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HEAVEN HAS HEELS THE FOOD ISSUE
ISSUE 5 sept 2013
contents STYLE
Fall fashion doesn’t have to mean muted colors; have fun with these delectable designs.
FANCIFUL FOOTWEAR
Designer Kobi Levi talks fanciful footwear.
DESIGNER DELIGHTS
We ask some of our favorite designers what snacks keep them going.
STYLIN’ DINING
You’ve got the heels, now where to wear them? We’ve picked three stylish dining destinations to flaunt your fabulous footwear.
HEEL CONSPIRACY
Innovative design thanks to Conspiracy’s founder and creative genius Gianluca Tamburini.
STLTO STUNNING
A self proclaimed shoe-aholic, Sarah Liberatore talks style, stilettos and the allure of a good drop.
DO YOU LONG FOR THE DAYS OF DRESSING FOR DINNER?
We ask some of our favorite fashionistas if they prefer casual cool or the days of Downton Abbey-style dining.
SHOP
Sit back, relax and let your fingers do the walking.
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
HEAVEN HAS HEELS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Angela Gilltrap EDITOR-AT-LARGE Samantha Lim CREATIVE DIRECTOR Amanda Smythe PHOTO DIRECTOR James Collins ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kerri Jarema COPY EDITOR Sarah Wilkes WEB DESIGNER Kris Black CONTRIBUTORS Lindsey Ayers, Liz Besanson, Stephen Ciuccoli, Lisbeth Collins, Nigel Isaiah, Alexandra Mattiace
Heaven Has Heels magazine is published by Lot 17 Media, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. 212 378 6711. The entire contents of Heaven Has Heels are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Heaven Has Heels accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. Heaven Has Heels reserves the right to edit, rewrite, refuse or reuse material, is not responsible for errors or omissions and may feature same on HeavenHasHeels.com, as well as other mediums for any and all purposes.
ON THE COVER Photographer: LIZ BESANSON Hair: LINDSEY AYERS Makeup: LISBETH COLLINS Model: DANIELLE ALURA
GET YOUR ISSUE OF HEAVEN HAS HEELS. SUBSCRIBE NOW AT HEAVENHASHEELS.COM HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
EDITOR’S note It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we first launched Heaven Has Heels. That first issue I made an ambitious goal to hit 10,000 impressions. At the time, I thought that was near impossible; still, as Audrey Hepburn once said, “the word itself says I’m possible.” And I figure, if you’re going to make a goal it may as well be a big one. I remember traveling to meetings in three countries in one day, checking into my hotel in Paris at 1am and working until 3am, finalizing layouts and searching for wayward commas. At 6am it was time to hit the road again bound for another country; another meeting. I remember working until the wee hours of the morning in a hotel room in Switzerland. So close to finishing, the last link published... When the whole thing crashed.
Photographer: STEPHEN CIUCCOLI PUSH BY PUSHMATAaHA jewelry; RUTHIE DAVIS heels
Of course we’ve all been there. That moment when you’re not sure whether you want to curse or cry. It’s times like these however, that the real motto for life at Heaven Has Heels was created—”Just do what you gotta do to make it happen.” And that’s exactly what we’ve done from day one.
When you create something—whether it’s a piece of art, a collection of footwear or in our case, a magazine—things are never going to be perfect. There will always be things you can improve upon, mistakes made, lessons learned. That’s life. Creative endeavors of any kind will test your skill, your talent but most of all your character. And that is exactly why we created this magazine. Every designer has spent a lifetime overcoming obstacles professionally and personally to create something that allows us all to express ourselves through fashion. And their journeys deserve to be told. In an era when other fashion publications feature everyone but the designer, we wanted to provide a platform for those talented individuals who are experimenting with new techniques as well as those honoring time-old traditions. Our first issue, launched at the glamorous Jimmy at The James, hit 200,000 impressions; by our third we were up to 11 million. As we go monthly, we want to thank you all for being part of our journey. May your standards be as high as your heels.
Angela Gilltrap
Editor-In-Chief
CLICK TO find out more abo
SEPTEMBER
out our stunning September selections
RÉGUL ATEUR 30 LIMITED EDITION W W W.CHRONOSWISS.COM
Here’s looking at you. Check out these playful Bamboo Bitty glasses by EYEBOBS. Available at Eyebobs.com.
style
DELECTABLE Fall fashion doesn’t have to be dull. When it comes to delectable style you can’t go past these playful accessories from heavenly heels to drool-worthy accessory designs.
Ring in the season with these Gold vermeil earrings made with SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS. Available at Beyond Seven 263 Eleventh Avenue, 3rd Floor New York, NY 646.395.8054 4 inches of pure fun, these RUTHIE DAVIS Kerr boots in Copper are sure to get the party started. Available at Neiman Marcus, Bal Harbour and Neiman Marcus, Atlanta.
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
fanciful Since we are always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in fanciful footwear, it was inevitable that the immensely talented designer Kobi Levi would be gracing our pages. Hailing from Israel, Levi has spent the last few years creating some of the most beautiful and vastly unique shoes we have seen—from pop culture picks like his Disney Villain collection to nature studies in recreations of flamingos and roosters. Whatever his subject Levi approaches the designing of his creations with supreme passion and an eye for architectural quality. “I was always fascinated by shoes for some reason,” says Levi. “I found their various shapes and forms interesting, not just as a useful product. Something about their sculptural nature appeals to me. It’s natural for me to perceive shoes as wearable sculptures.”
FOOTWEAR KOBI LEVI
glamorous shoes with a sense of humor. The making of the shoes is very serious work [because they] are handmade, but I like to give their look a light feeling,” says Levi. “A great shoe is one that you enjoy looking at, [but that] also makes you think differently about design and its effect on the body.” The whimsical nature of Levi’s designs paired with his attention to craftsmanship shines through every pair he creates, including his personal favorites ‘Coffee’ and ‘Chewing Gum’ which effectively freeze a moment in time (spilling a cup of coffee and stepping on a piece of bubblegum, respectively) turning what he calls an “oops moment” into something that will make the wearer smile.
Exploring the idea of the way a shoe looks when it is being worn versus when it’s on display is the main focus of Levi’s work, but he doesn’t completely disregard the weight of glamour that shoes carry, either.
Though his work is incredibly unique, he cites Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood as his ultimate inspirations—no surprise, as his work is just as boundary pushing and thought provoking. But, unlike his world renowned predecessors, Levi isn’t necessarily interested in the idea of “making it big” in the fashion industry.
“I like to design bigger than life,
“I’m enjoying the reactions
KOBILEVIDESIGN.COM
[I’ve] received from all over the world, it’s amazing. I never imagined such exposure... it just happened when I put my designs up on a simple blog page,” says Levi. “I don’t think there is a moment where you feel you’ve ‘made it’ at least not for me. When I complete a new piece and it’s the way I like [it] that’s an amazing, addictive feeling.” Looking forward, Levi has big plans for expanding his business, specifically tapping into more avenues that will get people into his designs, rather than merely admiring them from afar. The beginnings of this exciting new venture can already be seen on Levi’s website, where customers can purchase limited edition pairs of his shoes for upwards of $2,000. “My designs are meant to be both artistic and wearable. I want them to be alive both with and without the body,” says Levi. “My ideal customer is someone who enjoys the shoes [and] their uniqueness and is very much aware that they will get more attention [wearing them.] I am working very hard to get there and hopefully it will happen soon.” — KERRI JAREMA
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
Rebel banquet
Photographed & Styled by LIZ BESANSON
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
PRETTY PRETTY REBEL shirt and skirt; BETSEY JOHNSON jewelry; Model’s own stockings CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN shoes.
PRETTY PRETTY REBEL dress and stockings; Stylist’s own hat & sunglasses; BETSEY JOHNSON jewelry.
PRETTY PRETTY REBEL dress; BETSEY JOHNSON bow. HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
PRETTY PRETTY REBEL jumpsuit; BETSEY JOHNSON jewelry.
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
PRETTY PRETTY REBEL jumpsuit; BETSEY JOHNSON jewelry. Hair: LINDSEY AYERS Makeup: LISBETH COLLINS Model: DANIELLE ALURA HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
DESIGNER DELIGHTS
WE FIND OUT WHAT DELIGHTS DRIVE OUR FAVORITE DESIGNERS
what’s your culinary
indulgence
when you’re designing?
“Red Vines are a great sugar rush for our 3:00pm design meetings! We get the huge tub so we can have stock for a month.” Laura Darrah and Sheila Nazarian, Joelle Hawkens by Treesje
“Momofuku Compost Cookies followed by a long bike ride to burn them off!” Jonathan Cohen, Jonathan Cohen
“Homemade mix of chocolate covered blueberries, dried apricots and pumpkin seeds.” Jessica Biales, Jessica Biales “Candy! Particularly Skittles and Sour Patch Kids. Since high school, I’ve craved them whenever I’ve needed to get into a zone. Plus, candy makes me happy and what’s more inspiring than that?” Nicole Mann Novick, Garland Collection
“Single malt scotch!” Victor Velyan, Victor Velyan JEWELRY
“Oh lord! I love a melange of olives, really good chips and salsa, fabulous hummus with multi grain chips... Take your pick!” Pamela Huizenga, Pamela Huizenga Jewelry
“Jack Daniels.” Gurhan Orhan, Gurhan
“My go to snack is crackers and cheese but when I really want to go naughty it’s Nutella.” Ava Sanjurjo, Rica Swimwear
“Insomnia Cookies and guacamole.” Briana DeRose, Well Kept
stylin’ dining
You’ve finally got those hot little heels in your hands, now what? Here at Heaven Has Heels we firmly believe that fabulous footwear was made to be worn (as well as admired). That’s why we’ve included some of our favorite New York City haunts to inspire you to take your favorite heels out on the town— gorgeous date optional.
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
bAgatelle NY One Little West 12th Street New York, NY
WHAT TO WEAR: BADGLEY MISCHKA Dacey
Among the quaint cobblestone streets and charming buildings in the Meatpacking District sits Bagatelle’s NYC flagship location. Seeking to bring a revitalizing European flair to the neighborhood, Bagatelle owners Aymeric Clemente and Remi Laba joined forces with Jonathan Segal and Celeste Fierro of The One Group in June 2012, to bring Bagatelle’s unique French Mediterranean flair back to its East Coast roots. In the year since their opening, Bagatelle’s patrons have experienced the innovative and seasonal menu offerings from renowned Chef Sebastien Chamaret, as well as a menu of creative cocktails inspired by the South
of France. Adding to the overall ambiance, Bagatelle’s signature music program features world-renowned DJs that turn the dining rooms into an all day or night event, keeping guests entertained and enlivened for hours on end. Featuring a chic St. Tropez and Parisinspired open layout created by design firm ICRAVE, the elegant yet understated venue offers a 135-seat multifaceted room, with a bar area fit for dining or just for drinks, the main dining room and a private event space downstairs. If you’re looking for a chic escape within the city where you can indulge your taste for good food and great drinks, Bagatelle is the place to be.
BAGATELLEnyc.com
ANTICA PESA
115 Berry Street Brooklyn, NY
WHAT TO WEAR: CHARLES JOURDAN Rachel
Designed to mirror its sister property in Tratevere, Italy, Brooklyn’s Antica Pesa brings classic Italian/Roman fare to the big city. Owners Francesco and Simone Panella serve up comfort food in an equally cozy atmosphere. The 2,300 square foot restaurant was designed by Brooklyn-based BArC Studio (known for supporting local businesses that share the goal of creating and designing their spaces using local materials) to be a transporting environment. Antica Pesa offers a comfortable and homely atmosphere where vintage flare meets modern inspirations. A perfectly situated fireplace in the bar acts as the room’s centerpiece, surrounded by rich, dark
wood to create a serene space for cocktails and conversation. The open kitchen faces the main dining room to enhance the guest’s gastronomic experience—creating the illusion of a classic home cooked meal as the distinct smells of traditional Italian cooking permeate the air. Modern white chandeliers hang over the dining room to cast an intimate glow on the diners below while brown leather sofas and banquettes create an old school vibe. If you’re looking for authentic Italian cooking with a mix of the modern and old world without leaving home, take a trip to Antica Pesa.
AnticaPesa.us
DAVID BURKE KITCHEN
23 Grand StReet at The James Hotel, New York, NY
WHAT TO WEAR: L.A.M.B. Nydia
Housed in Manhattan’s trendy James hotel, renowned chef David Burke’s restaurant brings his creative and inventive culinary style to New York City. Considered one of the best and brightest culinary showmen working today, Burke reinterprets classic American fare combined with a laser focus on utilizing locally-sourced ingredients. Since opening in February 2011, David Burke Kitchen has been named one of Forbes AllStar Eateries with an award of three stars— and it’s obvious why. Not only is the interior designed by James Beard Award-winner Thomas Schlesser, it’s incredibly cool multilevel space offers customers different ways
to experience Burke’s award winning dishes. At the entrance, a staircase leads up to the glass-enclosed Treehouse Bar, a perch over Grand Street that offers a birds-eye view of the hustle and bustle below. Guests can sip handcrafted cocktails with garnishes such as hibiscus flowers and beef jerky and order from a selection of snacks, including Maple Bacon Dates. The perfect space for the New Yorker who likes their cool with a side of the classic, David Burke Kitchen is the ideal eatery.
DavidBurkeKitchen.com
HEEL conspiracy ONE STEP BEYOND
Forget runways and fashion trends, the awe-inspiring designs of Italian footwear brand Conspiracy are the result of their surroundings—namely Modena, Italy a location known for its expertise in mechanical and aeronautical industries. “Our stilettos are ‘assembled’ on an extremely lightweight insole made of aeronautical aluminium 6082 produced on CNC milling machines,” explains Gianluca Tamburini, Conspiracy’s founder and designer. With two degrees in Economics and Marketing, Tamburini developed his skills in the car sector, gaining experience while working with leading companies in publishing and industrial design. Before embarking on his own venture, he returned to his studies, heading for Polimoda to bridge the gap between his real world experience and the specifics of the fashion and footwear industry.
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
HEAVENHAS HASHEELS HEELSsept summer HEAVEN 2013 2013
“When the passion for shoes reached me I had no idea how to realize them,” says Tamburini. “I began doing research on materials that could best express my aesthetic vision of beauty and I tried to test it on some models.” Through a lengthy process of trial and error, Tamburini discovered a material that was set to become the core of his collection— the shaped jewel sandal created from aeronautical aluminium. “Compared to other metals, Alu 6082 is lighter with the characteristic of shine similar to other precious metals but with more resistant elements,” explains Tamburini. Adding titanium screws, the only element left was the all important embellishments. “I thought about the aesthetic part (what women want) doing the upper laces embroidered by skilled craftsmen using feathers, precious stones and gems. The women to whom I showed the first pair of shoes were amazed and astonished and I realized then that I was on the right track,” says Tamburini.
Soon after launching, Tamburini found himself the recipient of the coveted Who is on Next? award, created in conjunction with Vogue Italia. For Tamburini, he saw this as an opportunity to take his designs to the world. “Last February I was in New York, at Saks Fifth Avenue and in March in Tokyo at Tashimaya,” says Tamburini. “I love to relate personally to my clients.” The next generation of Conspiracy creations are set to be presented during Milan Fashion Week and will feature an extended range of shoes that include sandals, pumps and open-toe heels. For those of you in New York however, you can see Tamburini’s “Biotech” heel on permanent display at The Museum at FIT. Combining innovative technology with an eye for design, Tamburini has brought to life wearable pieces of art; designs that may change the way we think about footwear manufacturing—and with heels named “Beluga” and “Caviar” we couldn’t think of a more perfect fit for our food meets fashion issue. — ANGELA GILLTRAP
CONSPIRACY.IT
stunnin g WHEN FOOD & FASHION COLLIDE
STLTO
Who says food and fashion don’t mix? Not Sarah Liberatore, owner and founder of STLTO wines. A self proclaimed shoe-aholic, Liberatore spent her early years admiring her mother’s incredible shoe collection and after working at a wine agency, decided to combine her two passions. “In my opinion, food and fashion are basic necessities,” says Liberatore. “We have to wear clothes, we have to wear shoes, we have to eat!” Liberatore knew early on that she wanted to create her own business and by the age of 23, she knew that business would be in the wine industry. Yet, it was a personal tragedy that spurred the Ontorio native on to pursue her dream. Set to move to London to study a Masters of Management with her best friend, their plans were quickly derailed when her best friend was diagnosed with cancer. “Moving to London was no longer an option for me,”
says Liberatore. “When my friend’s life came to an end at a very young age, I needed to get away and clear my head. My trip to Vinitaly in Verona changed things.” There, after visiting countless booths at the Vinitaly industry event, she realized that something was missing. “Nothing stood out,” says Liberatore. “There was not a bold, creative label with delicious wine inside. After four days I was inspired to create something of my own. It allowed me to be creative and took my mind off things.” And so, STLTO was born. Heading back to Abruzzo, Italy—where her family’s roots are—she embarked on one of her biggest projects to date; creating a world class wine that looked as great as it tasted. In an industry dominated by men, a highly feminine (some would say kitsch) take on wine-making didn’t always go down well.
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
But Liberatore was not interested in simply creating another wine label. Empowering women and adhering to her own standards of “Eco-Chic” were paramount in her quest for wine domination. “I’m an avid supporter of women helping women,” says Liberatore. “And I employ this theory in my day-to-day activities.” This proved to be a challenge in the wine industry, where men tend to dominate. Regardless, Libertore was adamant that the production of STLTO be a completely female process—from harvesting the grapes to bottling the wine. And with perseverance and a strength beyond her years, she achieved just that. The winery in Abruzzo, Italy where STLTO is made employs environmentally friendly techniques— another important factor in Liberatore’s plan. The grapes used for STLTO’s wines are harvested by hand and then stored four meters underground to eliminate the need for refrigeration. When not in use, STLTO’s storage tanks are placed on hills behind the winery to collect rain which is used to water the vineyard and the bottles themselves, waste less material and ultimately produce a lighter bottle weighing in at only 420 grams. And yet Liberatore’s biggest difficulty has been getting the respect her wine deserves. “My main obstacle has been conveying that the wine is more serious than the packaging conveys,” explains Liberatore. “It’s always hard to present the product in front of wine buyers (especially male buyers) who look at the label and say, ‘Really, Sarah?’ I am happy to say that so far everyone has been very surprised when they have a glass—a good surprise!” Considering 80% of wine purchases in North America are made by women, she may just be onto something. — A.G.
STLTOWINE.COM HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
Do you long for the days of
DRessing FOr DInner
DOWNTON ABBEY STYLE?
“I miss everything about the era of dressing for dinner—corsets and crinoline; layers that would barely fit through a door; maids ensuring that your latest hairstyle is appropriate for dinner; fathers polishing off their pocket watches every night to ensure they look their best... Plus there was never any pressure to be thin, fat was cool. Dinner was an occasion.” — Jemima Daisy, Designer/Blogger JemimaDaisy. blogspot.com
“I love any excuse to dress a part, and fully believe in the resurgence of the themed dinner party and events where gloves indoors are appropriate.” — SAMANTHA LIM, Editor-at-Large HeavenHasHeels. com
“I’m all for dressing for dinner.” — SARA DARLING Fashion Stylist SaraDarling.com
“I love dressing for dinner. When I was eight, I had a formal birthday party. All the girls wore gowns and the boys wore suit and tie. Nothing has changed! For my 40th my husband took me to dinner and I showed up in a full length beaded custom gown by Tomasz Starzewski. Most days, I’m headed to dinner after work, but I always redo my makeup and add some sparkly jewelry and shoes to dress up my look.” — RUTH W. Staiman, President MyFashionOffice.com
“100% yes.” — Kristen Lam Blogger KristenGlam. Blogspot.com
“I would love to go back to the days when women would spend time perfectly coiffing their hair and applying makeup as they got ready for dinner. The dress, the gloves, the jewels, all of that would be such fun to dress up in. But probably just for a night. I think in today’s world where women are busy doing a million things at once, it’s a bit tough to spend a full day primping. Is casual the new cool? I don’t know, but it’s definitely the new necessity.” — MICHELLE PARK, TV Personality/ Fashion Blogger MichellePark.info
”I long for the days of dressing for dinner.” — BERTRAND VAN HAUW Model
“I love dressing up and I love dinner so you can imagine my answer. I always admire well dressed people sitting down to eat properly, respecting table manners and following all the rules and traditions that go along with it. I think we all need a bit more savoir vivre in our lives!” — Filio METSI, Fashion Blogger/Stylist AllYouNeedisStyle. com
“I do! Although it’s always fun to randomly grab a bite with friends, every time I watch old films I feel nostalgic for the bygone eras that I never experienced. There’s something so truly fashionable about proper dining filled with multicourse meals, which are of course to be followed by conversation, coffee, cocktails and cigars.“ — RACHEL ELeanor SUTTON EIC SeenHeardKnown. com
S
HOP Our editors have traversed the globe to bring you the best in designer footwear. All that’s left to do is sit back, relax and let your fingers do the walking.
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
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HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI
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HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013
DSQUaRED2
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LOEFFLER RANDALL
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ROBERTO CAVALLI
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HEAVEN HAS HEELS sept 2013