Any shoe that whose main mission is to "put a smile on your face" according to their press materials is immediately on my radar, and that's why my heart is aflutter for designer Sophia Webster's new shoe line for J.Crew. The collaboration, announced earlier this spring, includes a collection of 13 different shoes from the British Webster — and the best news is that they're all available to purchase today.
If you're not familiar with Webster, she's known for her playful and whimsical accessories (clutches and statement heels, mainly), and is popular with a few celebrities you may have heard of: Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker (the shoe queen herself), and Rita Ora are a few of the names that have put Webster's designs on the map.
While Webster's usual pricepoint for heels can flirt with the $500-somethings, the collaboration with J.Crew has some pieces from Webster starting at a more accessible $320. (The prices do climb as high as $695, though, so before you fall in love, check the tag to avoid major sticker shock at the register, yeah?)
J.Crew's head designer, Tom Mora, worked closely with Webster on the collection, and told ELLE that the collaboration of brands made perfect sense:
"Sophia Webster seemed like such a natural fit for J.Crew," Mora said. "We are so well known for our love of color and pattern-mixing and I think this is something we really share with her, it's part of her DNA as a designer."
Webster said she wants people to know that you can express your personality through shoes. All you need is a good statement pair, she says.
From the looks of the first images of the collaborative collection, patterns, colors, and tassels have come together to cater to even the boldest personalities out there. And, it's true, it's hard not to smile at least a little at the whimsical and colorful collection.
Image: Sophia Webster for J.Crew via FashionCanada/Twitter
