When it comes to shoes, most women would declare that they are indeed a big weakness. A testimony to this universal fact is that many designers in the luxury shoe segment design shoes that are pricey and much sought after. Here is a list of the most popular brands of luxury footwear from across the globe:
30-second summary:
- Jimmy Choo originated from a specialist shoemaker and has grown into a luxury lifestyle brand celebrated for its glamorous footwear and diverse range of accessories.
- Christian Louboutin honed his skills in Paris’ cabaret, Folies Bergère, and has since established a global presence, with his shoes now available in over 46 countries.
- Louis Vuitton is a renowned French luxury fashion house established in 1854, with its iconic LV monogram appearing on a vast array of products.
- Gucci has a legacy in leather goods dating back to 1921 and has expanded into various fashion segments. The brand underwent significant revitalization under Tom Ford in the 1990s.
- Manolo Blahnik, a Spanish fashion designer, has been a dominant figure in luxury shoes for decades, known for iconic styles like the Hangisi heels.
- Walter Steiger is recognized for its innovative designs with clean lines and minimalistic aesthetics, having collaborated with numerous high-profile fashion designers.
- Stuart Weitzman is an American shoe designer known for his unique and often opulent shoe materials, having designed footwear for celebrities like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
- Miu Miu, a subsidiary of Prada, is celebrated for its playful, youthful, and innovative designs in the luxury shoe segment.
- Salvatore Ferragamo is an Italian luxury brand specializing in footwear and leather goods, known for its innovative use of materials and drawing from historical designs.
- Givenchy, established in 1952, stands as a symbol of luxury, offering haute couture, ready-to-wear clothing, and a range of other products, with a history of collaborations with high-profile celebrities.
(Related: Top 10 European Clothing Brands in the USA)
Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choos is a luxury lifestyle brand known for stylish and glamorous footwear. This brand can be traced back to a specialist shoemaker named Jimmy Choo, who worked for the Jet setters globally. The brand and company was launched in 1996. Known for making sexy shoes with superb workmanship, this brand enjoys much popularity among the rich, the famous, and the beautiful. Though shoes are still their main offering, they now offer scarves, handbags, leather goods, eyewear, fragrances, belts, sunglasses, and men’s shoes.
Christian Louboutin
This shoe designer picked up his skills as an apprentice in the dressing room of Paris’ cabaret, Folies Bergère. He started his early years designing footwear for some big names in fashion, after which he opened his own business in 1992. Though he still operates his business from the same address, his shoes are now available in more than 46 countries. He, too, has several celebrities under his belt but is still very considerate of those who are not that famous. He appeared at Saks 5th Avenue in New York City to spend time autographing shoes. (Official website: https://christianlouboutin.com/).
Louis Vuitton
Known for being fashionable, chic, stylish, and elegant, people love products from this brand. Not only that, the products from this brand also promise and deliver superb craftsmanship, comfort, and excellent quality of work.
Louis Vuitton is a French luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label’s LV monogram appears on most products, from luxury bags and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, perfumes, watches, jewelry, accessories, sunglasses, and books.
Louis Vuitton is one of the world’s leading international fashion houses. The brand has standalone boutiques and leasing departments in high-end stores worldwide.
Louis Vuitton is also known for being one of the most counterfeited brands in the fashion industry. The brand has an official Instagram account where they showcase their products.
Louis Vuitton products can be purchased online from their official website and other luxury fashion retailers.
Gucci
They have had a great name in the world of leather goods for almost an entire century and have also established a good name in clothing, accessories, and jewelry. Women adore the great quality shoes from this brand revived by known shoe designer Tom Ford. They offer excellent and elegant designs that are solid and durable.
Guccio Gucci founded the prestigious Italian fashion house Gucci in Florence in 1921. The brand offers a wide range of products, including handbags, ready-to-wear, footwear, accessories, and home decoration. Gucci also licenses its name and branding to Coty, Inc. for fragrance and cosmetics under the name Gucci Beauty.
The brand became known worldwide under the direction of Aldo Gucci, the son of Guccio Gucci, and became an icon of the Italian Dolce Vita period.
After family feuds during the 1980s, the Gucci family was entirely ousted from the company’s capital by 1993. The brand was revived with provocative ‘Porno Chic’ props, and Dawn Mello hired Tom Ford to oversee the women’s ready-to-wear collection.
In 1994, Tom Ford was named creative director of Gucci. Ford and Mello revisited the 1970s archives of the brand—Ford’s 1995 collection, which included the sensual.
Currently, Gucci has an official website where customers can shop for the latest ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, and accessory collections, all inspired by the finesse of Italy. Additionally, Gucci has a Twitter account where they share updates about their brand and collaborations with other artists.
Manolo Blahnik
For decades, Manolo Blahnik has been a top brand for luxury shoes. Women covet these shoes, and the designer is the most influential worldwide. People love this shoe for its sexy stiletto heels, lovely embroidery detail work, and one-of-a-kind design.
Manolo Blahnik is a Spanish fashion designer and founder of the eponymous high-end shoe brand. The brand offers women’s and men’s shoes, plus accessories. Manolo Blahnik shoes are known for their iconic styles, such as the Hangisi heels and flats, Lurum mules, and luxe boots. The brand is available for purchase on their official website and on Nordstrom and Bergdorf Goodman.
Walter Steiger
For designs that stand out and are innovative, this brand is considered one of the classics. Steiger is part of this list for his influence on the design of modern shows with clean lines and smooth-looking designs that tend to be minimalistic. The use of good quality material makes this brand stand out apart from the excellent workmanship.
In 1932, Walter Steiger Senior established the French shoe company Walter Steiger in Geneva. The company started by making made-to-measure shoes for men and women and later expanded to include a ready-to-wear line in 1966. Walter Steiger Junior is primarily responsible for the growth and success of the brand.
The company has collaborated with various fashion designers such as Ungaro, Nina Ricci, Sonia Rykiel, Chloé, Calvin Klein, Claude Montana, Oscar de la Renta, Kenzo, Alaïa, Karl Lagerfeld, and Victoria Beckham.
The third generation of the family, Laura, has been running the business since 2019, and she has introduced the new TANK line. The company’s shoes can be purchased at luxury consignment stores like The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective and online retailers like Lyst.
Stuart Weitzman
Stuart Weitzman is an American shoe designer, entrepreneur, and founder of the shoe company Stuart Weitzman.
He is known for his one-of-a-kind and very expensive shoes. He is renowned for cladding the feet of nominees for the Academy Awards. He uses expensive and often unique materials that include gold, vinyl, Lucite, and wallpaper in his shoes. The heels on his shoes can be made from the most shocking things like bamboo, stainless steel, chrome, and acrylic.
The company offers luxury shoes, boots, booties, sandals, and pumps. Stuart Weitzman’s elegant and high-quality footwear collection can be found online at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, and Shopbop.
The company has designed footwear for celebrities such as Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. In May 2017, Stuart Weitzman Holdings, LLC, appointed Giovanni Morelli as Creative Director, and Weitzman stepped down from his role.
Miu Miu
Being part of Prada, Miu Miu started a business in 1993 to become a well-known shoe brand known for being fashionable and high-end. The styles are innovative and have a vibrant, youthful look.
Miu Miu is known for its playful and feminine designs, often featuring bold colors, prints, and embellishments. The brand offers a wide range of products, including clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories.
Miu Miu has its own website where customers can shop the latest collection online and access exclusive content. The brand also has a strong social media presence, with over 11 million followers on Instagram.
Miu Miu has stores in various locations around the world, including China, Australia, and the United States.
Salvatore Ferragamo
Salvatore Ferragamo is an Italian luxury goods company specializing in designing and manufacturing footwear and leather goods. Salvatore Ferragamo, an innovative shoe designer in 1927, founded it. The company is headquartered in Florence, Italy, and has been rebranded as Ferragamo in September 2022.
This brand goes with the feel of innovation and utter luxury. They offer high-end and luxurious shoes, leather goods, accessories, fragrances, and clothing for both genders. The style is innovative, and the workmanship is really good in the shoes of this brand.
The company’s products include women’s and men’s shoes, handbags, ties, and belts. Ferragamo is known for experimenting with materials such as kangaroo, crocodile, and fish skin and drawing inspiration from historic designs for its shoes.
Today, the company is run by members of the Ferragamo family, including Giovanna Gentile-Ferragamo, Salvatore Ferragamo SpA vice president, and Leonardo Ferragamo. Ferragamo products can be found in stores like Nordstrom and on their website.
Givenchy
Founded in the year 1952, this brand is synonymous with luxury. This brand is sought after by many celebrities for its luxury apparel and shoes. They can lay claim to having the second-biggest division for apparel.
The brand offers haute couture and ready-to-wear clothing, accessories, perfumes, and cosmetics. Many celebrities on red carpet occasions have worn Givenchy designs. The brand has also collaborated with Madonna, designing her costumes for her Sticky & Sweet tour and the 2012 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
In June 2020, Givenchy announced hiring Matthew Williams, a stylist and designer best known for co-founding the influential streetwear brand 1017 ALYX. The brand also offers a range of perfumes, fragrances, makeup, and skincare products.
Conclusion:
The world of luxury footwear is a testament to the timeless allure of impeccable craftsmanship, innovative design, and the power of branding.
From the glamorous stilettos of Jimmy Choo to the iconic designs of Salvatore Ferragamo, these brands have carved a niche for themselves in the hearts of shoe fans globally.
Their rich histories, celebrity endorsements, and commitment to quality ensure they remain at the pinnacle of the fashion industry.
Whether it’s the red carpet or a casual day out, these brands offer a touch of luxury and a statement of style.
As the fashion world continues to evolve, these brands stand as pillars of elegance, sophistication, and timeless appeal.
(Photo Credits: Instagram).
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at BlueFashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2013. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
