Throw Bows With The Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell Footwear Collection
Talk about forty and fabulous! The red bow-wearing, button-nosed, whiskered Hello Kitty character was first introduced by Sanrio in 1974, an illustrated accent on a coin purse. In the decades that followed, she amassed legions of devotees and built an $8 billion empire, her image adorning everything from sticker sheets and coloring books to alarm clocks, adult and children’s clothing, pencils and erasers, suitcases, gumball machines, cosmetic pouches, plush toys, picture frames, sneakers, umbrellas, bedding, jewelry, tree ornaments, children’s gardening kits, chopsticks, sewing machines, boom boxes, watches, slow cookers and microwaves. To celebrate her 40th anniversary, over 25,000 fans from all over the globe are expected to travel to the first-ever Hello Kitty Comic Con, a 4-day festival in Los Angeles.
Those who haven’t quite reached convention-going fandom status but appreciate the coquettish character can get their hands on special, limited-edition merchandise — including this adorable footwear collection, a collaborative effort between Hello Kitty and Jeffrey Campbell. Apparently, nothing — not even the revelation that Hello Kitty is not a cat — will make her fans recoil!
The Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell collection incorporates several of the silhouettes that have made Campbell so popular among risk-taking fashionistas. The lace-up, ankle-high Lita bootie, with its ’70s-inspired feel, pronounced toe, concealed platform, and chunky 2 1/2″-tall heel is reinvented here as the Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell Lita HK ($199.95 at Solestruck.com). Featuring synthetic uppers, the bootie features a flashy, all-over, comic book-inspired print replete with floating bows outlined in blue and yellow, red apples (some with smily faces and others chewed up to reveal their pit), yellow speech bubbles with the words “Hello Kitty” in funky bubble letters, and images of Hello Kitty herself in her beloved polka dot suspenders.
Similarly, the collection incorporates a unique interpretation of the Icy boot, a quirky ankle-tall boot with a clear, see-through platform heel. In the past, this clear platform has housed rainbow-colored specks of glitter, plastic doll heads, and yellow foam smiley faces. It’s fitting, then, that the Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell Icy HK ($314.95 at Solestruck.com) boot would feature faux black suede uppers and a clear platform that reveals large vinyl-colored bows that bounce around in their peculiar encasement with every step you take.
The T-strap Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell Foxy HK ($169.95 at Solestruck.com), meanwhile, features a 2″ platform and 5″ heel, as well as a nostalgic, comic book-inspired print and a plush red bow along the heel counter. The red bow fest continues with the Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell Scully HK ($199.95 at Solestruck.com) shoes, which are inspired by classic Mary Janes but feature aggressively treaded lug soles for a rough-and-tough look. This particular style has among the most subtle references to Hello Kitty, with eyes and whiskered details outlined in white atop the round toe and a plush red bow adorning the front of the dainty ankle strap. The Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell Mulder HK Boots ($214.95 at Solestruck.com) are similarly understated, featuring a 6″-tall heel and 2″ treaded platform, faux black suede uppers and red vinyl bows adorning the sides of the shafts.
The styles in the Hello Kitty x Jeffrey Campbell collection are selling out at a record rate, so get these collectible (and cheeky) shoes while you can!
