[Image via luxist.com]

Check out these fierce stilletos! Now take a closer look. If you like what you see, you can own these babies–designed by Bruno Frisoni for Roger Viver– for a mere $43k. You’ll also have to wait three months to get them. You may ask; why all the fuss? Well, my friends; these shoes are adorned ever-so-delicately by pink-dyed taxidermy birds. Yes, actual birds.

Each stuffed bird also has a crystal-encrusted head and is further complemented by 24 ct gold-coated mesh, silk, ribbons, and crocodile-skin rosettes. Plus, every pair comes with special protective crocodile or snakeskin platforms that attach before you wear them to keep the shoes from ever touching the ground. Is the Frisoni shoe pushing the fashion envelope too far? Is it any different than wearing leather/fur? I guess the real question here is; is it worth a year of someone’s college tuition?