For the Royal Opera's production of Aida, Rupert Sanderson created these babies as well as footwear for the 200 cast members, but I'm sure these would stand up on any runway.

We don't typically do post-event updates because it sort of infringes on what I do in my day job, but I love those Rupert Sanderson guys so much I'll make an exception. We live-tweeted from the On Lan Street store opening of Rupert Sanderson last night, which was hopping in spite of events held at the same time by Bally, Juicy Couture, Guess, Stella McCartney (not to mention the Twestival). Within 30 minutes the shop was heaving with a veritable parade of Sanderson shoes on lithe-limbed babes, and quite a few fashion-savvy gents, too. I'd had breakfast with Sanderson as I mentioned earlier, but instead of asking him deep and meaningful questions about his inspiration and whatnot, I regaled him with tales of how my mattress very nearly didn't make it into my apartment due to the limitations of the staircase and elevator ("PIVOTTTT"). Are you bored with this story? I'm sure he was too, but then later that evening I somehow ended up sharing with him the fact that you can view the entire eight-day journey on the Trans Siberian Railway via youtube/Google Earth. And offered to send him the site. To which he stuttered: "Er, I'm sure I can Google it..."

Anywhoo, by the end of the event, even my normally heel-happy feet couldn't stand much longer. I still remember having coffee with owners Bertrand and Teresa when they told me, "We're going to buy pots now," prompting me to wonder whether launching a luxury brand had driven them to drugs. But of course, it's "pots" they meant, quite literally, and on departure from the event, we were all given pots of daffodils, because the shoes are all named after daffodil breeds (yep, even the ones like "Defender" and "Asteroid"). And then it was over. Now, go buy some shoes. Who cares about rugby?


Getting started...


Andrew, the RS sales director from the UK; Teresa and Bertrand who brought the brand to Hong Kong, and Mister Sanderson himself




There was a lot of Sanderson to be spotted...

In honour of the Rupert Sanderson store opening in Hong Kong today at On Lan Street, here are my new precious babies. Love. (Thanks B&T!) It's the first standalone store you'll find outside of the UK, so this is big news. I'm off to brekkie now with Monsieur Sanderson himself, so expect nice tidbits throughout the day... @hkFashionGeek and I will be live-tweeting at the opening event tonight so make sure to follow us... (except I'm now at @cko01, my @hkshoegeek account got too overwhelming... sorry for the confusion).

Rupert Sanderson isn't a name you hear super often in the realm of shoe designers, what with that other guy taking up all the press space with his goddamned red soles. But I'm thinking that it's about time the fashion world started getting over the whole idea of the "it" shoe designer and instead start widening the spotlight to include names like Rupert Sanderson, Camilla Skovgaard, Charlotte Olympia, Sigerson Morrison, etc. (I think Nick Kirkwood is already reaching "it" proportions, or I would've included the brand too).

So it will be a breath of fresh air when Sanderson opens his first standalone boutique outside of London, on Hong Kong's On Lan Street, this March. (In your face, Mr Louboutin!) Best of all, since it will still be cold, you can still nab and wear his boots, which for me are the highlight of his footwear collection. The double-layered draped effect is what sold me the first time I spotted a Sanderson shoe creation, and I'll admit that while some of his other pumps and heels are a little bit staid for my taste, the drapey boot is one of the most interesting and flattering shapes I've seen recently.


Because if you really break it down, the ankle boot, that trend that's storming the city as we speak, is NOT FLATTERING. It cuts you off right at the end of the calf, making non-supermodels such as myself look like dwarves on stilts. If you consider that the YSL Tribute ankle boot sort of brought the ankle-boot idea to the forefront, that's because it has something like six-inch heels, and also boasts a very wide brim around the ankle, thereby making your legs look slim while sticking out of a fat hole. (Does that make sense? It's the same as the Uggs theory, they're such fat boots that they make your legs look skinny in comparison.) Anyway, the draped portion of the Sanderson boot also extends the leg line, so I'd imagine would solve all your fat ankle problems in a jiffy.

I'm also told that these are exceedingly comfortable shoes to wear... so you can catch me in line when the time comes.

GET THEM at Browns Fashion

Sorry for the long departure everyone, illness befell the house of fashion geek. While we get back up and running, enjoy some of the goodness that is Rupert Sanderson's classy gold mary janes. They look like they'd be able to weather this rainy day too...