As a male designer, you always need a woman's touch.
I think of my customer as a woman who wants to look beautiful and be able to walk.
I got a New York designer to build my dream store here, which is a little bit of Florence in New York. It's like the Duomo on Madison. I got inspired by Santa Maria Novella and all the Renaissance architecture.
I was surrounded by women and all I would hear is of them complaining about their shoes. Back then, 'comfort' was a dirty word in fashion footwear. This was before fur loafers or sneakers. So, I wanted to create a shoe that was like slipping your foot into a glove - something beautiful, feminine, and sexy at the same time.
Avoid patent leather, pink, and crystals.
I've always wanted to create shoes that were positive and happy.
Whenever I went to a wedding or a party, girls kept complaining about their shoes. I love to dance, and I wanted them to have shoes they could keep on all night.
I love to see a woman in a sexy, strappy sandal no matter what. It just looks beautiful.
What I always say to people is dress from the feet up. If you don't normally wear colour, try some colour on your feet; it's the place, I think you can have fun and update your outfit.
You can wear a beautiful black dress that you've maybe had for years, but if you wear a fun shoe, you can completely change it. Wear something different, something sexy, something strappy, or something with pom poms.
I think every celebrity that I love wears my shoes. I'm a particular fan of Julianne Moore, and I adore Jennifer Lawrence. There are so many beautiful women. I love Poppy Delevingne, of course; I even made a collection with her.
Being inspired is one thing, but completely knocking off a design is another. There is a big difference.
When people take advantage of you and make a business out of it, that's not nice.
Sometimes you design a shoe, and you think this one is a winner, but you never know when something will be such a crazy phenomenon.
For me, I knew the Christy flat was a beautiful shoe, but I had no idea the incredible trend that would follow - I mean, it's the most copied thing ever!
No one wears high heels all day, every day.
I want to make shoes that a woman can walk in. That's kind of what they're made for.
