Fashion Weekly

In step with style

April 23 - 29, 2008
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Gulf Weekly Mai Al Khatib-Camille
By Mai Al Khatib-Camille

AL A'ali Mall's new extension celebrated the opening of the Giuseppe Zanotti Boutique with a special visit by the top Italian shoe designer.

Stylish femmes lined up to meet Giuseppe and to get his autograph on the boxes of their newly-purchased footwear.

Giuseppe Zanotti, 50, was born in San Mauro Pascoli, in the Province of Forl“-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 100km southeast of Bologna. He said: "My aim is to create something sexy and sophisticated as I do not like vulgarity in a shoe. I like femininity because a woman, whether she is a mother or a career woman, must feel comfortable and sexy at all times."

He boasts more than 20 years' experience of providing luxury footwear for women after starting his career as a design apprentice.

In 1994, he decided to try his hand in his own business designing sleek and feminine footwear that are now found on some of the most famous feet in Hollywood.

What makes his collections so popular is his unique combination of design awareness and quality. Firstly, he builds up a "repertory of ideas and images" from music videos, works of art, the cinema, "in short, from everything which reflects changing fashions," he explained. "However, the way the shoe is crafted is essential for its success, without the skills of the shoemaker the collection can never take form."

The US press described Giuseppe's new spring and summer collection as "For women with substance".

The collection is famous for its fancy decorations and creativity that mostly focuses on shapes, working methods and materials.

The pump is the most important item and is either fully covered or has left the heel or toe uncovered. Popular materials used for the design of the pumps are calfskin, patent, and grosgrain. The colours mostly used are either neutral or bright, like ocean blue, cherry or lagoon green. An unusual touch is then given with the choice of cotton, exclusively in black and white, with the addition of a crystal and silver brooch resulting in a very chic match.

There are other pump shoes available for various parties, on thin heels, almost stilettos, covered by a mother-of-pearl boreal grey-looking material. Some of the stiletto heels are geometric and solid with variously coloured small strass.

They also carry flat sandals, completely contradicting the sexy stilettos. The naked foot effect is softened by a large turquoise, yellow, purple or lagoon green silk flower.

The most shocking shoe that Giuseppe has created is the very high 15 cm heel with fully open sole. Finally, the jewel sandal, is a shining example of Giuseppe Zanottis' design collections. Materials used include silver and hand-cut zircon for tennis metal jewellery meshes and accessories.

Celebrities such as Demi Moore, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and Rihana have all walked down the red carpet in Giuseppe's eye-catching designs.

He said: "You see women love shoes because they like to feel beautiful and shoes help accessorise the outfit and as well as make a statement of their emotions. A stiletto lifts a woman's beauty. There is a fusion between shoes and bodies. Shoes are a part of a woman's personality.

When GulfWeekly asked him what, or who inspires him, he said: "My inspiration is my life, my memories, art and my wife, of course."

Giuseppe actually has a picture of the two of them posing with pop star sensation Rihana on his mobile phone.

Celebrities aren't the only ones raving about his new designs ... as it seems to have captured the hearts of Bahraini shoe-lovers too.

The owner of Al A'ali Mall, Hala Al A'ali, was even modeling a pair herself. She said: "I am extremely excited about having Giuseppe's boutique in the mall. This boutique is a very odd shaped unit and we were worried about how it would fit in but his unique designs and specialised shoes has made it one of the most interesting units around.

"I learned to love every style of shoe, but they have to be comfortable. If they are not comfortable then they are not shoes. When you have a designer like Giuseppe you have both fashion and comfort rolled up in one."

Customers agreed. Suad Al Jishi, 28, from Jerdab, said: "It was such a privilege to meet Giuseppe as I am an avid collector of his shoes. My mother usually tells me that whenever I strut around in his shoes I remind her of Barbie playing dress up! I like that. His designs are beautiful and I bought myself another pair today."

Mahi Mangavilis, 30, who works for Gulf Air and lives in Juffair. explained that women are obsessed with shoes because she believes they make and outfit and Giuseppe, in particular, has a way of making it work.

She said: "Giuseppe's designs are very pretty, feminine and lady-like. My friend actually bought a gorgeous pair."

The Bahraini 'fashionsitas', known for their trendsetting blog - two university students who wish to remain anonymous - were full of praise for the Italian designer.

One said: "The 'it' shoe must be flashy and quirky and really make an outfit pop. For example, you put on a neutral outfit and pair it with bright and funky shoes, people will take notice and will know that you have definitely done your homework in matters of what is 'in' at the moment."

A recent survey conducted by Harper's Bazaar says that women really are obsessed with shoes because the right pair can transform a woman into a dazzling diva within seconds.

One in 10 women have spent more than BD800 on their foot fetish and own more than 100 pairs of shoes.

Three quarters of the surveyors admitted that even if their shoes were too small, they would still find a way to slip them on. Whatever happened to "if the shoe fits, then wear it?"

Some women will do anything to fit into the latest trends suffering from what is called the 'Cinderella syndrome'.







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