Although Lady Gaga and Alexander McQueen had a fairly brief friendship, the pop star insists the late designer had a major impact on her life. So much so that she recently purchased three pairs of his iconic “armadillo boots” for a Christie’s auction that benefited UNICEF’s relief efforts in Nepal.
And we couldn’t think of anyone better to take ownership of these shoes.
As a part of his Spring/Summer 2010 collection, the “armadillo boots” became one of McQueen’s most recognizable pieces. The eccentric shape was constructed from both wood and python, and was donned by Gaga in her “Bad Romance” music video, as well as some of her most iconic red carpet looks.
After acquiring these shoes, which were worth an estimated $10,000 each, Gaga released a personal memo exclusively for V magazine. She mentions her relationship with McQueen, the first time she saw the shoes, and how his death affected not only her life, but the general realm of fashion and creativity.
You can check out the three boots in the image below, as well as Gaga’s words.
There is no diamond, no award, nothing I ever wanted more than a memory of my brief friendship with McQueen. I am sad every day that I enter my closet, knowing he is not here anymore to dazzle the world with his beautiful, dark, limitless, brave mind. These shoes are the only tangible piece I have left of our work together. They came to me this morning, after a dream I had again about him. As the dream goes, I enter my closet and his clothes are no longer there. I'm tortured. The loss is deep. Mourning in my own way constantly, why he is gone, he was so talented. I hate the empty space, not only in fashion, but in the creative consciousness that fizzled when he passed. This morning I got the call I would now be the caregiver to 3 pairs of armadillo platforms, just like the kind I wore in the "Bad Romance" video, the shoes from his crescendo collection "Plato's Atlantis," the ones that made everyone gasp from the front row because they had NEVER seen something like them before. I was reminded this morning that he is still here. He is everywhere. In every store window. In the designs of commercial mainstream retail, fashion, in music, in the heart of every young designer that wishes he could be as free and as fearless as McQueen was. I cried all morning, convinced he was with me. Convinced that I'm loved from somewhere far beyond the eternal body and mind, outside of all the chaos. He wanted me to have them. They made their way back to me. I am here today not just because of my talent, but because he believed in me. My weird brand of art pop manic expression of my emotions was the part of me he knew he taught me. I will be grateful long after I pass and join him wherever it is they put souls like us. Long live McQueen.
