Chi-Lai Yuen

In the fashion industry, your debut collection plays a role similar to the first impressions you leave when you get to know someone. Namely, it should be strong, impressive and promising. Footwear designer Chi-Lai Yuen drew attention to herself by launching her first collection which was inspired by surrealism. Every single piece is very striking considering the design itself, but mostly because of the designer’s incredible experimentation with the materials.

These nude pink/black ankle boots are the product of a game of fashion and architectural forms. In an original way, the warped and draped leather resembles a wrinkled curtain or tablecloth. It looks like it will slide off the boots, yet it elegantly coexists with them. The high platform and unusual heels are there to give the final touch to the whole dramatic look. The combination of luxurious and high-quality material within a bold idea moves this style away from ordinary pairs of shoes and closer to high-fashion designs.

Chi-Lai Yuen is a British footwear designer. She got her bachelor degree in Fashion design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After this, she decided to devote herself to designing shoes and graduated from Cordwainer-s College in London with a Master of Arts Degree in Fashion footwear. Yuen worked at Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Celine, Pollini and Nicholas Kirkwood.

Jelena Askovic