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Vivienne Westwood Brings Back Its Towering Ghillie Boots

The late designer's signature sky-high platforms get a reptilian twist for the new season.
Vivienne Westwood, heels, high heels, platforms, platform heels, lace up heels, lace up platforms, lace up shoes, block heels, block heel platforms, block heel pumps, thick platforms, thick heels, lace up pumps, pumps, platform pumps
Vivienne Westwood Brings Back Its Towering Ghillie Boots for Fall 2023
Vivienne Westwood Brings Back Its Towering Ghillie Boots for Fall 2023
Vivienne Westwood Brings Back Its Towering Ghillie Boots for Fall 2023
Vivienne Westwood Brings Back Its Towering Ghillie Boots for Fall 2023
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Vivienne Westwood‘s fall 2023 collection is taking bold steps forward, thanks to its latest pair of heels.

The late fashion designer’s namesake label — now operated by her partner, designer Andreas Kronthaler — has released its signature Ghillie boots with a slick new spin for the fall 2023 season. Within the brand’s current fall assortment, the $1,215 Elevated Ghillie style especially makes a statement, particularly from its dynamic 6.5-inch heels.

Vivienne Westwood, heels, high heels, platforms, platform heels, lace up heels, lace up platforms, lace up shoes, block heels, block heel platforms, block heel pumps, thick platforms, thick heels, lace up pumps, pumps, platform pumps
Vivienne Westwood’s Elevated Ghillie platform heels.Courtesy of Vivienne Westwood

The block-heeled pair, which has just launched on Westwood’s website, features black leather uppers with rounded toes, thick platform soles and the aforementioned heels. The height-boosting silhouette is given a sleek edge from its allover reptilian embossments, which provide a burst of allover texture. A gothic twist is also bestowed from its shoestring-style laces — a set of long, winding leather straps that weave through the style’s front before lacing around the wearer’s ankles.

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Vivienne Westwood, heels, high heels, platforms, platform heels, lace up heels, lace up platforms, lace up shoes, block heels, block heel platforms, block heel pumps, thick platforms, thick heels, lace up pumps, pumps, platform pumps
Vivienne Westwood’s Elevated Ghillie platform heels.Courtesy of Vivienne Westwood

Within the history of the Westwood brand, the shoes also harken back to one of the label’s most viral runway moments; indeed, one of the most famous of all time. When Naomi Campbell walked in Westwood’s fall 1993 fashion show, she wore a towering pair of the same Ghillie shoes — albeit, in a vibrant purple hue with a “Super Elevated Ghillie” silhouette whose heels totaled 12 inches in height — and suddenly fell on the runway.

Vivienne Westwood, heels, high heels, platforms, platform heels, lace up heels, lace up platforms, lace up shoes, block heels, block heel platforms, block heel pumps, thick platforms, thick heels, lace up pumps, pumps, platform pumps
Vivienne Westwood’s Elevated Ghillie platform heels.Courtesy of Vivienne Westwood

The famed moment is reminiscent in the new Elevated Ghillie shoes, which feature the same texture and original silhouette as their foot-high predecessors, though with a much more practical height.

You can now view Vivienne Westwood’s fall 2023 collection online.

About the Author:

Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote and interned for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.

young English fashion designer Vivienne Westwood pictured wearing a terrycloth style robe at her studio, London, circa 1982. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images)
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