Louis Vuitton Steps Forward With Illusion Boots That Are Equally Dressy & Weird
By Mikelle Leow, 21 Nov 2023
Image via Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton is making walking optical illusions out of everybody with heeled boots that will make you do a double take.
Luxury brands have been playing around with Trompe l’Oeil—meaning deceive the eye—techniques this year, with Balenciaga hand-painting “jeans” made out of linen and Jean Paul Gaultier making people gawk with bodysuits that look like tattooed naked bodies. Louis Vuitton’s answer to the trend arguably, but quite literally, has a leg up.
Stepping out from its Fall/Winter 2023 runway, the curious selection brings two styles depicting a sliver of skin and socks over pumps. In reality, they’re full soft calf leather boots drawing from the Surrealist movement. Each pair is individually painted by hand, ensuring that no two looks are identical.
The first version, the Illusion Ankle Boot, sports the illusion of a ribbed sock, with the fashion house’s initials on the side.
Image via Louis Vuitton
Imagining a prim look on a party silhouette, it comes with a 3.9-inch heel.
Image via Louis Vuitton
If you have a bone to pick with this visual trickery, stick it in there because these “ankles” don’t have any in them.
Image via Louis Vuitton
The boot is available in light and dark skin shades.
Image via Louis Vuitton
The other design, the Illusion High Boot, stretches the mirage to just below the knee. It also arrives in two skin tones.
Image via Louis Vuitton
Image via Louis Vuitton
Image via Louis Vuitton
Both silhouettes, handcrafted in Italy, are secured with an easy-wear back zip.
Image via Louis Vuitton
Priced at US$2,470, these boots are made for talking (about)!
[via Vogue and Louis Vuitton, images via Louis Vuitton]