A shoe designer who made them for Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton has died suddenly aged 67.
Cesare Paciotti was found lying on the floor beside his bed by a housekeeper at his country villa yesterday (12 Oct) evening.
She raised the alarm immediately and paramedics arrived within minutes, but there was nothing they could do.
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Tragic Paciotti’s heart had stopped.
He was often dubbed the ‘King of Shoes’.
The sudden illness struck Paciotti in his hometown of Civitanova Alta, just inland from Italy’s Adriatic coast, north-east of Rome.
His name was one of the most respected and recognisable in luxury footwear, especially women’s shoes.
In 2009, he famously described his craft as “an attempt to correct the one small mistake God made – creating woman without heels.”
A graduate of the University of Bologna’s Faculty of Arts, Music and Performing Arts, Paciotti inherited his parents’ small handmade shoe workshop with his sister Paola in the early 1980s.
Together, they transformed the family business into a global luxury brand, as reported by Need To Know.
Over time, he developed three labels – Cesare Paciotti, 4US, and Cesare Paciotti Jewels, which covered jewellery and watches.
His bold designs were worn by some of the world’s biggest stars, including Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, plus Eva Longoria, and Angela Bassett.
His brand was known for its trademark silver dagger with an S-shaped hilt, which became a symbol of luxury and adorned both his shoes and jewellery. The motif even features on a roundabout in his hometown.
Paciotti often cited Gianni Versace, who in the 1980s commissioned the Paciotti company to make shoes for his collections, as a major inspiration and influence on his career.
His company endured difficult times, including a major debt restructuring around 10 years ago.
The most harrowing moment came in March 2011, when his villa was raided by four burglars.
The designer was beaten, tied up, and locked in a room with his wife and their three-month-old daughter.
Paciotti is survived by three children – two from his first marriage and one from his second.
According to official reports, he had no previous health issues.
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