The most iconic designs of the great fashion houses are those that tell you a story. Like Karl Lagerfeld's spring 2014 collection for Chanel that was inspired by Marie Antoinette.
Our collections are no different. In previous blogs we told you about some of the trends that inspired this collection, however, we want you to know the full story. We talked to our designer Montse Vega to tell us more about the stories told by this season's boots and ankle boots.
JR: What was your inspiration this season to create the collection of ankle boots and boots?
MVA: For the Autumn Winter 2020 collection I chose the central theme of time travel . I went back to the post-war era, specifically in London with a women's movement known as the Teddy Girls . They are women who had to join working life, especially in industry, doing jobs that were previously called “for men”. They inspire me a lot because of what is currently happening in the world, where stereotypes of women are being broken and challenged. Despite being doing heavy work, the "Teddy Girls" maintained a feminine style, sophisticated, but at the same time functional and practical.
SEE COLLECTION BOOTS AND ANKLE BOOTS
In the new line of boots and ankle boots, I sought to create models that these women could have worn in the 50's, and that, however, would have been very modern and avant-garde for the time. In contrast, this line of boots and ankle boots, today 2020, are designs that convey an air of nostalgia and allude to classic models, but that maintain our recognized timeless and contemporary aesthetic. Basically, they are designs that could travel in time, and work in any of the two temporalities.
JR: Tell us, what was the process of selecting the textures, materials, skins and colors of these models?
MVA: I made the selection of materials and colors at the same time. I had several colors in mind and, as I discovered new textures and leather finishes, I added and removed combinations. For this collection I moved closer to a dark, dense, solid color palette. Black and white photography in motion was a reference to make an extract of different intensities of black . I interpreted this by choosing various leather textures, introducing high-gloss leather, and combining it with suede, smooth-grain leather, and animal textures cloaked in leather to create reliefs and contrasts. I love that the materials change with the environment and the light . In the same way I chose a range of browns, and inserted touches of color with navy blue and red. To give bold contrasts, I chose skins with a metallic finish that work like sparks of light and bring the designs to life. A novelty this season was the use of animal prints with metallic finishes, which gave the line of ankle boots and boots a modern and subtly risky touch .
JR: In this collection there are no completely flat boots or ankle boots. Why? What was your vision when designing them all with heels?
MVA: Listening to our clients is always super important. Since past Autumn Winter collections, they had wanted more variety in the height of heels in boots , so new lasts were developed in order to expand our collection. I wanted to give importance to our highly recognized line of Bostonians and loafers to be the central focus of flat shoes , in addition to having launched many new models within that line. Trends also had a lot to do with it. In boots, depending on the type of cane that is designed for them, they can atrophy the styling of the foot, and not be flattering. I fully trust the comfort of our new heel lasts. Our motto is never to sacrifice style or comfort , and with this variety of heights , both characteristics were preserved throughout the new boot collection.
SEE MADELEINE MODEL SEE ANTONELLA MODEL SEE JULIA MODEL
JR: In the end, the opinion of our clients is the most important thing. Personally, I want to congratulate you for having achieved such an avant-garde, coherent collection, but above all that maintains the DNA of Regina Romero. In the entire collection, but more so in the boots and ankle boots, you can notice a common thread in terms of textures, cuts, figures, heights, etc. How would you present them?
MVA: Thank you very much Jorge! Since I started designing for the brand, I have been sculpting a new aesthetic identity. I express it through each design of each collection. Since the collection shares colors and materials, the coherence of the general idea through each line is noticeable. However, it is the small details that create homogeneity , not only within the same collection, but in all the collections that I have designed.
Some of the construction details that I most enjoy working with are the following:
layered skins.
types of finishes.
seams.
cambered in one piece.
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intertwined.
Then there are the design details , which include:
geometric and organic lines.
timeless silhouettes.
a careful selection of colors and materials.
All chosen so that the designs transcend seasons. Finally there are the product details , in these I would like to highlight the detail of the signature pin that our leather soles have, our 14k gold plated hardware , and our internal structure technology of the shoe, which guarantees all the comfort that we are so proud
JR: With over 40 years of experience in this market, I know the difficulties of designing with many different textures, lines and silhouettes. Many times, the most important thing is to keep models with clean and classic silhouettes. From this collection, what do you think are the top 3 of the basic models of the season?
MVA: It is super important to keep classic or simpler models in the collection, as they give a breather to the set of designs and elevate the meaning of those designs that are more detailed or complex. This never sacrifices the fact that these classic models have high degrees of construction, many of our simpler boots such as Naomi and Elsa , require brutal manual work , in order to achieve the perfect chamfering of the leather, for example. The best thing about these models is that they work through the seasons , they never go out of style and they are usually the most versatile to combine them with any look that a woman can have . They are the typical shoes that you buy and say “I should have bought a few extra pairs for when I run out of these”. They are the must-haves .
SEE NAOMI MODEL SEE JACINTA MODEL SEE ELSA MODEL
Inquiry Links:
https://www.harpersbazaar.mx/moda/colecciones-de-moda-pasadas-que-amamos/
https://www.anothermag.com/fashion-beauty/8064/teddy-girls-the-style-subculture-that-time-forgot
https://en.gizmodo.com/dark-everything-you-need-to-know-about-one-of-the-best-1835961547
Elena Pérez Enríquez
Me encantan sus zapatos, la calidad y la comodidad son características invaluables!! Por favor consideren en diseñar plataformas cerradas con la punta mas estética. Para las mujeres bajitas como yo son indispensables. Gracias.
12/18/20