Chief designer of Women’s Accessories from Versace. Shoe Designer of the Year from the Red Carpet Fashion Awards 2010 and 2011. the founder of an eponymous shoe brand worn by Zendaya, Victoria Beckham, Sofia Richie Grainge and Jennifer Lopez. These are just a few of Brian Atwood’s achievements during his decades-long career in fashion, especially in the field of footwear. Now the former model, hired by Gianni Versace himself, has another rather fortuitous achievement to add to his Summary: creative director of shoes at Express.
On Tuesday, the American giant Express announced Atwood’s new position at the head of its footwear department, as well as its first line for the brand, Brian Atwood for Express. “I grew up with Sisters, so Express was in my life from a young age,” Atwood says.
“Working with such a large company that has mass national appeal has been exciting and challenging.” Never one to say no to a difficult performance — according to an interview in Coveter, Versace once unexpectedly asked him to try his hand at one of his Haute Couture shoe collections-Atwood says that he is fascinated by the possibility of expanding the brand’s current range and offering something new and unexpected
For her first collection for Express, her goal was simple: great shoes. “Shoes should have a timeless character, and that’s exactly what I created with this collection,” he says. “Classic styles that women want to wear and keep forever. “Of course, at the same time he wanted to make sure that there was a little Fashion in the collection. “I think the materials and the colors are beautiful and with each design we give the Express customer something that they didn’t have from the brand before,” he explains. According to Atwood, Express let him do his thing. He adds: “You know my expertise and where I can help you.”
Buy the first of many Brian Atwood for Express Collections, which range in price from 41 to 119.
“One of the best pieces of advice I’ve learned in my career is that a strong POV is important,” says Atwood. “You have to stay true to what you believe in. Not everyone will like what you do, but if you stick to what you love and don’t compromise the integrity of your design, people will respect it and you will build a loyal following.”
“I’ve also always been interested in architecture and found that designing a shoe was a lot like building,” says Atwood. “They need a solid foundation to build on. Otherwise, you will not be able to wear the shoe. This is the challenge and excitement that I love in shoe design.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by the power of shoes,” says Atwood. “It’s an attraction – almost a bit of Magic- that brings women and shoes together, like a fairy tale. You don’t even have to wear the shoes, but you can buy them, put them in your closet and look at them while having a feeling of happiness.”
Atwood says the secret to a comfortable pair of heels lies in the balance and positioning of the heel. “When creating a style, the heel must be positioned correctly on the base to ensure that the correct weight is distributed evenly over the heel,” he says.
