shoe porn

israeli designer kobi levi makes us redefine the term 'shoe whore'




the above"xxx" and "blow up" creations are two of levi's more successful designs from among his many kitschy conceptual 'foot sculptures' that he individually engineers by hand. these two models in particular showcase his eye for detail and the ability to abstract the essence of his idea whilst maintaining a desirable shoe silhouette. for instance, the miniature plastic stopper at the back of the 'blow up' coupled with the patent red trim on the peep toe tells the story without needing to resort to inking graphic eyes or blond hair. similarly, the sensual low cut top line + high arch of the 'xxx' pump paired with the stocky curved shape of the heel and a few suggestive imprints connotes quite clearly its naughty inspiration.

but not all his designs are quite as fluid from concept to execution. his other models like the banana split, dog, chewing gum which can all be found on his blog, are much less aesthetically pleasing. some shapes and materials used seem too literal or bulky and lack a sense of refinement and finesse. but his quirky ability to manipulate the basic components of a functional shoe like the heel, toe box, insole and shank into tongue-in-cheek imagery like a dog leg, *cough genitalia, a wheel or even a stick of gum, is definitely commendable. and perhaps his intention is not to make a fashionable shoe in the first place...he's no andreia chaves, but he ain't no steve madden either. and since his latest creations to date were his best (xxx+blow up), his work will surely only continue to...climax.