Harbingers of Design .. meet Michelle Boor

This series will spotlight global innovators who are original, known, lesser known and some perchance even already highly regarded and respected within their areas of expertise.  The common thread is style and fashion; whether it takes its form in interiors, apparel, accessories, retail, photography or any of the related professions that surround fashion and style.  Please note that some of my “cast members” have chosen to follow a path than includes utilizing the “tools” of the past thereby rendering a new and modern vision for today’s climate of fashion and style. These “createurs” are at the vanguard of design and style … in my opinion … and so I will introduce them to you on an international stage starting today.

 

 

There was an article very recently about a “lady” who would indulge a “gentleman” by making all his wishes come true when it came to shoes; he did it to satisfy his “needs” and she did it to satisfy her growing need for the newest and the latest and the highest of heels.

That being said, the power of shoes has become a juggernaut for the retail business in the 21^st century. Shoes have become the preferred retail aphrodisiac of choice for many women and it is shoes that have bolstered the overall international retail sales figures.

So in keeping with the ever growing need, today we meet Michelle Boor who has struck out on her own and is meeting the needs of this ever burgeoning audience who “need” their shoes to be sexy, chic and excuse the dirty word, comfortable without losing any of the panache.

Ms. Boor is her target customer and believe me when I tell you that she could be the envy of so many. She is mother, entrepreneur, independent and even a style icon who is recently featured in the book You’re So French by Isabelle Thomas and Frederique Veysett.

 

With her namesake brand she hopes to give women shoes that span their lifestyles and serve a purpose no matter what the assigned task might be. The shoes exude just the right amount of sex appeal and yet they are never over the top or tasteless. In other words, these are the shoes that men find tantalizing and other women find covetous.

 

Before leaving you with images of the latest collection, keep in mind that the MICHELLE BOOR, the brand, has yet to arrive stateside so a trip to Paris is in order tout de suite mesdame and mademoiselles!

Manolo Blahnik.. The King of Shoes.. London Spring 2014

There is so much to be said about longevity and consistency and even more to say for timeless chic and great style.  Manolo Blahnik is the platinum standard when it comes to luxury shoes.  He and he alone was the jumping off point for all the other imitators and pretenders and yet he still sits upon the throne.

When the shoe world asked ”how high can we go?” Mr. Blahnik just continued designing fabulous shoes regardless of stratospheric and gravity defying heels and the less attractive clumsy thick platform.  He wins,  as the tide has shifted and has been drifting for some time now and the heels are not quite as high and the platforms have all but disappeared from the runways.  Consistency and devotion to one’s vision wins out here while some must now figure out how to reinvent their brands with $1500 non-wearable shoes of almost cartoonish appearance.

Whether you bought yours before the SATC craze or during or last week; the shoe remains as stylish and slick as ever.  This is not to say that Mr. Blahnik has never or will never embrace a trend but he never loses sight of his original vision.  Ready to wear designers have a lot to learn from such laser focus and from this designer’s seemingly endless imagination and tenacity.

He never fails to disappoint with his immaculate finish, his choice of materials, innovation, color sense, and his unerring belief in that HIS ladies just want the most fabulous shoes on their feet.

Who would ever have thought 25 years ago that buying Blahniks was a good investment and in today’s retail environment, that Blahnik is reasonably priced by comparison to his “neighbors.”  As far as I can assess, Manolo Blahnik is the winner and still champion when it comes to the shoes for the well shod woman … the world over!  They still reflect the wearers refined and discerning taste.