By Carole Dennett
Luxury footwear designer, Manolo Blahnik, has given the Isle of Wight a foothold on the global fashion map.
The Model Village in Godshill was chosen as the perfect location for their high heels to take a tiny tour for their spring campaign photoshoot. Inspired by a family holiday last summer, the brand’s CEO spotted the unique charm of the model village, and decided it would be the perfect backdrop for their latest collection of shoes, many of which retail for £1,000 or more.
The high-end February fashion shoot included both women’s and men’s collections, with the intricate details of the Model Village providing an eye-catching contrast to the elegant shoes. The creative team worked throughout the day to capture striking images, which are now being shared across Manolo Blahnik’s social
media channels, bringing worldwide attention to the picturesque backdrop.
Penny Dyer, from Godshill Model Village, said: “It was a privilege to be chosen for this campaign. Seeing the
magic of a global brand unfold in our little village was incredible. It was fascinating to see how the magic comes together, and we are delighted with the results of the shoot.
“We get lots of wonderful enquiries and some of the team were super-excited about this one.”
The shoot doesn’t just highlight Godshill Model Village as an attraction, but will hopefully draw attention to the Isle of Wight as a destination.
Zoe Stroud, who assists with marketing for the village, said: “The crew included a photographer, lighting engineers, a director, a shoe preparer and the model. It was fascinating to see how much detail goes into each
shot,” she said.
“The model was wrapped up warm and cosy in a dressing gown and trousers, which were rolled up for the
footwear shots to reveal only her legs and feet. It was somewhat less glamorous than the photos show –
particularly when she was laying down on the ground with her feet in the air.
“For the men’s collection, the shoes were artfully placed around the village—perched on rooftops, positioned on the train, and on the roofs of the houses. The whole garden was used – even areas usually closed to the public.”
Each scene was captured from multiple angles, with instant digital downloads giving on-the-spot adjustments to get the lighting perfect, with many photos discarded. As you can see, the results are stunning. However, the day didn’t go entirely perfectly – not for Zoe anyway.
“At the end of the day, I dropped not very subtle hints about my shoe size being a 5. I loved the shoes and was hoping that they might not need to take all the samples with them. However, I was told very firmly that the model’s feet were size 4 – as they carefully packed all the shoes away.
“But seeing the final images on Manolo Blahnik’s social media is fantastic. It really proves that the Isle of Wight offers something special for everyone – even the world of high fashion”.