage.

Oversized silk bows flowed from the shoulders and trailed down her back, enhancing the look’s theatrical effect.

Naomi Campbell commands the Cannes red carpet in a black Valentino Spring 2022 Haute Couture gown featuring a plunging bodice, feather embellishments, and a voluminous floor-sweeping skirt (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

Campbell kept the styling refined with minimal makeup and sleek, straight hair, finishing the ensemble with Bulgari’s “Serpenti Ocean Treasure” necklace, a striking design centered on a vivid blue gemstone suspended from a diamond-set chain.

Naomi Campbell wearing the Bulgari “Serpenti Ocean Treasure” necklace at the “Decision to Leave” premiere during the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival (Credit: Doug Peters / PA Images / INSTARimages)

No matter the occasion, you can always count on Naomi Campbell to dress up to the nines.

Naomi Campbell’s Style Legacy: From Sculpted Schiaparelli Heels to Red-Carpet Couture

From Schiaparelli’s surreal gold-toe sandals in Harlem to crystal-covered Burberry at the Met Gala and Valentino couture in Cannes, Naomi Campbell’s spring 2022 wardrobe captured the range that has defined her fashion legacy for decades.

Each look carried a different mood, but the throughline was unmistakable: precise styling, dramatic proportions, and footwear that helped turn every appearance into a fashion moment.