PetLondon was tasked to find a variety of fashionista dogs for an internationally renowned shoe designer…Manolo Blahnik. PetLondon Models have worked with major fashion houses including Chanel, Stella McCartney, Mulberry & Burberry in the past; so PetLondon certainly had the talent for this exciting assignment.
Manolo Blahnik is a Spanish fashion designer best known for his signature line of high-end women’s footwear. Blahnik is perhaps best known for designing delicate and lightweight stiletto heels that have become iconic footwear.
Interestingly, the photoshoot was for promotion on Manolo Blahnik’s new globally renowned creations on the company’s Instagram account. The shot were posted as a ‘Boomerangs’ where the film is looped backwards and forwards. Boomerang is a fairly new app from social media giant Instagram that breaks the boundaries on what social media content is supposed to be. You can see what we are talking about below. We think the effects created with the shoes and dog models are fantastically engaging.
For this shoot the client wanted to match dogs to the particular shoes in the new range. PetLondon Models was given a brief based on a specific breed wish list and then the casting process began,From the fluffy Pelosurafo slippers to the pink Armida stilettos; the Manolo Blahnik team carefully considered a large number of dogs to perfectly compliment the aesthetics they were searching for.
In the end the animal models assigned were:
- Eric, a fluffy Border Collie
- Mylo, a graceful Dalmatian
- Louis, an elegant Afghan Hound
- Clover, an inquisitive Spaniel
- Pip, a playful West Highland Terrier
- Emma, a soulful Weimaraner
In 1970, a young Blahnik had a chance to meet Diana Vreeland, the editor-in-chief of U.S Vogue, while he was travelling in New York. He then presented his portfolio of fashions and set designs to Vreeland who admired his shoe sketches and advised him to concentrate on designing footwear. Blahnik followed her advice and worked on designing shoes.
Blahnik became the second man ever to be featured on the cover of U.K. Vogue. In 1977, he sold his shoes in America, through Bloomingdales, and opened his boutique in the U.S. Since then, he has become a very famous shoe designer, and a symbol of pure classic style for the 21st century.
Eric the Border Collie with the Pelosusrafo open toed furry slipper
Pip the West Highland looking interested in the Mayscale kitten heel mules
Emma chilling out with the blocked heeled 60s inspired Sonsole
Mylo, matching perfectly with the Feliza pump
Louis pondering the style of the Diazhigiri heeled boot
Clover taking the lead with the bold and bright Ulderica shoe
All the dogs performed extremely well on set, with no hiccups or set backs at all. You know what they say…dogs love shoes! A great time was had by all.
We can’t wait for the first Spaniel themed sling-backs, Greyhound galoshes or Maltese inspired mules.
All the pictures have been released on Manolo Blahnik HQ’s Instagram.
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