King of the shoe world to visit NZ

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 27: A shoe is seen at Jimmy Choo presentation during the Milan Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2015 on February 27, 2015 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Valle/Getty Images)

Legendary shoe designer and fashion icon Jimmy Choo will visit New Zealand next month.

The influential designer's success was sealed in the early 2000s when a pair of his shoes were worn (and lost) on Sex and the City by shoe fanatic Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), the hit show's lead character.

Jimmy Choo's high-end shoes don't come cheap. A pair of "Turner" knee-high black boots were yesterday selling online for €1250 ($2207) and a pair of "Abel" metal-studded high heels were retailing for €850.

Choo, who sold his shares in the company bearing his name in 2001, will make his first official visit to New Zealand on October 22 for a series of events.

The influential designer's shoes were worn on Sex and the City by shoe fanatic Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), the hit show's lead character.

"I look forward to experiencing the culture, talent and fashion New Zealand has to offer, and meeting some of your most promising emerging designers during my time there," he said.

"I am very excited to come to New Zealand on my first official visit."

The shoe designer is being brought to New Zealand by Remix Magazine and will attend a special cocktail evening hosted by Kiwi shoe designer Kathryn Wilson, who says she can't wait to introduce him to the local industry.

Choo inspired her as a young designer after she read the book The Towering World of Jimmy Choo.

"I was inspired to create a boutique brand with a global vision. Jimmy Choo is an example of an artist who has turned his craft and passion of footwear into an international brand by surrounding himself with a talented team who are always thinking big," Wilson said.

Established and emerging designers would be invited to the event, and one young designer would be chosen to sit down with Choo for a special one-on-one conversation.

Jimmy Choo's famous fans
• Beyonce
• Kate Winslet
• Meryl Streep.
• Kim Kardashian
• Zoe Saldana.