YSL Yves Saint Laurent Embroidered Ankle Strap Pumps — Late 1990s

Era: Late 1990s — Tom Ford's gilded era at YSL, when embellishment was everything

Material: Ivory mesh upper with dense arabesque bead embroidery in champagne gold and iridescent crystal; suede-lined ankle strap with gold-tone buckle closure; stiletto heel

Measurements: Insole length approx 9.25" / Heel height 3.25" / Width: standard

Size on label: EU 39 / US 8.5 (fits true to size)

Condition: Very good vintage. Light wear to sole; embroidery intact throughout with no missing beads or stones. The kind of shoe that arrives looking like it was never worn in public.

Tom Ford transformed Yves Saint Laurent in the late 1990s into a house that understood maximalism done with precision. These heels are the proof — intricate beaded embroidery on a classic pointed stiletto, the sort of shoe worn to openings, to dinner at Hotel Costes, to places where being seen was the whole point. Pure collector YSL.

Authenticity: YSL embossed insole stamp. Sourced from a private Paris archive collection.