Handmade in genuine brown and speckled cream/black snakeskin, these shoes feature a two-layer banded platform, a vamp with an asymmetrical curved slash banded across with six narrow straps of the cream/black snakeskin, and an off-centre peeptoe perfectly placed for your big toe to peep through!
They have a classic straight high heel and elegant ankle straps which swoop up the ankle and fasten at the front with the distinctive round gold-finish metal buckle that de Havilland often used on shoes of this date.
The shoes are lined throughout with cream leather and have grey leather insoles stamped in gold with the text: "Terry de Havilland London Made in England."
INFORMATION: Terry de Havilland was the original "Rock'n'roll cobbler," whose clients in the late 1960s and 1970s included stars such as David and Angie Bowie, Bianca Jagger, Rudolph Nureyev and Lee Radziwill. His flamboyant styles reflected his flamboyant clients, and his shoes have become cult collectors' items that are genuine investments. Happily, Terry is still in business, producing wild and beautiful shoes to this day. As he says: "What I do is just in between the fierce and the gorgeous."
CONDITION: in truly excellent condition, but not perfect since they have been lightly worn.
Applying a forensic eye to them, I can report that the snakeskin is in fabulous condition, even at classic 'danger' areas such as the covered heels, and the ankle-straps where they can suffer damage from the stress of the buckle. These areas are undamaged.
The soles and heels have some minor wear but appear to be original and are in no immediate need of replacement.
There is some minimal loss of the gold finish on the buckles, but since this seems to be a kind of glaze or varnish rather than 'plate' that is to be expected, and is hardly noticeable.
In short, these shoes are rare survivors in surprisingly great condition. Fans of his shoes reported that they would wear them until they fell apart because they loved them so much, which means that there aren't that many shoes of this age in circulation right now.
Please inspect the super duper zoom shots carefully, and I'm happy to supply plenty more photographs on request.
SIZE: these shoes are marked (UK size) 7, but please compare these measurements with a similar pair of high heels that fit you (not flats!) to see if they are your correct size.
LENGTH FROM TOE TO HEEL (measured flat against the footbed): 10½ inches (26.6 cm).
WIDTH (at broadest point): 3 inches (7.6 cm).
PLATFORM HEIGHT: just under 1 inch (2.5 cm).
HEEL HEIGHT: 5¼ inches (13.3 cm).
☛ I'm happy to offer discounts for multiple purchases.
☛ I will ALWAYS combine shipping whenever possible and save you money! Please ignore the 'with another item' rate below and ask me for a precise quote based on the combined weight of your order.
☛ All shipping is sent recorded/signed for (apologies, this adds significantly to the cost for buyers outside the UK) and is charged at cost plus GB£0.50 towards packing materials, rounded up to the nearest 10 cents at conversion rates current when the item is listed.
☛ Please read my Shop Policies before you commit to buy!
These vintage shoes are heavy! They weigh 1.2 kg (2.6 lb, US) carefully packed in a box (not original), and will be shipped via Special Delivery Next Day for UK buyers, and International Signed For with insurance for buyers outside the UK.
Have any questions?
Contact the shop owner.
