The Gwyneth Effect

Posted by Gill Hart May 6, 2008

Such is our celebrity culture that British women are clamoring to by her super-high heels, from gladiator sandals to her seven-inch platform pumps. The Daily Mail has been running a series of articles following Gwyneth on her four day Iron Man red carpet tour, culminating in its 30th April article, “The Gwyneth Effect.” The Mail has been highlighting Gwyneth’s transformation in the footwear department and documenting the fact that she has been rocking Europe; with her Pacini platforms in Paris, Louboutins in Berlin, Giuseppe Zanotti platforms in Rome and Givenchy peep-toe gladiators in London. According to the Daily Mail , retailers are dubbing their sudden boost in women’s footwear as the “Gwyneth Effect.” The week of May 1st 2008, Selfridges has reported their super-high heels outselling flat shoes by five to one. Certainly, Gwyneth has brought a new breed of gladiator sandal to the attention of the British masses. Her warrior-woman, war-like Givenchy peep toes made paparazzi fashion history, showing off a transformed and edgy Ms Paltrow. Selfridge’s director of accessories, Sebastian Manes, refers to such fetish shoes as “not for the fainthearted, with their extreme attention grabbing look.” Certainly Balenciaga and Givenchy are being credited by the fashion industry as playing their part in the revival of power dressing, with their warrior women’s gladiator sandals and boots being taken to new lengths. I have to say that, after seeing fashion feature "Best in Show", in this month’s Australian edition of Marie Claire, Nicholas Ghesquiere's for Balenciaga gladiator sandals are actually growing on me (but most definitely not the price!)