Milan Designer Max Kibardin Brings Artful Footwear to LA

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Grid View

Expand

• A close-up of Max Kibardin's acclaimed sea-inspired spiked sandal
• The shoe in all its glory
• Designer Max Kibardin
• Satin and crystal coated sandal, $1,295. Shop it

"When you show your collection in Los Angeles, you need to do it in a relaxed way because if you're too aggressive, you'll scare people," explains footwear designer Max Kibardin at Sunset Tower Hotel. The Milan-based shoe wiz is in town for work and play. "I really want to move here; it's a beautiful lifestyle and I love how everything is done in such a sophisticated, laid-back way." Although Kibardin appreciates the simple life, his design aesthetic is deliciously extravagant. From sculpting sea urchin-like spiked sandals for Vogue to creating wild electric guitar shoes donned by a nude Kate Moss, Kibardin's innovative creations are a cult footwear fiend's dream.

"My shoes are produced in the same factory that some of the world's most stunning fashion collections have been created," the designer reveals. "This inspires my work; I imagine beautiful women in haute couture wearing them." Peruse the gallery for his spring/summer 2013 range and shop select styles at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills (9600 Wilshire Blvd) or online.
· Max Kibardin [Official Site]