It seems that Russian model Irina Shayk forgot half her wardrobe while working for shoe-making company Xti recently, modelling flip-flops – on her bare chest.

Models Direct just caught some of the images that were snapped in order to promote various items of footwear for the brand and, while we appreciate that sex sells, we are wondering about the logic of using this type of imagery to market shoes to women…

There’s no doubt that this beautiful model has the figure for glamour work. Gorgeous Shayk has modelled scantily clad for Victoria’s Secret and appears regularly in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. But topless to promote ladies footwear? Surely these images (click link to view) are more ‘GQ’ than ‘nice shoe’.

Xti are obviously focusing on what they believe to be Irina’s greatest assets in the campaign shots, but with her stunning features we’re pretty sure that a fully clothed Irina would have managed to successfully sell women’s shoes, to women, for the brand.

Is Xti running the risk of alienating the very consumer it hopes to sell to by marketing shoes in this way – or will ladies buy them based on these images because they wish to emulate her look? We’d love to hear what you think.

Meanwhile, for any women who were looking for tips on how to make the most of themselves Irina recently gave this helpful advice: “You just have to be yourself to flirt and be beautiful and sexy. You don’t need to have long legs and big lips and beautiful hair and makeup. Just be a normal person.”

Okay, thanks Irina, we’ll try that then…