Sunday Spotlight

Often enough, as people, we tend to remiss those who influence our lives and those who have influenced the things we have come to love. Obviously, I am referring to the Shoe trendsetters of yester-year. Like apparel, most trends that we see and adore today are updated replicas of what some adventurous designer made popular at the height of their careers ions ago.

One particular Designer that I feel compelled to "Spotlight" is the French Shoe Articifer, Andre Perugia. Born of Italian heritage in Nice, France he began his craft while training in his father's workshop at the tender age of 16. Rapidly honing in on his craft, he became much more knowledgable than his teacher, his father, and subsequently took over the family business.


The high society Parisian's quickly became enamored with Perugia's ingenuity and many solicited him to create their own extraordinary shoes. Shortly thereafter, Perugia began creating historic footwear for the rich and famous.

We can thank Monsieur Perugia for many shoe trends, the Platform, the Corkscrew bottom shoe and countless Stilettos. His influence is quite apparent in what we go ga-ga over today. I guess the saying, "what goes around comes around" is always quite evident in fashion.

1948 Perugia creation for famous Parisian singer Mistinguett


2008 Classic Christian Louboutin


1950's Perugia paying Homage to Picasso


2008 YSL paying Homage to Perugia


Perugia's infamous "Heel-less shoe"


2008 Antonio Berardi's Heel-less interpretation