Fashion - Resort to More Fashionable Measures
Adorning the feet of celebrities such as Kate Moss, Lily Allen, Carey Mulligan, Kylie Minogue, Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma Watson, and HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton is the stunning and well-crafted works of Rupert Sanderson. Acclaimed for striking artistry, Rupert Sanderson was awarded Accessory Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2008, as well as Accessory Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards in February of 2009. Since Autumn/Winter 2009, he has designed shoes for Karl Lagerfeld’s main line collections and also worked with Louise Goldin, Parisian couturier Maxime Simoens, and most recently, Osman Yousefzada for the designer’s Ready to Wear spring and summer 2012 collection. All the while collaborating with some of the world’s most reputable fashion designers and producing flawless collections for each season, Sanderson offers his time to write a weekly fashion blog for British Vogue.
Leaving behind a career in advertising, Sanderson chose to enroll in the Cordwainers College in East London to gain experience in shoe design and production. Throughout the two year course, Sanderson traveled to Italy during his summer break to visit shoe factories, tanneries, and last makers. In addition to his studies, his hands-on experiences in Italy, as well as work with Sergio Rossi and Bruno Magli, Sanderson developed an acute concentration on perfecting the line, volume, and material necessary to compliment and elongate the leg of a woman. Gathering direct inspiration from materials, the shoe designer finds stimulation from the sensual curve and silhouettes of the lasts and heels, as well as the quality and finish of fine leathers and fabrics.
In Rupert Sanderson’s latest Resort collection, those seeking relief from the chills and brills of winter have access to a line featuring an aesthetic that could only be described as the Caribbean meets Kenya, as tribal prints associated with African culture are seamlessly incorporated with the exotic and bright colors of the Caribbean. The collection of party pieces, graphic day wedges, and chic poolside flats introduce a variety of new materials to the brand: bright grosgrains, natural and black cork with flecks of gold leaf, glossy patent leathers, and leather pony.
Nissa and Kalit blend Afro-Caribbean tribal wedges to create a pair of shoes with a style and attitude conveyed by the elaborate African weave against acid brights and traditional cork. Signature Rupert Sanderson wedge heels have evolved into Kibo, a combination of materials involving both graphic zig-zag weaves with hand-stitched uppers to fuse the textures and the juxtaposition of the styles with the additional touch of pink and aqua grosgrain. Alceste, Brion, and Brise showcase the alternative, feminine methods to secure one’s foot into a spectacular shoe with lace and elastic encasings. In a rather lighthearted approach to the fashion faux-pas that is pairing denim with denim, the Just lace-up loafer utilizes 1970s denim to offer in-trend ladies the chance to sass up any resort ensemble. As one of the collection’s most unique and flamboyant pair, Flamante is a Havana-inspired platform sandal marrying together the charm of the exotic dance brought over to the Caribbean by early African settlers with the shapes of petals displaying the spirited nature of the style.
