Suede and metal slingbacks

The history of the slingback

The slingback is a type of women's shoe that has traversed the twentieth century without ever leaving the wardrobe: it originated as a practical footwear, with a strap to hold the heel in place, and became a symbol of everyday elegance in the 1950s. Yves Saint Laurent has offered several interpretations throughout its history, often playing on the juxtaposition between matte materials and polished finishes.

The metal toe cap, in particular, is a recurring detail in the maison's production, capable of transforming a linear shoe into an instantly recognisable object. The model presented here combines suede, leather, and metal in a sober construction, designed to accompany a day dress or an evening look without changing register.

The Yves Saint Laurent maison

Yves Saint Laurent founded his maison in 1961, after years spent working alongside Christian Dior, and inaugurated a season of tailoring that revolutionised the women's wardrobe with his first défilé in 1962. With Pierre Bergé by his side, the designer introduced garments such as the trench, the blazer, and the tuxedo for women, transforming fashion into a tool for freedom.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the maison consolidated its language of rigour and audacity, while in 2012, the year of this specimen, creative direction was entrusted to Hedi Slimane, who brought the historic name and rock energy back to the centre. The suede and metal slingbacks belong to that period of revival, in which the maison returned to working with clean lines and recognisable details.