ALL-IN’s Fantasy Shoes Come to Life—And Into Your Closet—Via a Collaboration With Maryam Nassir Zadeh
In this era of eco-consciousness, in which scale is no longer king, there’s more room in fashion for projects that are niche, boutique, and bijou. All of these adjectives are applicable to Porta Portese, a collection of one-offs created by photographer and editor Benjamin Barron and designer Bror August Vestbø in connection with the latest (Italian-themed) issue of ALL-IN, the former’s indie magazine.
The capsule, which takes its name from the Roman flea market where the materials were sourced, is distinguished by a circus—or commedia dell’arte–like—feeling. A “ball gown” leotard has tiered fuchsia and orange flounces at the leg; a button-front corset top is festooned with vintage mesh gloves; and, evoking the 1980s, a fuchsia bag comes with black polka dots. “The collection,” observes Barron, “was started as a practice of changing the meaning of these unwanted garments into objects of desire.”
If the clothing has charm, the shoes are next level. One pair converts the leg into a chandelier; the most charming (not to mention Instagram-friendly) pair features old floral ashtrays that look a bit like fancy cake frosting. These singular kicks, made using vintage materials, so enchanted Maryam Nassir Zadeh (in whose store the clothes were first presented), that she asked the duo to apply their Porta Portese concepts to some of her best-selling shoe models. Customized with vintage baubles collected in Vestbø’s native Norway, they will launch in-store at MNZ and online tomorrow, as will garments made for the store. Some looks will also be on view at Mast Books in New York, where the new issue of the magazine will be available.
