Walking into a shoe exhibition had my mind asking questions. I’ve been to quite a number of exhibitions but a shoe exhibition was a first for me. As I followed the crowd into an outdoor space atop Fort St Angelo, I saw a long table of Aldo shoes and wine glasses in guests’ hands and I got excited. An exhibition of shoes decorated by designer, Désirée Azzopardi welcomed guests and drew them into the long narrow exhibition space.

The first pair of shoes on the white table was a bright candy pink pair of Aldo strappy platform wedges, entitled “Flower Power.” A nostalgic longing to hear Spice Girls “Wannabe” was quickly silenced by my adoration for the next pair of shoes. A strong metallic gold pair of slightly pointy brogues covered in classy black designs by Désirée were described as “golden works of art for those who are the Peter Pans of their generation.” Chunky heels, stilettos, brogues, and sporty tennis shoes, were all extravagantly decorated. Asymmetrical in appearance, the shoes relayed messages and described personalities, customized to fit more than just the foot of the wearer.

With names like Free Spirited, Monsieur M, 10 Hours, Lingerie (and the list goes on), you can only imagine the characteristics of these pairs of shoes and the designs on them, drawn by Désirée. Whatever the occasion, be it formal or casual, lavish or simple, Désirée’s collection provides a flavor for every dish – a perfect fit for everyone.

Désirée Azzopardi revealed her ability to understand the individuality of a customer and how to translate different personalities into design. With intricate titles on each pair, detailed personality descriptions and ornately drawn designs the shoes came to life. These artistic compositions prove that a shoe can fit not only the foot of a wearer, but their personality and lifestyle as well.

Show review written by Sacha Kinser (Founder of ColorMeCashmere) supported by Pierre Mizzi (LogixCreative team) for #MFWA2016.

A word from the bloggers…

“Désirée transforms shoes into unique works of art. For this exhibition, this designer worked on Aldo Shoes and what she was able to come up with is incredible.” –Splashes Of Looks

“Désirée offers personalised shoes with designs that are either floral, geometric, cartoonesque, or even patterns one would come across in very specialised art colouring books.” –Style In Transit

“She enjoys the social element of designing for people; having to delve deep into understanding each clients’ lifestyle, personality, tastes, and reasoning” –Diva Inside

“It’s as if each shoe represents a new canvas.” –Pocolocca