Amina Muaddi’s latest collection is here. On Tuesday, the designer dropped new styles of shoes and handbags.

A highlight in the drop includes the Anok line — named after supermodel muse Anok Yai — featuring sleek patent leather mules, ankle-strap pumps, slouch boots and jewelry.

Muaddi also makes a statement with white lace this season, seen on the Ane square-toed flat, and on the Camelia lace sling, adorned with an art-deco crystal buckle.

For the campaign, Muaddi utilized male model as accomplices, while shoes and handbags stood as the focal point. The goal of this line was to celebrate “women who embody strength, grace, and soft power,” according to the brand.

Another standout in Drop 24/25 is the Jerry sandal with dramatic black feathers. Plus, Muaddi’s signature flared heel — made popular on the Begum heel — can be seen on new silhouettes, such as the Veneda boot, Lilia slipper heel and on the Iris pump.

New styles are introduced as well — as seen in the Barbara line featuring pumps and fitted below-the-knee boot in croc and python print leather, polished patent and soft Nappa.

Drop 24/25 is available now at aminamuaddi.com and select luxury retailers and on Amina Muaddi’s official website.

French footwear brand Nomasei is dipping its toes into physical retail stateside, opening a pop-up store in New York’s SoHo.

Nestled in Elizabeth Street, the space opened on Wednesday and will run until Oct. 22, continuing a streak of retail activations the indie brand kicked off in its home country last year.

Testing the American market with a direct-to-consumer approach was the natural next move for Chloé alums and cofounders Paule Tenaillon and Marine Braquet, considering that U.S. accounts between 50 percent and 60 percent of the sales of the brand they established at the end of 2019 and that has carved out a niche of consumers with its responsibly-sourced and wearable shoes ever since.

Last year, the company totaled 2.5 million euros in sales, which are expected to reach 3 million euros in 2024, when the duo focused “on controlling our growth and prioritizing more on building processes and reinforcing our strategy,” said Tenaillon.

According to founders, Nomasei’s sustainable approach to luxury is among the features American consumers appreciate the most, joined by “our ‘French aesthetic’” and the fact that the label “creates shoes by women for women that are both fashionable and timeless.”

These assets turned out to resonate particularly well with customers in New York, as 35 percent of sales coming from the U.S. this year were generated from the New York area alone. Tenaillon and Braquet aim to further build on this momentum with the physical outpost, which mirrors Nomasei’s eco-oriented approach and the simple and clean aesthetic of its Paris showroom and previous, longer-term pop-ups. 

“Our focus is to get some real face time with our U.S. customers and hear from them directly,” said Braquet, underscoring that in general “direct communication is our most valuable asset: we have built a strong community through our newsletter, social channels, Paris pop-ups and other outreach that we have worked hard to maintain in our own voice.”

“Here we want people to hang out, try on shoes and feel at ease. We rented vintage furniture and are using existing images for any additional visuals… It will be intimate but warm and we are setting up everything ourselves,” said Braquet ahead of the opening.

The brand debuted the format in the French capital in fall 2023, running a space for three-and-a-half months in the Marais district to test Nomasei’s retail potential, and replicating the project this year. 

“Both were great and have made us feel confident about our next goal: a flagship store in Paris,” said Braquet, eyeing the opening within the next two years, to be followed by a permanent location in New York.

France and the U.K. are Nomasei’s top markets after the U.S., and the brand is also considering popping in London, according to Braquet. “The [goal] will be having free-standing store locations in these key markets, but we’re also considering small pop-up partnerships in Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux in spring 2025.”

The New York space carries Nomasei’s fall 2024 collection along with its best-selling styles, which include the Nono loafer. Defined by a squared toe, chunky heel, arty hardware and chic color-blocking, the design has been seen at the feet of the likes of Bella Hadid, Blake Lively, Nicole Kidman and revisited in limited-edition collaborations, including the buzzy one with stylist Julia von Boehm launched last year and that boosted the brand’s international visibility. 

Founders revealed the style will be reinterpreted for an upcoming special drop in collaboration with Red, the nonprofit organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver to fight AIDS. It will mark the second chapter of the tie-up, after that earlier this year Nomasei released a red version of its Taxi sandals and donated part of the sales to support the cause.

The day-to-night Taxi design, along with the Baghera and Adora sandals, are among Nomasei’s other top-performing shoes in the U.S., while overall key styles from the label include the Frenchkiss strappy platform sandals and the Aria and Whisper stretch boots favored by the likes of Katie Holmes and Kelly Rutherford.

“Customers at the pop-up will be able to try on styles but in order to reduce excess waste, Nomasei will process orders online and ship products from their dispatcher in Paris,” said Tenaillon, underscoring how the brand mostly introduces new drops via pre-orders to limit excess production.

This attitude and the price point — which swings from 375 to 820 euros — contributed to the growth of the brand, which has recently completed a friends and family round and raised around half a million euros to further invest in new sustainable processes — such as a full scale repair and recycle programs, in addition to boost its marketing resources.

The sustainable mission is etched in Nomasei’s DNA since the beginning.

Braquet and Tenaillon – who met while working at Chloé in Paris and have a long-time experience in the industry via previous stints at fashion houses such as Dior, Jil Sander, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Givenchy – launched Nomasei after witnessing the fast-paced fashion timelines and wasteful production processes. They were determined to change the status quo by slowing down the fashion cycle with a responsible brand.

Based and designed in Paris, the company produces its footwear in a family-owned factory in Montopoli, Italy.

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.”

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.

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!”

Christopher Ciccone, who left a distinctive mark on various creative industries and the footwear business, died at the age of 62 after a battle with cancer, according to a statement from his representative to Variety.  Known for his artistic diversity and being Madonna’s brother — serving as her backup dancer, stylist and artistic director —  Ciccone carved his own niche, culminating in a career spotlighted by his unique approach to design.

Ciccone’s ventures ranged from directing artistic concert tours, interior design, painting and designing furniture. He also authored a New York Times bestselling-memoir “Life with My Sister Madonna.” Amidst these accomplishments, his journey in the footwear industry included a debut of The Ciccone Collection on Sept. 14, 2012 at London Fashion Week. “Obviously, there will be a number of people wondering what the hell I am doing [designing] shoes,” Ciccone told FN in a 2012 interview ahead of London Fashion Week. “It’s a lot of pressure. Madonna will always be my sister.”

The collection, produced by Slovakia-based Novesta, featured rubber shoes and canvas sneakers, which he said was inspired by one of his wingtip shoes.  “I started thinking about using different materials to create classic styles,” he told FN. “Fashion has been a part of my world since Madonna started on stage. I did my best to imprint my artistic visions, the way I paint and design furniture.”

His approach embedded fashion with function — a testament to his belief in accessibility. “I was dead set against creating something that cost $500 a pair,” he said. “I won’t even spend that much on a pair of shoes. It’s definitely a mid-level brand that is not out of reach for most people.”

He added that he had plans to expand it into a full lifestyle label, including accessories and home goods. “I purposely chose the name The Ciccone Collection so as not to pigeonhole it into just footwear,” he said. “This is bigger than that and there is a lot more to come.”

Miu Miu showcased an unusual footwear aesthetic at its spring 2025 show in Paris on Oct. 1, where models wore a variety of open toe socks with their shoes to create a unique layered look.

The accessory, falling somewhere between sock and leg warmer, was displayed in a variety of colors and lengths, each with the Miu Miu label front and center. Cara Delevingne was one of the models wearing the look, with a gray toeless sock underneath a patent orange slide.

Meanwhile, Hilary Swank wore the gray option with a patent pink version of the slide. Still other iterations of the sock were calf length and paired with high heels. And since they are toeless, they can even be worn with thong sandals, as was also demonstrated on the runway.

The product has caused some confusion amongst the public. @Idservecouture asked on social media, “How do we call these Miu Miu socks that are not socks?” Chiming into the conversation, comments ranged from “Blisters saviors” to “Foot Sleeve” to “Arch warmers.”

“Actually, as someone who gets blisters from wearing sandals, in that area specifically, I can’t wait for this to trend,” one person commented.

Another added, “Perfect for when the sandal scrapes your foot.”

“FAUX, but pronounced as fox so it rhymes with socks,” one person quipped.

As if faux socks and an appearance by Hilary Swank wasn’t enough, Miu Miu offered one last surprise with actor Willem Dafoe closing the show.

The Miu Miu Ready To Wear Spring 2025 as part of Paris Ready to Wear Fashion Week was held at Palais d’Iéna on Oct. 1, the last day of Paris Fashion Week.

It started with a fire alarm and ended with red soles going underwater. In between, there was acting, dancing and synchronized swimming — with a pole dancer dressed as a fireman, video projections, water games and lots of fun.

While Christian Louboutin has presented his collections with standout performances in landmark Parisian locations for years now, the showman staged his biggest show yet on Friday evening. The designer gave American photographer and music-video director David LaChapelle and choreographer Bianca Li carte blanche to celebrate dance in all forms. 

Guests pilgrimed all the way to the 16th arrondissement to reach the Piscine Molitor swimming pool, which became the stage for “Paris is Louboutining,” a unique show that surfed the wave of fashion’s fascination with sports and evoked water ballets of ’50s Hollywood cinema with its involvement of France’s synchronized swim team. 

On a live soundtrack courtesy of singer LP, the team performed different choreographies around a grand central fountain while donning Louboutin’s glossy new Miss Z pumps, displayed in different metallic hues. Swimmers’ looks came with Fifi Chachnil swimsuits, Vidal Sassoon-esque hairstyles and Biba-inspired makeup, which added to the overall retro-tinged aesthetic of the show.

Flanking the 15 swimmers, 14 dancers performed in the alcoves defining a monumental façade that came alive with lights and vibrant projections. Completing the setup, a giant pair of Louboutin stiletto mules doubled as slide for the swimmers’ theatrical entrance in the pool.

“I wanted to bring back this feeling of Hollywood cinema from the 20th century but at the same time the result is very contemporary. What is beautiful is to inspire ourselves in the past to create something of today,” said LaChapelle, who also directed a film on the event, to be released on the brand’s website.

As revealed in a preview with WWD, Daphne Guinness suggested Louboutin to get in touch with LaChapelle for the presentation concept, given his flair for stylized and impeccable imagery, often situated around water.

The shoemaker is a fan of synchronized swimming himself, a passion that comes second only to the one for dance, which has been a source of inspiration for him since his days as an intern at Les Folies Bergère in Paris.

“Something the three of us clearly have in common is our love for dance,” said the shoemaker in reference to LaChapelle and Li. “Blanca made it her world, David some of his major art works, and me, I also started by designing shoes for dancers,” he recalled.

In the recent past, Louboutin has repeatedly included the world of dance in his presentation formats, spanning from more cabaret-style performances to edgier takes, as the one developed with renowned choreographer Sadeck Berrabah last year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his iconic red soles.

The brand’s signature design element took center stage also on Friday, as it made for a popping effect emerging above the water at swimmers’ feet. In the Miss Z style, the red soles are further highlighted thanks to the new graphic heel designed to look higher than it actually is.

The pointy pumps are part of a wider spring 2025 collection, which was largely inspired by the “Beauty and the Beast” story tale in its duality of feminine codes and raw vibes.

The story’s red rose appeared in a new print splashed on pumps, sandals, flats and sneakers and that was further embellished with hand-applied crystals in a limited-edition version. Other special takes on the theme included the sculptural heels of the Belle range, the crystal straps of the Just Jewel and Rosalie Jewel sandals and the 1,000 spikes covering the Estepic pumps.

Ditto for the Mr Clawiss ankle boots for men, featuring animalistic claw-like metal spikes, and the Dandelion Fellina flashy loafers. 

For the very first time, the brand also released a full range of eyewear in metal or sleek acetate for men and women, as part of its licensing deal with Italian eyewear manufacturer Marcolin that was signed earlier this year.

The majestic 18th-century interiors of the Parisian Hotel de la Rochefoucauld-Dudeauville – which houses the Italian embassy here – compelled Roger Vivier’s creative director Gherardo Felloni to come up with a theatrical setup that could match the location’s charm.

He reimagined the frescoed halls with wooden gazebos and striped tents to recreate the “Jardin à la Vivier” garden, as the brand’s spring 2025 presentation was titled as a nod to both Felloni’s and the founder’s fascination with flowers. 

“This place speaks for itself,” said Felloni. “So our goal was to come up with an idea that could integrate well, that didn’t clash with it, but at the same time that could change its appearance in a respectful way. That’s kind of the same approach I have towards this brand, which is a wonderful case that has to be brought into contemporaneity.”

Felloni’s attempt to do so was rooted in new materials and techniques he experimented with to offer fresh takes on the brand’s signature silhouettes.

One of the most impressive rooms was dubbed Salon Soleil and displayed styles in natural materials, ranging from raffia, woven wicker and canvas, embellished with the label’s distinctive glitzy touch via crystals, sequins and rhinestones. Cue to crochet raffia slides and flat sling-back slides as well as a series of straw hats, beach bags looking like folded hats and vests crafted from raffia, wooden beads and crystals. 

“We worked on summery elements, like raffia, straw and wicker. They are all very precious but often they are not perceived as such, that’s why we also have artisans showing the handmade process that comes with them,” said Felloni referencing the stations installed in each room to give live demonstrations of the techniques behind the collection. 

“Then we looked to make them even more precious with bejeweled embellishments… or complex techniques,” he said pointing to the embroidered vests as an example.

The peak of this approach was showcased in a gilded hall replete with golden palms trees, where laced-up roman sandals winked to the founder’s original mask sandals. Created in 1967, they were inspired by Vivier’s sculpture collection that featured animals such as lions and totems like smiling suns. Felloni recreated sun shapes with raffia, crystals and wooden beats and scattered tiny flowers over the geometric designs crafted from silver leather.

Elsewhere, he continued the botanical theme via cutout petals winking to broderie anglaise blooming on strappy sandals and the I Love Vivier cut-out pumps, or seen in laser-cut leather on Mary Jane flats. He offset the dainty vibe by displaying sportier styles as well, introducing the Viv’ Up padded slip-on sneakers in pastel colors and a new take on the Marlene shoe created in 1955 and here turned into a sporty sandal with a chunky rubber heel.

Also new, the iconic Belle Vivier shoes worn by Catherine Deneuve in 1967 “Belle de Jour” movie were rendered in pastel color combinations or revisited in ballet flat designs in supple nappa leather. To flank these designs, Felloni launched a new city bag inspired to 1930s travel luggage and embellished with the same rectangular buckle that marks the shoes.

“The bag category is going well and we’re increasingly establishing ourselves in it,” said Felloni. “This season, we introduced this city style because it was missing. When they first launched, the Belle Vivier shoes addressed young women, bourgeois ones that were emancipating themselves. This bag comes with the same spirit: it’s casual albeit its complex construction based on three wooden forms.”

Although the brand is best known for embellished bags and evening clutches, Felloni said that the goal is to expand the daytime offering. “We have plenty of daytime shoes, so it’s a natural [move],” he concluded.