Which would you choose?
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Tag: shoes
The countdown has started. Milan Fashion begins on the 20th. See all the latest styles from the Italian City of Chic. We cannot wait.
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A Preview from Berluti
Launched in 1895 in Paris by Alessandro Berluti, the eponymous menswear label has a long heritage of being the dandy reference for style. Worn by Frank Sinatra, Robert DiNiro, and Yves Siant Laurent to name a few. Berluti was a brand known for leather shoes and custom bespoke suits.
On a trip to Paris I had an appointment on rue Marbeuf, by luck, the Berluti atelier and store were next door. Could I resist? No! I walked in for a moment of fashion admiration. It is brand I plan to add to my closet.
Belgian Designer Kris Van Assche is now head of the house. The former Dior Menswear designer, is a graduate from Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Art. Assche’s appointment as head of the Parisian brand is one I am cautiously happy about this because I think his minimal styled approach could work, male classicism mixed with streetwear influences.
This preview capsule collection gives me hope, the first full fashion show will be be shown at the upcoming Paris Fashion Week Men, nothing over the top, staying with the strengths. The colors scheme is reds, black and white, and tailored suits.
I am still not a fan of the chunky trainer look, maybe it is a generational gap, but Berluti has introduced them. I could also do without the over the top branding. Fashion is a business based on trends, the brand has to cater to what buyers want, and “big” “show your brand” is “in” with consumers.
I am waiting for January 2019 to see if Berluti + Kris van Assche are a team made in fashion heaven. It will be very interesting.
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Press Days for 2019
Press Days are a time when media, fashion brands, and agencies meet to discuss the latest pieces, collections, and trends. Some I liked some I did not.
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Barbarella Inspired
For Spring 2019 shoe designer Casadei went back to the 1960’s, the time of “Free Love” when Jane Fonda ruled as Barbarella on on the screen.
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Jimmy Choo from MFW
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Elegance is the Key!
A Black and Paper exclusive interview with shoe designer Walter De Silva.
When a man has a love of feminine elegance matched with a skill of design of course he becomes a shoe designer.
A background in car design, how did you move into shoe design?
Honestly, I consider myself a designer, not a fashion designer. I am a car designer, industrial designer. My approach is to design the heel, design the line, the proportions.I like cars and shoes.
I do not follow fashion, I follow my passion, my dream.
Why did you decide to design women’s shoes?
Two reasons: One, historicalreason, my grandfather had a shoe factory in Milan between the wars. In my family everyone spoke about shoes. Secondly, I like night shoes. They have sex appeal on women who wear them.
Should a woman wear a all everyday?
NO! NO! As I said, my shoes are for the night, after 7, starting with a cocktail, then dinner, a drink before going to a disco.
What is your shoe philosophy?
Elegance! Proportion! Sex Appeal! From the elegance and proportion side, I design shoes for them to look like one element from heel to toe, seamless. From the sex appeal side, A woman needs a strong personality to wear my shoes because she is sending out a message.
Is there one famous woman who you would like to wear your shoes?
Sharon Stone.
Why Sharon Stone?
As I said, Personality! Her biography is one of a lady with a lot of experience. Super elegant! Cool! Honest Eyes! I do not know her but she is the type of person for my shoes.
You do not follow fashion, can you explain?
I like fashion. I admire many fashion designers. I cannot say I am a fashion designer. I have a different background. I am a product designer stimulated by different interests.
Are you one of those designers who like to perpetuallycreate?
Creating is is the soul and heart. There is a lot of preparation involved in designing. You have to know where you come from if you want to have a visual reference. Today design is about aestheticas well as problem solving. Once I had a client who wanted to have lights for a certain type of ambient. This project not only involvedtechnologybut transforming it into something special for everyone.The company head was very proud of the final work.
What is the design process?
I think about what would a lady like to wear. My approach is from an architecture point of view. Design is a discipline, architecture is one part. Shoe design is a micro discipline.Functionality is very important.
When was the label founded?
I started Walter De Silva Shoes 2015, presenting one collection per year. My shoes are Created and Made in Italy. Even the boxes are Italian. This means a lot. I have to say “Thank You” to Barney’s New York for launching me in the States. Step by Step more retailers have come onboard from all over the world.
What are the brand’s future plans?
This is our, his wife, is a part of the company, Emmanuelle, is cofounder and CEO, last kid! We have 5. (Laughing) I always introduce new designs in Milan and Paris during Fashion Weeks.
I will maintain 15 styles a year with changes in colors and materials, always for the evening. Perhaps I will add ankle boots in the future.
Check out the video: http://www.blackandpaper.com/2018/06/25/desilva-elegance/
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DeSilva Elegance
As part of the Black and Paper interview with shoe designer Walter De Silva, we wanted to show you shoes based on his philosophy of “Elegance”.
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Berlin Press Days 2018
I am a fan of Press Days because there is the opportunity to see many things up and personal then ask questions. It is a fashion meet and greet between agencies and editors. What is new? Trends? During these two days it is a chance to meet designers or discover new labels and brands.P
Images by Canon Camera