0 Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw covered two topics very near and dear to innumerable women: sex and shoes. While the two seem miles apart from each other, they’re actually quite similar. Both bring exceptional pleasure to a woman, both are made more rousing by diversity/options and both have the potential to disappoint if you aren’t prudent in your decision making.
In all seriousness, the shoes a woman wears speaks greatly to her personality. In fact, a 2012 study by the University of Kansas found that people could accurately guess certain factors about another person based on their footwear alone.
We’ve already put together a guide on iconic bags and what they say about the owner, now we’re delving into the realm of glorious footwear. Instead of focusing on a specific type of shoe (such as a heel, ballet flat or wedge), we’ve opted to highlight well known brands.
Go sift through your mountain of shoes to determine which brand you’re particularly drawn to. Then, read through the commentary below to see if the personality description fits you the way your favorite pair of kicks do. If you’re like most women, you probably favor more than one brand, so it makes sense if more than one section describes you.
About the Designer: Mr. Louboutin — who hails from Paris’s 12 arrondissement — has been fascinated with shoes since his early teen years. He’s credited with “bringing back the stiletto” in the ’90s and 2000s thanks to his 4+ inch shoes. From the beginning, Louboutin’s ultimate objective was to make women beautiful and to make their legs look as long as possible. For that reason, he rarely designs low-heeled or heel-less shoes.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Victoria Beckham, Kristen Bell, Heidi Klum, Emma Stone
What They Say About You: Women who appreciate the silhouette of a Louboutin are the perfect blend of sassy and sweet. She’s demure, but not sickeningly so, and has a fabulous sense of humor. While she doesn’t mind the spotlight being on her, she does enjoy her alone time.
About the Designer: While relatively new to the shoe scene, Jeffrey Campbell footwear is the epitome of street style. He’s particularly known for his daring designs, which teeter — and sometimes push beyond — the edge of “footwear as art.” His ability to combine vintage nostalgia with futuristic pizzazz is what sets him apart from many shoe designers.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Ginnifer Goodwin, Mena Suvari
What They Say About You: The woman sporting Jeffrey Campbell footwear is indubitably fearless. She’s quirky and unconventional and has enough talent for an entire neighborhood. While determined to succeed and focused on the end goal, she doesn’t mind taking a breather to have a good time, either. Her mood is a blend of optimism and realism and for that reason, she is destined for great things.
About the Designer: Though raised in a tiny town just outside of Chicago, Atwood always dreamt big. His fascination with footwear began in his mother’s closet, which eventually led him to clothing design at FIT in New York. After an impressive stint at Versace in Milan, he mastered the art of women’s footwear and created his own label in 2001. He was awarded the Sworovski Perry Ellis Award for Accessory Design by the CFDA in 2003.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Lea Michele, Zoe Saldana, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hayden Panettiere
What They Say About You: Refined, regal and radiant are three words that describe a Brian Atwood footwear fan. Wearers are typically reserved, but when necessary they are comfortable enough in their own skin to speak with confidence. Women who prefer Atwood’s aesthetic are also fashion-forward and love setting trends.
About the Designer: Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo may no longer be with us, but his shoes remain a staple in many closets to this day. In the ’20s, he worked with numerous Hollywood starlets, bringing them innovative shoes that glistened on the red carpet. He’s most noted for his wedge and cage heels and continues to be a household name to this day.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Meryl Streep, Dita Von Teese, Mila Kunis, Jennifer Aniston
What They Say About You: The Ferragamo wearer has perfected the art of being a subtle star. Everyone notices her, but she never feels the need to be overtly flashy. She’s always in control, even in the most difficult situations, and has a sort of classic elegance that you’re born with or without. While she is slow to trust another, her loyalty is unparalleled when it comes to family, good friends and lovers.
About the Designer: Hands down, Jimmy Choo is one of the most coveted brands in all of fashion. Choo is a Malaysian Chinese designer who’s based in London, but his shoes are worn all around the world. He opened a workshop in North London in the mid ’80s and shortly after his designs were featured in an eight page Vogue Magazine spread. Princess Diana was a fan of Choo’s work, which also helped catapult him to shoe fame.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Jessica Biel, Kristen Stewart, Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson
What They Say About You: Any woman wearing a pair of shoes by Jimmy Choo can be likened to a modern day Cinderella. She’s kind and sweet, but not about to settle for anything less than the best. You’ll often find her fresh faced, bubbly and surrounded by people who genuinely appreciate her company. Despite her saccharine disposition, this woman is not a pushover in any sense of the word.
About the Designer: Fashion editors around the globe have quickly become loyal fans of Giuseppe Zanotti, an Italian DJ-turned-shoe designer. In the mid ’90s, he hired 15 employees and took over Vicini shoe factory in an effort to make a name for himself. His hard work and eye for design paid off, as Zanotti now owns over 50 stores around the world and sells 400,000 pairs of luxury shoes annually.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Beyonce, Khloe Kardashian, Nicki Minaj, Christina Aguilera
What They Say About You: Zanotti shoe wearers are spirited fashion lovers who emanate confidence, gumption and pep. Some may describe her as unorthodox, but she’s really just chock-full of moxie and charisma. Even though the Zonotti lover may be an intimidating woman to approach, she’s actually quite socially deft. A giant teddy bear, if you will. When she speaks her mind, she does so thoughtfully and empathetically.
About the Designer: Manolo Blahnik is easily one of the most well known high end shoe designers in the entire world, and rightfully so. The Spanish designer, who studied art in Paris and wrote for Vogue Italia, ventured into footwear in the 1970s. Amidst the chunky platforms of the era, he focused on the thin stiletto, which serves as the brand’s cornerstone to this day.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Nicole Kidman, Lucy Liu, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel
What They Say About You: Women who prefer Manolo Blahniks can be described as elegant, sophisticated and poised. She’s well put together — both fashion-wise and in terms of her life and career — and emits a sort of grace that other women envy. She never feels the need to scream or resort to antics in order to be heard. While she certainly enjoys the finer things in life, she has fun doing the not-so-glamorous things, as well.
About the Designer: Born in Germany in 1980, Nicholas Kirkwood is a young shoe designer who’s gone quite far in his 33 years. After participating in the fine art foundation course at Central Saint Martins, he worked at milliner Phillip Treacy’s London store for 5 years. Inspired by Treacy’s hats and Alexander McQueen’s clothing, he began a quest to design footwear that made just as strong of a statement as the aforementioned brands. Since then, he’s won a string of impressive awards and his shoes are worn by A-listers and style gurus across the world.
Celebs Who Wear Them: Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Leighton Meester
What They Say About You: The woman drawn to designs by Nicholas Kirkwood is a playful person who loves to have a good time. Fun is always her first mission and she’s learned how to make even hard work less mundane. She’s a go getter who never says no and can be described as whimsical, flirty and intrepid.
By Wendy Rose Gould
Posted by Wendy Rose Gould at 08:30 AM
bargain news , Fashion: Trends, Style, and Business , Opinions , Trends , Trends |
1 At last! The final installment of our series on iconic handbags and what they say about their owners. Now that we’ve concluded the series, please share what your favorite bag is and let us know if the description fits your personality.
About the Bag: Dubbed the original “IT bag,” Fendi’s iconic Baguette is salivated over just as much as its carb-laden counterpart. The satin-touch, lambskin leather bag was born in 1977 and, while loved back in the ’70s, was hurdled even further into fame thanks to Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw. Because the bag comes in over 1000 variations, it’s been a favorite for a wide variety of women.
Celebs Who Carry It: Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Hudgens, Mischa Barton
What it Says About You: The Baguette gets its name for its detachable strap that lets you slip the purse under your arm as you’d carry a French Baguette. Its ability to transform quickly — for convenience’s sake — speaks to the wearer’s personality, as well. Women who choose the Fendi Baguette fuse practicality with glamour and have a sense of style that’s eternally classic. They are rarely loud or pushy, but instead let their strength of character speak for itself.
About the Bag: When Louis Vuitton decided to make the leap from luxury luggage to fine handbags, there was quite a bit of risk involved. The payoff was great, though, as was demonstrated by the Speedy’s smashingly successful debut in 1932. The bag is considered the smaller version of Vuitton’s Keepall travel bag and was created specifically with weekend getaways in mind.
Celebs Who Carry It: Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Hillary Duff
What it Says About You: Audrey Hepburn helped make the Speedy a household name. Because the bag is associated with a timeless woman like Hepburn, you can bet the wearer strives to epitomize that kind of grace and aplomb, as well. Keep in mind, though, that the Speedy is consistently being reinvented and, as such, appeals to the modern women of today’s society. Women who own the Speedy are likely very in tune with pop culture.
About the Bag: With minimal bells and whistles and a buttery leather exterior that comes in an assortment of hues, the Prada Saffiano makes for one divine handbag. Though quiet in terms of adornments, it stands out for that very reason. Its clean lines and streamlined design is nothing short of chic.
Celebs Who Carry It: Miranda Kerr, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Jessica Alba
What it Says About You: Women who own the Prada Saffiano most likely live an active lifestyle full of meetings (of both the pleasure or business variety). They value order and simplicity above most things and believe that life is about worthwhile experiences. Owners of the Saffiano aren’t afraid to splurge every once in a while, but doing so usually isn’t common practice.
Want one of these bags, but are afraid of the price tags? Rent one at Bag, Borrow or Steal. Alternatively, purchase from a brick and mortar — or online — consignment shop that resells authentic, upscale merchandise.
By Wendy Rose Gould
Posted by Wendy Rose Gould at 09:00 AM
Fashion: Trends, Style, and Business , Opinions , Trends , Trends |
