Stepping Into Worth: From the South Lanes to Beyoncé’s Diamond Heels

By Elif Köse for Confidence Magazine

I still remember the first time I heard the story.
A conversation about artistry and worthiness, the kind of conversation that always lights me up, led me to discover that tucked away in the South Lanes of Brighton, a jeweller had created something extraordinary. Not just jewellery, not just fashion, but a symbol that would travel across the world stage.

It was Chris Shellis of Safir Goldsmith in the South Lanes and his creation? The “Princess Constellation” stilettos, diamond-encrusted heels worth £216,000 when they first made headlines in 2015. Shoes that Beyoncé herself was said to have slipped into, sparking global fascination.

Ten years on, their value has only grown. Diamonds appreciate, artistry endures, and cultural icons like this take on a life of their own. Today, they are likely worth far more than their original price tag. But their real value, at least to me, lies in what they represent.

The Language of Fashion

Before I was a coach, before I created Confidence Magazine, I was a fashion designer. For years, I lived and breathed the world of fabrics, cuts, tailoring, and the alchemy of how clothes can change the way we feel.

Fashion taught me an essential truth: what we wear is never just surface. It’s a language. A statement. Sometimes it’s quiet, a favourite jumper that makes us feel safe. Sometimes it’s bold, a red lipstick, a killer jacket, a dress that demands attention. And sometimes, it’s dazzling, a pair of diamond heels that say, unapologetically, “I am here.”

But here’s the thing: the power was never in the jumper, the lipstick, or the shoes. The power was in the choice.

Worthiness Woven In

When I think about Chris Shellis and those iconic stilettos, what strikes me most is not the extravagance, but the devotion. Over a thousand diamonds set into gold, a 1,000-year guarantee, every detail meticulously crafted.

This wasn’t fast fashion. This wasn’t about chasing trends. This was about creating something worthy of lasting.

And isn’t that what confidence is, too? Not a quick fix. Not a mask. But something we build, with devotion and patience, until it becomes part of us. Confidence, like diamonds, grows more valuable the longer we honour it.

What Beyoncé’s Shoes Teach Us

When Beyoncé stepped into those heels, the headlines focused on the price tag. But I see something different. I see an artist choosing to align herself with another artist. A woman of influence walking into her worth with symbols that matched her unapologetic self-expression.

It’s not really about the shoes. It’s about what they stood for.

Confidence is a declaration. Whether whispered or dazzling, it says: “I know who I am.”
Worth is timeless. Just as the value of those heels has grown, our self-worth expands when we nurture it.
Craftsmanship matters. In shoes, in jewellery, and in the lives we are building.
Artistry has power. It reminds us that beauty and meaning can coexist — and that we are worthy of both.

The Spark Behind This Article

That day, when the conversation first turned to the South Lanes jeweller who had crafted the world’s most talked-about stilettos, it stayed with me. Not because I dreamt of wearing them (though I can’t deny I’d love to try them on just once!), but because it reminded me why I do what I do.

Confidence is not about what you own. It’s about what you allow yourself to believe you are worthy of.

My fashion years showed me the outside can be a doorway. My coaching years taught me the inside is where the transformation truly happens. And now, through this magazine, I am weaving the two together; fashion, artistry, stories, and soul, so that every reader can see themselves as already enough, already radiant, already worthy.

As we close this year with our December theme, The Return to Self, I want you to ask yourself:

• What are you stepping into as the year ends?
• What choices reflect your worthiness?
• What symbols remind you of your own resilience and radiance?

Maybe it’s not diamond stilettos. Maybe it’s a scarf from your grandmother, a necklace from a friend, or a pair of boots that have carried you through every season. What matters is not the cost, but the meaning.

Confidence isn’t in the sparkle of a stone, it’s in the way you carry yourself, the way you honour your story, the way you return home to who you truly are.

Elif x

Chris Shellis’ heels may have been designed to last a thousand years, but the real legacy is the reminder that what is crafted with intention becomes timeless. Safir Goldsmith and Diamonds will draw your dream and make it real. Find them in 50-52 Meeting House Lane, BN1 1HB

As we step into 2026, may we all carry that truth: worthiness is not given, it is claimed. And when you believe in your worth, every step, whether in trainers, boots, or diamond stilettos — becomes an act of confidence.

Pull Out Quotes

• “Confidence isn’t in the sparkle of a stone, it’s in the way you carry yourself.”
• “What is crafted with intention becomes timeless.”

Front Cover Strap Line

Stepping Into Worth:
From Brighton’s South Lanes to Beyoncé’s diamond heels — the story of artistry, devotion, and timeless confidence.

Content Page Blurb

In this reflective essay, Confidence Magazine founder Elif Köse explores what Beyoncé’s diamond stilettos, crafted by Brighton jeweller Chris Shellis from Safir Goldsmiths in Brighton Historic Lanes, can teach us about confidence, craftsmanship, and self-worth. A celebration of artistry, meaning, and walking boldly in your own light.

Photographer Credit: House of Borgezie