# Killer Heels Cruel Designer Shoes By Bianca | Published 2008-02-07 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/killer-heels-shoes References: [trendhunter](http://www.trendhunter.com) We've seen some [innovative shoe designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ninlo), but these are truly wicked. Ladies, you think you have a pair of shoes that kills? Unless you've worn some of these, you can't complain about having a tortured sole. The gallery features [vicious high heels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/horrific-crocs) by Rodarte, Antonio Berardi, Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs. **[Antonio Berardi](http://www.antonioberardi.com)**'s snake skin and patent black peep-toes force the feet upward as if they were on a heel, but the sandal fails to have any stem support, leaving the heel suspended in mid air. **[Marc Jacobs](http://www.marcjacobs.com)**' red and seafoam green pumps have a similar effect, the heel looking oddly misplaced. **[Alexander McQueen](http://www.alexandermcqueen.com)**'s black shoes look geisha inspired with their dual heels and minimal support. **[Rodart](http://www.rodarte.net)**'s golden heels would make more some painful footsie as they're covered in pointy spikes; gents, may I suggest if your woman is clad in these at dinner, do not make comments on the way she eats or tell her the dress she's wearing isn't her most flattering. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.8/10 - Popularity: 99% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Hip Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/hipfashion) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Sadistic Footwear:** Designing shoes to hurt the feet in creative ways opens up new possibilities for edgy fashion and shock value marketing campaigns. - **Alternative Heel Support:** Experimenting with new ways of structuring heels that challenge traditional expectations may lead to more comfortable, yet equally striking shoe designs. - **Statement Footwear:** Embracing shoes as an artistic medium and creating provocative pieces that grab attention taps into the demand for bold fashion statements and unique wardrobe items. ### Where This Applies - **Fashion:** The fashion industry can leverage the trend towards unconventional and boundary-pushing footwear designs to create buzz-worthy collections and expand the market for avant-garde styles. - **Retail:** Retailers can capitalize on the popularity of striking and provocative shoe designs by featuring them prominently in their stores and marketing them as investment pieces. - **Product Development:** Footwear companies can explore the possibilities of newer, more radical footwear design concepts to release innovative, stand-out products that grab attention and build brand awareness. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Comfort-Forward High Heels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vida-collection.md) - [Dynamic Ultra-High Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/platform-sneaker-1.md) - [Comfortable Hybrid Heels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sneex.md) - [Romanticized Shoe Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mademe-x-dr-martens-1461-quad-shoe.md) - [Illusory Doll-Like Heels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/illusion-boots.md) - [Pool Slide Heeled Sandals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flipped-flop.md) - [Platform Statement Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/8inch-flipflops.md) - [Balletcore Heeled Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sandy-liang-1.md) - [Cartoon-Honoring High Heels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-heel.md)