First of all, I love reading your comments and messages! I’ve been talking to so many of you, and you keep telling me you want more behind the scenes. So I thought today’s FLOR DE MARIA drop was the perfect excuse to show you how a shoe goes from an idea in my head to your closet. And trust me, this one has a story!
The JAIMIE slingback pump has quickly become one of our best sellers. When I designed her, I wanted that timeless shoe you could wear pretty much anytime, anywhere. We’ve done her in so many colors, but this time I wanted something different. If you’ve been here since season one, you might remember ISABEL, named after my grandma. A few months ago, I wore her again and literally got stopped so many times… everyone kept asking me about her. SO many compliments! And you know when something gets stuck in your head? That was me. I kept thinking, we need to bring a little ISABEL back.
For a few weeks, I went back and forth. Do I bring ISABEL back? Do I bring a little of her into JAIMIE? Decisions, decisions… and yes, I take my shoe decisions very seriously! Since so many of you already love JAIMIE, I decided to play with both styles. And the process went something like this…
ISABEL had clear PVC—we use TPU now—and I thought glazed leather trim would make JAIMIE feel a little different, a little chicer. Then came the next debate: clear or black? I looked at different black options, kept comparing them, kept going back… but the black had my attention.
By the third sample, we had made the slingback strap a little tighter and the trim thinner. She was looking much, much better…
but the toe cap was still too short for my liking, and it was driving me crazy! I wanted it to cover more of the toes. Welcome to my perfectionist world, ha ha ha. If something doesn’t feel right to me, we’re changing it. Again and again and again. My team already knows.
Anyway, the more I looked at this new version of JAIMIE, the more I was SOLD. That black TPU with the glazed leather toe cap and trim? I mean… she’s exquisite. That little shine from the glazed leather did something to me. She still felt like the JAIMIE we all love, just with a little more attitude. And I’m going to say it: in my eyes, she’s the best version of JAIMIE I’ve done so far. I couldn’t stop looking at her.
But looking beautiful is only part of it. Before I give that final yes and we go into production, I wear the final sample for at least a full week. We have shoe fit models and go through so many samples, but I still need to wear the shoes myself. Grocery shopping - you’ve seen me LOL - meetings, dinner, nights out with the girls, traveling, plane rides, doing the dishes… yessss the dishes. Apparently, my kitchen has a dress code LOL
I even wear them while laying out in my backyard, not KIDDING LOL. Yes, in heels. I need to see how the shoes look in different lighting, so even my tanning time turns into a sample fitting hahah. Some people have seen me at the gym in them, too … I I need to know how she feels when I’m actually living my life in her. Is she comfortable? Do I feel amazing? Are people stopping me to ask about her? Because if I’m not obsessed, why would I expect you to be? If I don’t love her enough to keep wearing her, she’s not going into production.
And now she’s here! A little ISABEL, a little JAIMIE, and so many tiny changes along the way. I’m obsessed, and I can’t wait to see how you wear her. And I’m telling you right now, if you haven’t gotten her yet, you better, because she’s limited edition!
Tell me, do you love seeing this part of the process? Because I have plenty more to show you.
And that’s where I’ll leave you… for now.