The £7,000 shoes scandal

At the Goodley PR press day yesterday we got an up-close and personal view of the Manolo Blahnik ankle boots dripping with heavy embroidery, that stomped down the Meadham Kirchhoff runway at London Fashion Week. The embroidery was designed by Richard Sorger with Meadham Kirchhoff and is just beautiful. But the price less so - the most heavily embroidered boots will cost £7,000 at retail. £7,000!!!!! When we called the designers to verify the story, the tale takes a new turn. "We can't sell them," says Ben Kirchhoff. "Even though we know we can sell them. The buyers at Maria Luisa in Paris and Joseph in London knew they would have some customers who would want to buy them, but they are just so complicated to make that we can't justify the time even at that price." So not only are these potentially the most expensive shoes, they will also become the rarest.... Still, its not all bad news for Meadham Kirchhoff - their sales are up 30% and among their new clients is none other than Ikram Goldman, the retailer who procures all of Michelle Obama's wardrobe.

- Melanie Rickey