Katie Abel – Footwear News https://footwearnews.com Shoe News and Fashion Trends Thu, 10 Oct 2024 23:11:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://footwearnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-FN-Favicon-2023-05-31.png?w=32 Katie Abel – Footwear News https://footwearnews.com 32 32 178921128 How Gedebe Aims to Be a Bigger Luxury Shoe Force, With the Help of a New London Investor https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/gedebe-shoes-bags-investment-growth-beyonce-1203699185/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 23:07:31 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203699185


What began as a vacation friendship in Miami turned into a business partnership for Gedebe founder Giuseppe Della Badia and London investor Jean-Baptiste Wautier.

The pair officially joined forces this summer when Wautier acquired a stake in the Rome-based accessible luxury bag and shoe brand. (Terms of the deal were not disclosed.)

Wautier, who worked in London’s finance industry for decades and has deep expertise in private equity, struck out on his own in 2023 and began putting together a portfolio of investments. “I spend my time [looking at] young, fast-growing companies,” he said, noting that he was well versed in the Jimmy Choo story as the brand was emerging during its earliest years on the scene.

After several poolside chats with Della Badia, Wautier saw the potential in Gedebe after learning about the brand’s traction in the market, its sharp price point and fashion-forward aesthetic.

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Gedebe pumps

“He’s been doing this for more than 10 years without any outside help. If you’ve been growing and surviving — through Covid — there’s something there,” he said. “I could see the positioning was right, the product was there, the brand was there. It was a matter of execution.”

Wautier was also impressed by Della Badia’s ability to court celebrity fans such as Beyoncé. The designer racked up major buzz in 2023 when he outfitted the songstress with 30 custom shoes for her Renaissance Tour. He also designed thigh-high velvet boots adorned with crystals for Nicki Minaj’s recent world tour.

London investor Jean-Baptiste Wautier and Gedebe founder Giuseppe Della Badia

The brand, which is stocked in Saks, Neiman Marcus, Harrods, Galeries Lafayette in Dubai and other retailers, is sold in 150 stores globally via a partnership with Massimo Bonini. Now the goal is to steadily expand distribution and build the size of the business.

“I had this great passion and ability to design, but I really needed partners in business,” Della Badia said, noting that revenues are split evenly between shoes and bags.

Going forward, Della Badia believes shoes present the biggest opportunity for growth.

“When I design, shoes drive the entire collection,” he said.

A bag from Gedebe’s fall ’24 campaign.



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Giuseppe Zanotti on the Perfect Pump, Outfitting Taylor Swift and Creating ‘Fusion’ Between Accessories and Shoes https://footwearnews.com/fashion/designers/giuseppe-zanotti-spring-2025-collection-milan-taylor-swift-shoes-1203699704/ Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:21:36 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203699704


Just call him the shoe chef.

“This is my kitchen and I like to play with different ingredients,” said Giuseppe Zanotti, during an interview in his stylish Via Montenapoleone showroom during Milan Fashion Week.

As the designer marks 30 years of his namesake label, he is looking back with a special capsule collection focusing on the iconic Ring sandal, a key style from the beginning. The look is reinterpreted in a classic flat and new block heel.

For spring ’25, the designer also explored his love of jewelry shoes, using an oversized gold nugget to decorate pumps and sandals. The ornamentation helps modernize the classic pump, according to the designer. “I like to create a fusion between shoes and accessories,” Zanotti said. “The gold nuggets with the open toe and block heel, for me it’s my ideal pump.”

Giuseppe Zanotti spring ’25

Zanotti also showed off a sexy sandal, defined by its geometric lines and ’80’s aesthetic. “I love to do shoes that are seasonless and fashionless,” he said.

Elsewhere in the spring ’25 collection, details define the assortment — from delicate metal flowers to glittering crystals to gold dome plates. The signature pointed-toe Intriigo silhouette is updated with hand-woven leather knots, while ballerinas go from day to night.

As he cooks up his next collection, Zanotti is expanding his retail presence with a new space at Milan’s Rinascente department store.

Taylor Swift, red thigh high boots, Chiefs Game, Travis Kelce, Kansas City
Taylor Swift’s Giuseppe Zanotti statement boots are one of fall ’24’s biggest shoe trends.

This fall, the designer has also gotten a boost from none other than Taylor Swift, who wore his over-the-knee boots to two Kansas City Chiefs games in September. Zanotti said he’s proud to have worked with the songstress since the beginning of her career, but seeing her step out in his shoes time and again next gets old.

“She goes everywhere in these boots,” he said. “I’m so happy!”



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Remembering Tip Top Shoes’ Danny Wasserman: Retail Visionary, Valued Mentor and Devoted Dad https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/danny-wasserman-tip-top-shoes-owner-dies-1203698738/ Sun, 06 Oct 2024 17:55:56 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203698738


Danny Wasserman, the retail visionary who turned his family’s Upper West Side store into an independent footwear institution, died on Saturday. He was 80.

After a recent fall at home, Wasserman had been recovering for a few days in a New York hospital and died unexpectedly after going into cardiac arrest, according to Lester, his son. “He was waiting for a bed at a rehab facility and had been saying he was going to check himself out the hospital,” the younger Wasserman said, of his dad’s determination to the end.

Danny was the guiding force at Tip Top Shoes for more than 50 years — from the moment he joined his own father, Max Wasserman, in the business.

“This industry meant everything to him — he loved the shoes, the vendors, the gossip,” said Lester. “It was all about the love.”

In 2025, Tip Top, located on West 72nd Street, will mark both the 85th anniversary of its founding and the 60th anniversary of Wasserman family ownership — no small feat at a time when it has never been harder to be an independent operator. (The family acquired the store from original owner Ruth Pfiferling.)

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Wasserman with his children, Margot and Lester

Wasserman took great pride in the retailer’s ability to differentiate itself with top-notch customer service. “We tell our staff that everything we have is available somewhere else,” he told FN in 2015. “The only thing [that separates] us is our service.”

A constant presence on the shop floor, Wasserman was eager to share his lessons with anybody who walked through Tip Top’s doors. “When Danny talked, people listened,” Lester said. Whether he was talking about hot product and trends or markdowns and inventory flow, Mr. Wasserman wasn’t bashful, his son said.

Wasserman was immensely proud that Lester and daughter Margot, the children’s shoe buyer, decided to follow in his footsteps and become co-owners. Together, the family expanded into the kids’ business with a standalone store that opened in 1988 and opened a sneaker boutique, West, in 2007.

FN Summit 2016: Danny Wasserman, Ron Fromm, Donald Wilborn and Bob Campbell hold court.

Margot Wasserman remembered the daily texts she and her father exchanged about “everything and nothing.” Topics ranged from reordering the right shoes, “especially socks and inserts,” discussing the latest TV shows and what they had for dinner.

One important lesson that Wasserman taught his kids and many others about the shoe business: “If something is unique, it will have legs.”

At trade shows, Wasserman walked the halls from morning to night, often with an entourage in tow. “He wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Lester said on Sunday.

Wasserman took great pride in his ability to spot new brands and emerging industry trends.

“We were one of the first to have Ugg Australia and one of the first in the Northeast to carry Birkenstock. I also recognized MBT, Kork-Ease, Sbicca huaraches and Jacques Cohen espadrilles,” he told FN in 2015.

Danny Wasserman and then Rockport chief Michael Rupp at the FN Summit in 2009

Industry players reached on Sunday remembered Wasserman as one of a kind.

“I’ve known him all my life. He was a friend, a father and mentor to me. He was the best teacher anyone could be,” said Tarek Hassan, CEO of Concepts, who recalled attending countless shows and buying appointments under the tutelage of Mr. Wasserman. “He lived the business. He understood people, product and brands. He had an incredible eye. There’s only one Danny.”

David Kahan, CEO of Birkenstock Americas, said Wasserman — who had German roots — was one of the brand’s first accounts.

“He loved to recount his history with Margot Fraser and Karl Birkenstock. He took a chance on the brand when no one else carried it,” Kahan said. “He literally brought it to NYC and put tens of thousands of local New Yorkers and tourists into our products, including many regular celebrity clients. He even sold Yoko Ono a pair she got for John Lennon. Even when COVID shut down NYC retail, he and Lester set up a table outside the store and sold Birkenstocks one at a time to passers by.”

Kahan and Wasserman developed a close friendship through the years. “I consider him a true mentor in the industry. I don’t think a week has gone by in 20 years that I didn’t talk or text with him multiple times,” Kahan said.

Wasserman is survived by his wife, Carol; children Lester and Margot; and three grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Riverside Funeral Home in New York. Shiva will be observed during select hours Tuesday through Thursday at Margot and Lester’s residences. Email Lester Wasserman at lwasser579@mac.com for more details.



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Shoes for a Cure Is Back: How the Industry Is Rallying to Raise Critical Funds for Breast Cancer Research https://footwearnews.com/business/business-news/shoes-for-a-cure-chelsea-market-info-details-1203698245/ Fri, 04 Oct 2024 16:53:17 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203698245


Excitement is building for this year’s Shoes for a Cure charity shoe sale, set for Oct. 23 to 27 at Chelsea Market.

The industry fundraiser, which was reimagined last year, is celebrating a big milestone — its 30th year raising critical funds for breast cancer research.

The event, which began as a tent sale in Central Park, has raised more than $60 million through its three decades.

This year, the sale has gathered 10,000 pairs of donated shoes in an upstate New York warehouse and will sell them at the 5-day sale, which is run by 325 volunteers and supporters. Key donors this year include Rack Room, Marc Fisher Footwear, Michael Kors, Deckers, DSW and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Birkenstock, New Balance and Ugg will be among the big brands on display at the sale.

The 2024 grant recipient is Dr Lisa Newman, a New York doctor who has spent her entire career researching the cure for breast cancer. Last year, Shoes for a Cure raised $600,000 to support Newman’s tireless efforts.

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The FDRA team holds court at last year’s Shoes for A Cure.

“The cause is incredible, the mission is pure and the doctor is amazing,” said Sandi Mines, president of the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation (FFCF).

Newman has also been focusing on ways to close the gap in breast cancer treatment for women of color.

To build buzz, Shoes for a Cure has also enlisted four influencers — with a combined reach of 1.7 million followers — to help spread the word about the cause.

Outside of the New York effort, Shoes for a Cure is launching a Miami event in partnership with the Miami Design District.

The one day charity shopping activation and private cocktail event, which is invitation only, is set for Oct. 17. Proceeds of Shoes for a Cure Miami will be directed to Braman Family Cancer Institute at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

For more information, contact Sandi Mines at smines@fdra.org.



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Valentino Spring ’25 Runway: Shoes, Hosiery Bags and Hats PHOTOS https://footwearnews.com/gallery/valentino-spring-2025-shoes-bags-hats-hosiery-acessories-photos/ https://footwearnews.com/gallery/valentino-spring-2025-shoes-bags-hats-hosiery-acessories-photos/#respond Sun, 29 Sep 2024 16:49:48 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?post_type=pmc-gallery&p=1203696305 https://footwearnews.com/gallery/valentino-spring-2025-shoes-bags-hats-hosiery-acessories-photos/feed/ 0 1203696305 Valentino Spring '25 Accessories Christian Louboutin’s Swimming Spectacular at Paris Fashion Week PHOTOS https://footwearnews.com/gallery/christian-louboutin-paris-fashion-week-photos/ https://footwearnews.com/gallery/christian-louboutin-paris-fashion-week-photos/#respond Sat, 28 Sep 2024 19:04:21 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?post_type=pmc-gallery&p=1203696223 https://footwearnews.com/gallery/christian-louboutin-paris-fashion-week-photos/feed/ 0 1203696223 christian-louboutin-legs-paris-fashion-week_ced27c Exclusive: Shopbop CEO Kim Fleissner Will Lead Zappos Too, Scott Schaefer to Exit https://footwearnews.com/business/executive-moves/zappos-names-kim-fleissner-shopbop-ceo-scott-schaefer-1203696106/ Fri, 27 Sep 2024 23:32:33 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203696106


Shopbop CEO Kim Fleissner is expanding her role and will now lead Zappos as well, FN has learned.

The move, confirmed by a Zappos spokesperson late Friday, comes as the Las Vegas-based footwear e-tailer’s CEO Scott Schaefer prepares to exit the company on Nov. 1. Both Zappos and Shopbop are owned by Amazon.

Fleissner has been CEO of Madison, Wisc.-based Shopbop since May 2018.

“Kim is a long-tenured leader who will champion the unique culture and differentiators of the Zappos brand, ensuring it continues to deliver customer-focused growth,” the Zappos spokesperson said in a statement.

Schaefer is leaving “to pursue other interests.”

“We would like to thank Scott for his contributions to Zappos through the years and wish him well in his future endeavors,” the spokesperson said.

The move marks the third CEO change at Zappos in four years. In 2020, a few months before his death, Zappos co-founder Tony Hsieh left the CEO role, and Kedar Deshpande took over. In late 2021, Deshpande departed the company for Groupon, and Schaefer was appointed acting CEO for a short time before getting the permanent gig in April 2022.

Zappos — which has quietly cut hundreds of jobs in the past few years — has not been immune to the changes and challenges sweeping across both the footwear industry and e-commerce space. Not only have many brands doubled down on their own DTC efforts, but brick-and-mortar retail has made a major comeback in the post-pandemic era.

Interestingly, both Zappos and Shopbop made their debuts in 1999 and were pioneers in the e-commerce space.

This is a developing story. Check back for more.



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After a Foot Injury, Former Restaurant Critic Danyelle Freeman Is Stepping Out With Her Own Shoe Brand https://footwearnews.com/shoes/womens-footwear/danyelle-freeman-le-seul-shoe-brand-launch-1203695985/ Fri, 27 Sep 2024 20:09:19 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203695985


Why did Danyelle Freeman, a former restaurant critic for The New York Daily News, venture into footwear? Out of necessity, said the founder of Le Seul, the new fashion comfort line she debuted during New York Fashion Week.

About five years ago, Freeman’s life was altered when her husband accidentally ran over her foot with a car. The injury and its aftermath caused permanent damage to her feet, and the entrepreneur said she searched everywhere to find shoes that she could walk in — and wanted to wear.

“I used to have a closet full of beautiful shoes, and this was such an extreme change for me,” she said. “I would look at other people’s feet with envy because I was stuck in orthotics. I started wearing only long dresses because I wanted to hide my shoes.”

Determined to find a solution, Freeman began to learn about the intricacies of orthotics and comfort technology. “I finally decided I would make shoes myself,” she said.

A look from Le Seul’s new campaign starring model Greta Hofer.

Freeman enlisted longtime shoe designer Paul Andrew as her mentor prior to his appointment as Sergio Rossi’s creative director earlier this year.

From there, she began the process of finding Italian factories, hiring designers and refining the technology and comfort aspects of the collection. (Le Seul, a play on the sole of the foot, translates to “The Only One.”)

Features of each shoe include a custom-made insole board, molded silicone gel for shock absorption and foam padding. Dr. David Hancock, a physiotherapist and strength coach, who has worked with Nike and the New York Knicks, serves as an advisor to the brand.

To jazz up the comfort features, Freeman decked out her quilted insole with the brand’s signature heart. And the block heels featured throughout the collection have a heart footprint design.

Le Seul spring ’25

The spring ’25 collection of flats, sandals, pumps and wedges is inspired by flowers and features other embellishments such as bows. “I wanted them to be feminine and attractive, but timeless and very wearable,” Freeman said. Colors run the gamut from black, ivory and tan to bermuda blue, red and champagne.

Price points range from $550 to $1,250, and the founder is meeting with buyers during Paris Fashion week. In the coming months, she plans to open pop-ups around New York.

It’s certainly not an easy climate for independent shoe designers as the big ready-to-wear brands gobble up more market share. But Freeman, who is self funding the business, is undeterred.

“I’m in this to win and I’m very serious about it,” she said. “I’m offering something that’s a need, and I think it will resonate with people.”



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Versace and Balmain Make a Case for Perfume Bottle Heels and Bags: What’s Behind the Quirky Spring ’25 Runway Trend? https://footwearnews.com/fashion/trends/spring-2025-runway-trends-perfume-bottle-shoes-bags-versace-balmain-1203695165/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:31:34 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203695165




There’s a quirky new trend emerging on the spring ’25 runways — perfume bottle heels and bags.

In recent days, Versace and Balmain have both made a convincing case for whimsical accessories.

Luxury designers on and off the runway seem to be more willing to experiment with their shoes and bags this season, and it’s no surprise. When the going gets tough, the industry has traditionally turned to accessories to help them get out of the doldrums. They’re often seen as investment pieces and more accessible than expensive ready-to-wear looks that might lose their luster after a season or two. For spring ’25, many fashion houses are reverting back to classics and greatest hits in their ready-to-wear offer, giving shoes and bags more room to shine.

Versace’s gives it best-selling Bright Crystal scent a new spin as a runway heel.

At the same time, every luxury fashion house is banking on the beauty category like never before.

So perhaps it made perfect sense then that Versace and Balmain decided to combine the best of both worlds for some showstopping runway pieces.

Donatella Versace transformed her best-selling fragrance, Bright Crystal, into shoes and clutches.

Balmain, for its part, just opened its first standalone beauty boutique in Paris with partner Estée Lauder. So longtime creative director Olivier Rousteing thought it was fitting to bring the storytelling to the runway too, from head to toe.

Models on the runway at Balmain RTW Spring 2025 as part of Paris Ready to Wear Fashion Week held at Palais de Chaillot on September 25, 2024 in Paris, France.
Balmain celebrate its new beauty line on the runway, from head to toe.

Rousteing said many of the accessories channeled the angular lines and graphic components of the historic Balmain perfume bottle, which was first introduced by the house’s founder in 1946 for his Vent Vert fragrance — and which was adapted for the new line of Balmain Beauty scents, Les Éternels.

Versace’s perfume bottle heels on the runway at Milan Fashion Week

Model on the runway at Balmain RTW Spring 2025 as part of Paris Ready to Wear Fashion Week held at Palais de Chaillot on September 25, 2024 in Paris, France.
Balmain sent perfume-bottle heels down the runway to make the debut of its beauty collection.

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Milan Fashion Week Spring 2025: Jimmy Choo, Giuseppe Zanotti and all the Shoes to Know From 20 Presentations https://footwearnews.com/fashion/designers/milan-fashion-week-spring-2025-shoes-1203691420/ Sat, 21 Sep 2024 21:07:58 +0000 https://footwearnews.com/?p=1203691420


When it comes to luxury footwear, there’s no place like Milan Fashion Week. Here is a look at the top news from spring ’25 shoe presentations across the city.

Jimmy Choo

Playful. Intricate. Hyper. That’s how Jimmy Choo creative director Sandra Choi describes the label’s spring ’25 collection. This season, Choi looked back to Y2K, an important period for the brand and an era now being wholeheartedly embraced by Gen Z . “I really love this idea of girlfriends going out, hanging out, playing hard — I lived it myself,” she said. The mule is the star silhouette this season, while the Drop heel continues to make a statement as a new signature. And when it comes to embellishment, more is more.

Jimmy Choo spring ’25 silver mules

Gianvito Rossi

Welcome to the jungle, Gianvito Rossi style. Luscious plants served as the bountiful backdrop for the designer’s spring 2025 “jungle couture” presentation. Nature’s creatures inspire many of the collection’s styles: Butterfly’s wings, in mesh and suede, embellish stiletto sandals and tie-up booties. A lion’s mane serves as the inspiration for embellished mules. And a gladiator sandal recalls the coils of the mamba snake. The designer also highlights his focus on intricate craftsmanship: A pair of lace-up stiletto sandals features 300 two-tone rhinestones, arranged by hand on leather strips.

Gianvito Rossi spring ’25 mule

Aquazzura

When Edgardo Osorio needs to recharge, he heads to straight to the sea — and the Aquazzura designer crafted his spring ’25 collection during a trip to Mexico. “There are subtle influences and a lot of workmanship and craftsmanship — macramé, embroidery, beading,” he said. Fish, shells, corals and crabs — handmade by women artisans in Colombia — decorate raffia bags and sandals, while the “Wave” plexi wedge sandal serves up glamour. Metallic and stone-like studs give rope sandals a cool Boho edge. Flats get the broderie anglaise treatment.

Aquazzura sea-inspired rope sandal

Giuseppe Zanotti

Three decades and counting. Footwear veteran Giuseppe Zanotti — who just opened a new space at Milan’s Rinascente department store — has a lot to celebrate, including a major endorsement from none other than Taylor Swift — who has worn his thigh-high boots to two recent Chiefs games. “We’ve been working with her since she was a teenager. I’m very proud,” said the designer. Zanotti is marking 30 years of his namesake label with a special capsule focusing on the iconic Ring sandal. The look is reinterpreted in a classic flat and new block heel. Details define the main spring ’25 collection — from delicate metal flowers to glittering crystals to gold dome plates. The signature pointed-toe Intriigo silhouette is updated with hand-woven leather knots, while ballerinas go from day to night.

Gold detailing decks out Giuseppe Zanotti sandals

Paris Texas

With a stylish new showroom in Milan and a just-released ad campaign that celebrates its dual personas, Paris Texas is kicking off spring ’25 with a bang. During a tour of the new space, founder and creative director Annamaria Brivio reminisced about her trip to the California desert, where she shot with photographer Harley Weir from day to night to capture all the fruits of the landscape — dramatic sunsets, rugged backdrops and joshua trees, of course. Building on the vibe of fall ’24, the collection features wedge sandals in a gradient of colors inspired by the skies at dawn. Dramatic lace-up sandals, embossed from crocodile leather in rouge noir, are a fresh addition. Mules inspired by the new showroom are bedazzled with a mirror-effect stiletto heel, while another mule style features a block Plexiglas heel hiding an engraved
logo. There are also more flats on offer, including a fringed loafer and raffia ballet flats. And of course, the brand’s signature boots, worn by Beyoncé and more big names, are a mainstay, and get prime real estate in a museum-like space in the showroom.

Paris Texas’ sensuous lace-up sandal

AGL

With a design philosophy rooted in nature and mythology, the three sisters behind AGL drew on the imagery of contemporary nymphs. The water lily, a symbol of purity and elegance, is the thread through many of spring’s designs. Delicate leather petals adorn ballet flats and heeled sandals, and the motif is also embroidered on mules and knee-high gladiator sandals.

Water lilies were the defining detail of AGL’s collection.

Hogan

A larger-than-life video wall brought summer vibes to the Hogan showroom as the brand unveiled its spring ’25 collection inspired by Italo Disco culture and the nostalgia of the coast. Sneakers, moccasins and boat shoes are fashioned in tactile suede or with leather-wrapped soles. and bags are versatile and beach-ready.

Hogan’s beach-ready shoes and bags

Mach & Mach

Get ready for Valentine’s Day with Mach & Mach’s ‘Puffy Heart’ mules, sandals, and Mary Janes adorned with heart charms in lacquered red and silver. Mesh ballet flats get a heavy dose of sparkle with oversized diamond-like broaches.

Casadei

Showing in its new Milan digs, the brand unveiled a Superblade slingback, only available in black or white, to match the ambiance of one of the rooms. The Mini Blade heel — at just 1.5 centimeters — is the newest version of the signature heel. Elsewhere, a bold gladiator kicks things up a notch. And new material stories shine through, like calfskin with color dabbed on by hand, which creates the effect of crocodile scales seen through sunlit water. It is used on both thongs and high-heel mules.

Casadei thong lineup

René Caovilla

This year marks a milestone for the brand as it turns 90 — and René Caovilla’s greatest hits still resonate with consumers. So for spring, the brand revisits and reimagines best sellers, including the Cleo sandal; the Cinderella series; the Veneziana pump and slingback; the Chandelier sandal and the Margot sandal.

Intricate floral details on René Caovilla spring ’25 sandal

Flower Mountain

Tapping into the rich culture of Japan, Flower Mountain’s limited-edition capsule of sneakers and sandals features traditional Nishijin-ori, the intricate fabrics that are used to make kimonos. (They date all the way back to the 6th century.) The collection consists of four different patterns made of colorful silk threads and intricate weaves, with symbols like cherry blossoms and butterflies.

Flower Mountain’s cork footbed sandals from the Nishijin-ori capsule

Santoni

Italy’s Marche region, where Santoni calls home, again provides a plethora of inspiration. High-heeled sandals are fashioned in golden and multi-color heels, reflecting the vibrancy of the sun and the sea. Santoni’s Double Buckle is highlighted in the Virna sandal, which comes high or with a kitten heel. New pointy-toe slingbacks also get the buckle treatment. The brand also serves up a tennis-inspired sneaker. 

Santoni’s double buckle is a house signature.

Pollini

Two very distinct heels make a statement in Archive collection — the triangular-shaped Island heel, and the Cavaliere boot heel, which debuts in sandals for spring. The driving loafer is re-imagined with rope laces — and fringed sandals and loafers make an impact.

Pollini fringe sandal

Kate Cate

Now in her third season, Kate Cate designer Caterina Ravaglia is expanding the brand in the U.S. and Middle East, and growing her collection, too. “At the beginning, I had this juxtaposition where it was either sparkling or big chunky boots,” said the designer, who branched out by adding her beloved animal prints to low-heeled mule sandals and sneaker ballerinas made with recycled rubber soles. A crab-shaped sandal features buckles from the brand’s popular belts. But the designer is still happiest in her bold boots. “I was watching the Diane von Furstenberg documentary and she talked about going to Studio 54 in Zebra cowboy boots after she put her children to bed,” Ravaglia said. “Now I really want to go to the club in my zebra cowboy boots.”

Inside the Cate Kate presentation at Casa Cipriani.

Geox

The brand has long been known for its waterproof Spherica sneaker, which emphasizes breathability. This season, Geox is adding some new high-tech features and introducing the hands-free Spherica Plus slip-in model. The new technology features external support in the heel area that acts in tandem with a soft inner insert and elasticated lasting. “Our strength lies in having a global vision with continuous ideas and innovations, said Mario Moretti Polegato, founder and chairman of Geox.

Geox Spherica Plus sneaker

Premiata

Reflecting the brand’s focus on sustainability, sneakers are crafted in recycled materials and feature lightweight soles. Leopard print adds an eye-catching touch to the kicks, while pony stands out as the key material used across dressier styles.

Pony reigns at Premiata

Aera

Aera co-founder and CEO Tina Bhojwani toasted her spring ’25 sustainably-minded collection at the intimate Rumore cocktail bar at Portrait Milano — where she showed summer slides, flats and mid heels. The brand introduced some innovative new materials designed to make an impact, including sustainable grosgrain and regenerated nylon yarn.

Aera Spring ’25 mid-heel slingbacks

Fratelli Rossetti

“Shades of earth, shades of summer.” That’s the theme of Fratelli Rossetti’s collection, which features a mix of new and timeless styles. Ballet flats, sandals are fashioned in earthy tones, such as almond, olive and mango. And the Brera loafer continues to reign.

New slides from Fratelli Rossetti

Mario Valentino

Inspired by the landscapes of the Amalfi coast, strappy sandals reign, and the collection plays up geometric shapes and transparencies. Shells and 3D flowers are key embellishments.

Le Silla

Le Silla is feting its 30th anniversary with a special edition of its signature Petalo pump. With a metallic finish, the style, called Anthea, draws inspiration from surrealist art. For spring ’25, the brand explores nature, with slingbacks and sandals taking center stage. Transparency is also a key theme, as seen on slingbacks, mules, boots and more.

Le Silla 30th anniversary sandal



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