Last night at Bergdorf Goodman, designer Laurence Dacade and Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine welcomed a crowd of shoe aficionados to check out their new collaboration: a block-heel boot.
“We actually first met at a Footwear News conference,” shared Medine. “And I had been a big fan of her shoes — both her own and the ones she does for Chanel,” where the Paris-based Dacade has long held the post of lead footwear designer.
In tandem with the collaboration was the launch of seven other exclusive styles for the department store, one of Dacade’s top retailers.
“They asked me if I wanted to collaborate on a boot, and I was like, ‘I don’t know — does a baby want candy?'” Medine deadpanned. “That’s me saying yes.” After an initial design meeting and some back and forth, they came up with a tweed-paneled laceup boot, which the star blogger said she would wear with a smart trench coat. “They have a Sherlock Holmes vibe, for sure,” she added.
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Here, Dacade and Medine answer some more shoe q’s:
What was the design process like?
Medine: “I think things got a little out of hand in my imagination. I had too many ideas. We ended up with a sort of masculine boot to complement the silhouette we were looking at.”
Why did you want to work together?
Dacade: “Because she understands the mix of masculinity and femininity in fashion and my work. I was very excited to work with Leandra because at the FN summit, I loved her attitude, style and way of wearing clothes. I found her very inspiring. When I am designing shoes, I always think about attitude, silhouette and the way people are moving. I am not thinking about fashion — I am much more concerned with attitude and way of life. Leandra is a free spirit who plays with fashion.”
Medine: “Laurence makes it so easy because her shoes are very escapist. They are so comfortable — I can walk all over the city — but like today, I have these striped garden platforms on my feet.”
Do you think that’s a unique trait of female designers? That wearability factor?
Dacade: “I do think so. Men sometimes just want you to be sexy. I like the idea of sensuality and seduction, but I don’t like the idea that because you are a woman, you have to be sexy.”
Leandra, will you be wearing the boots during Fashion Month?
Medine: “Not if it’s this hot! It’s 91 degrees today.”
Dacade: “In Paris, it’s freezing and raining, so it will be perfect boot weather.”
