Do you want it? Or need it? Depends

Inside Irregular Choice’s recently opened New York boutique—boasting walls covered in brightly colored unicorns; a pseudo-balcony framed by curtains and flowers, perfect for an impromptu puppet show; and a monolithic plush red velvet chair with a stripper pole jutting from its center—the company mirrors the aesthetic ambitions imbued within its line of footwear: bringing fantasy into the commercial realm and pulling the stars from the sky to make them plastic-purchasable. With shoes that rival the quirkiness of Isabella Blow’s infamous hats—yet remain totally wearable—Irregular Choice is a brand that works hard to deconstruct our idea of acceptable footwear by scoffing at the tried-and-true blandness of monochromatic leather or canvas. Of course, contemporary shoe design is really all about teaching an old dog new tricks: How many ways can we update or distort a Mary Jane while still maintaining its classic shape and inherent ingénue-ness? (Quite a few ways, it turns out.) Irregular Choice is not afraid to take basic staples, like simple flats or heels, and put them through the psychedelic, Rainbow Brite rinse cycle; what comes out is the type of shoe that obliterates expectations. Whether it’s metallic leather in patterns and shades not found in nature or updating the pump in black velvet and lining it with blue- and grey-striped satin, these shoes are the perfect punctuation for a more minimalist outfit, a clean backdrop that turns your feet into walking sculpture.

AVAILABLE AT IRREGULARCHOICE.COM

Tags: boutiques, irregular choice, new york, shoes