Fashion Musings

Q&A with Kobi Levi:

We tend to love all shoes (except maybe Crocs) but Kobi Levi's shoes hold a special place in our hearts. His designs are an innovative fusion of art and wearability, managing to somehow be funny and beautiful at the same time. Kobi is not only talented but so hard working and it was after Lady Gaga wore one of his creations that he finally got the attention he deserved! We're certain that soon, the name Kobi Levi, will be one of the biggest names in fashion. We had a chat to this emerging designer about his experiences and his plans for the future.

FM: When did you realise you had an interest in fashion?

Kobi: I started to create shoe designs while in high-school. I guess I always knew this is what I want to do.

FM: What drew you to shoes specifically?

Kobi: There is something magical about shoes that I like. They are like an extension of the body that can be designed to alter the posture and silhouette of the whole body.  I find that exciting.

FM: How did you kick start your career?

Kobi: I studied design in college and also went to "old school" shoe makers to learn the technical aspects of the craft. This way I acquired the tools to create my designs by myself.

Straight from school I started to work in the footwear industry as a freelance designer. Meanwhile I created my own designs just for my own pleasure. In April 2010 I started a blog and uploaded the images of the designs. The initial idea was to share my passion with my friends and family and send them a link rather than heavy emails with images.

Very quickly the blog got a life of its own and people started to react to it and spread the word. I got emails from all over the world and realized that people enjoy the designs and appreciate them.

I think the highest moment of that time was when Lady Gaga chose my Double Boot for her "Born this Way" music video. Then it hit me that this can also become a business.

FM: What is an average work day like for you? Is being a designer anything like you thought it would be?

Kobi: I work hard and spend long hours in the studio. I hardly take any vacations and sometimes even forget to break for lunch.

This way of life is the most natural thing for me; because I get to be creative and do the thing I like the most. For me being a designer is not a "job", because the images and ideas flow in my mind wherever I go and I am always thinking about the next design and the next project.

FM: How long does it take to make each shoe, from the design process to the end product?

Kobi: When creating a new design, the whole process from the 1^st sketch to the prototype can take a month.

Once the prototype is ready, duplicating it takes a few days, depends on the complexity of the design and structure.

FM: I love all the shoes but I can’t get over how amazing the ‘Slide’ shoes are!  Is there one pair of shoes that you’ve designed that stands out as a favourite?

Kobi: I like all my designs, but style Miao stands out for me. I think it's a great example of catching the essence of a unique movement and translating it into a shape of a shoe.

FM: Any big plans for the future?

Kobi: My main focus right now is developing my brand and exposing it to as many people as possible.

FM: And plans to open a store in Australia?

Kobi: Sure! I get lots of emails from Aussies inquiring about the designs and asking where they can find them. It would be great to find a local partner who can collaborate with us on such a project.

FM: Any further comments?

Kobi: I am grateful for the attention and exposure. It's great to hear people like your creations and smile when they see them. Having fun with design is the most important thing for me.

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And here are some more fantastic creations:

And these are my friend Seren's favourites:

And I know I said the Slide shoes were my favourite but now I am having doubts because they are all so amazing! We cannot wait for Kobi's next collection (hopefully there will be a meerkat- themed shoe *hint hint*). 

Here is your next muse, Kobi. Work your magic.

- Jessica

Wedge of Glory:

I am positively certain that Lady Gaga would be super proud of my pun.

I suppose out of all the high heels, wedges, on the surface, appear to be the most sensible of all heels. They cover your whole foot which is probably good for...your posture? However, the type of wedges I am talking about in this post are not the usual black leather wedges with a Mary Jane strap that you would expect a deputy principal to wear BUT RATHER:

ie: amazingly mind blowing wedges. Wedges that won't make people think 'wow, what amazingly sensible shoes' and prompt them into a deep and peaceful sleep but wedges that are so unique looking that people will probably fall over in jealousy.

Happy weekend!

- Jes

Shoes put on their thinking caps...

Well, that was a very cryptic title. I AM TALKING ABOUT CAPPED TOE SHOES. Try saying that really fast - I keep saying capped shoe toes, which makes no sense at all.

I'm not really sure what the purpose of the capped toe is. Perhaps they make kicking someone just that little bit easier. Perhaps they are there to remind you that you do have toes, in the unfortunate incident that you forget you do. Pragmatism aside, they are very cute, as Eva Longoria, Rihanna and Rachel McAdams will show you! On a side note, does anyone know what Rihanna's surname is?

And now for a shopping trip:

There's something very lovely and lady-like about capped-toe shoes. Unless of course, you do go around kicking people. Please don't.

Capped-toe shoes have been about for quite some time but seem to be experiencing a revival! Coco Chanel designed a pair way back in 1957!

...that's what my friends and I will look like, provided I can talk them into wearing matching footwear.

So if anyone is going to buy a pair of Chanel capped-toe shoes, I am very VERY happy for you...

...and only the slightest bit jealous!

- Jessica

We're Off to See the Wizard!

The other day I was shopping with a friend. Which friend, you ask? Well, she is quite a lovely character and her name rhymes with banana. Anyhoo, we stumbled upon these shoes:

She absolutely loves them. I absolutely love them. Now all we do is talk about them. No joke, people are getting quite sick of us.

And how could I do a post on glitzy, sequined/glittery shoes without paying homage to the Ruby Slippers:

These cute little shoes have been paid tribute to by numerous designers including Harry Winston, who used 25 carats of diamonds and 1,500 carats of rubies to make what is still the most expensive pair of shoes ever made, costing a cool 3 million dollars. I'm thinking of picking up a pair tomorrow, what do you think? =P

Many people don't know that in the book, the magical slippers were silver but for the film, the producers decided on ruby to show off their use of technicolour technology. Oh well, silver, ruby - we don't care too much! I just love glitzy shoes and apparently designers do too:

And WOWZA:

I want them all. If there's anything I need in my life, it is more glitter. And sequins. And glittery-sequins. But apparently I'm not the only one who feels like this:

Now, now Elphaba, there's no need to be like that. Thanks to Steve Madden, there's plenty of glitzy shoes to go around!

But as much as I love glitzy shoes for their unabashed over-the-top-ness...I have to say, I find it more than a little creepy that Dorothy wore a DEAD WOMAN'S SHOES!

Well, thanks to the fact that there are sequined shoes pretty much EVERYWHERE al momento, you'll never have to resort to such drastic (and criminal) methods!

And now dear reader, after showing you that rather unnerving picture, I must ask a favour of you. Here's a photo of a cute puppy to soften you up:

Okay, so here is the thing:

The lovely people at Steve Madden are running a competition called 'sole search' (yes, clever pun!) looking for a blogger (ahem) to become their resident Steve Madden blogger. I think this would be a really great opportunity for Fashion Musings (because then we'd actually have some credentials to put under 'awards' in our FB page!) because let's face it, we are like Ryan Tedder - wonderful but not given enough credit. We are also really modest too =P

SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE IT IS REALLY EASY AND YOU CAN MAKE ME SOOO HAPPY! All you have to do is 'like' the Steve Madden Australia FB page and then look for a post on the Steve Madden AU wall from Fashion Musings (which will be a link to this article) and 'like' it! That's it! Having the most 'likes' = win!!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.

If you have ANY questions please don't hesitate to ask us on our FB page =)

- Jes

PS.

Colour blocking: From head to toe

Designers have gone colour blocking craaaaaaaaazy this year when it comes to shoes, at least. Which is good, because I like colour.

Oh they are so daring. The aren't exactly the type of shoes you would wear to high-tea with your grandmother (not that my grandmother has ever invited me to high-tea...sigh) but they are quite cool, yes? I think my favourites would have to be the orange/yellow Charlotte Olympia pumps!

Celebrities have also gotten in on this trend, including Camilla Belle:

I don't actually know much about Camilla Belle. I think she dated the middle Jonas, but that doesn't really say much because let's face it, who hasn't? I think she is like a model/actress of some sort. I have also heard that Taylor Swift doesn't really like her, which is sad because it's nice when people are friends. Anyhoo, what I do know is that she wears some pretty amazing shoes which almost compensates for her being mean to Taylor Swift (if she was at all, I don't know...can somebody please fill me in?).

I'm not really sure what to make of this trend. As far as trends go, it is a little impractical - I mean, where could you wear these shoes? Well, if such a situation arises, here are some potential purchases:

Here are some Tony Bianco (or Tony B's, as my friend likes to call them!):

And here are some random shoes from Wanted:

And if you're feeling particularly daring:

YIKES. Those are crrrrrrrrrrazy. They remind me of peacocks for some reason.

Bawwk. Wait, is that the noise peacocks make? I don't know...

NEW MISSION FOR YOU: FIND OUT WHAT NOISE PEACOCKS MAKES AND TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!!

- Jes

Shoes that are all kinds of loco (but in a good way)

So unless you've been living under a (very large) rock, you've probably heard Beyonce's new single '(Girls) Who Run the World'. And you probably either love it and view it as inspirational for all women etc etc *insert feminist rant*...or you heard it and thought 'this is insane...and awful'.

I'll admit, I was a hater at first.

Then I saw the teaser clip.

Then I saw the Starship Enterprise shoes by Gareth Pugh that she wears in the teaser clip.

I'm REALLY excited now.

No sarcasm, these boots are all kinds of loco... BUT IN A GOOD (BUT NONETHELESS CRAZY) WAY. The official video is released on Friday and I'm sure that it will feature lots and lots of crazy heels.

But if you have an incredibly strong craving to check out some loco shoes and you can't wait until Friday well...

KOBI LEVI SLIDE SHOES

Despite that I have just turned another year older, these heels have awaken the inner-child in me. Excuse me for about an hour or so while I go have lots and lots of fun on whatever playground equipment is in my vicinity.

McQueen Armadillo Shoes

How could I do a post on crazy shoes without mentioning the iconic Armadillo shoes? McQueen truly was the master of creating things that are both crazy but beautiful at the same time. Althought Gaga has been brave enough to dance-and-prance around in these boots (but let's face it, she will pretty much do ANYTHING), I certainly wouldn't be - and I'm not the only one; models Abbey Lee Kershaw, Natasha Poly and Sasha Pivovarova refused to wear the crazy-high heels for McQueen's S/S 2010 show.

2BD Hellraiser Boots

Like Nicki Minaj's lyrics, clothes and hair, these shoes look insane... and dangerous. There's nothing friendly about sharp metallic spikes.

Balenciaga Lego Heels

Ahh Lego. I do remember spending my childhood days building impressive houses out of Lego. And I'm sure the 5-year old me would have loved Lego shoes... if the 5-year old me had (1) the ability to walk in high heels and (2) $4175.

Blonde Ambition shoes by Kobi Levi

These super cute heels were designed as a tribute to Madonna. But wearing Madonna (or anyone, for that matter) on your shoes is just plain creepy.

Guo Pei Clogs

Wow. Just wow. These insane-but-beautiful shoes were inspired by the traditional footwear worn by geisha. But the term 'traditional' is applied pretty loosely here - there's nothing 'traditional' about these clogs.

Guo Pei Shoes featured in the HK Fashion Extravaganza

These look amazing...ly painful. Seriously, I struggle in kitten heels. Now I'm usually quite envious of any girl that gets to wear couture at some point in her life but I would gladly pass up the opportunity to wear these - I actually value the bones in my body.

Dog Shoes by Kobi Levi

These heels are ADORABLE. Seriously, the cutest thing I have seen since Christmas ('tis the season of lots of cute things: gingerbread houses, X-mas-themed cupcakes...yes, I love food).

Gum Shoes by Kobi Levi

I HATE stepping on gum. Worst feeling ever. But hey, if you're the type of person that likes to preserve that feeling...well, I'm not here to judge.

-Jesie-A