Our 7 most coveted fashion pieces, from McQueen’s Armadillo boots to Dior couture

Date July 15, 2015

Alexander McQueen Amadillo — Photography by Peter Stigter

From his wild imagination to his eye-opening runways shows, Alexander McQueen will forever remain as one of fashion’s most influential and inventive designers. His clothes been heralded as works of art, and have gained not one but two museum retrospectives since his passing five years ago (the latest installment currently on view at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum). His last collection, Spring 2010’s Plato’s Atlantis, featured one of the designer’s most iconic pieces of footwear: the Armadillo boot. The sky-high heels were famed for their unnatural, claw-like shape, and despite not being intended for real purchase, were worn by the likes of Lady Gaga and Daphne Guinness.

Next week, three pairs of Armadillo boots will be auctioned off at Christie’s Handbag and Accessories Auction with 100% of the proceeds going to UNICEF’S relief efforts in Nepal. Jonesing for your own pair? You better come lined with cash: bidding starts at $10,000.

Although most of us are unable to even entertain the idea of being in the running, it’s fun to pretend, right? With fashion dreams alight in our heads, we’ve rounded up our editors’ most desired pieces of recent fashion history. What’s yours?

Christian Dior Spring 2011 Couture, Look 25 Photography by Peter Stigter

Prada Spring 2007, Look 17 Photography by Peter Stigter

Saint Laurent Spring 2013, Look 23 Photography by Peter Stigter

Jil Sander Spring 2011 Photography by Peter Stigter

Valentino Fall 2015 Couture Photography by Umberto Fratini / Indigitalimages.com

Alexander McQueen Fall 2008, Look 35 Photography by Peter Stigter

Yves Saint Laurent, Le Smoking debuted in 1966

1/7

DIOR SS 2011

“Fairytale-worthy. Dior Couture. Lemon Yellow. These three things will forever make my heart race.”
– Sarah Casselman, senior editor, fashion news

2/7

PRADA 2007

“I still dream about the shoes from Prada’s Spring 2007 collection, which I bought during university and sadly returned because $500 was a crazy amount to spend on shoes at the time. It’s still a crazy amount to spend on shoes, I’ve just gotten better at justifying it.”
– Randi Bergamn, executive digital director

3/7

Saint Laurent SS 2013

“I can still remember the first time I saw this collection and I think I held my breath the whole time. It captured everything that fashion ever made me feel and want to be. I couldn’t have asked for a better debut collection from Hedi Slimane.”
– Ashleigh Forster, assistant digital editor

4/7

Jil Sander Spring 2011

“I think about this look a lot. It’s the elusive perfect white t-shirt *and* a bright maxi skirt with pockets, aka two things that I’m always searching for.”
– Sarah Daniel, beauty editor

5/7

Valentino Fall 2015

“I think I’m the only woman in the world without an LBD. This Valentino Fall 2015 Couture look is so timeless, so decadent and revealing–but modest. Plus, it’s couture so I’d special request that it be long enough to hit my knee.”
– Jacquelyn Francis, executive editor

6/7

MCQUEEN Fall 2008 copy

“I still remember the time when this Alexander McQueen Fall 2008 dress stopped me in my tracks. It still holds that power. To have this Queen Victoria-meets-Swan Lake-esque dress hanging in my closet would be a dream come true.”
– Renee Tse, FASHION contributor

7/7