Born in Paris in 1963, this high-heel designer slipped into the shoe business after seeing a sign that prevented women from wearing stilettos in the African and Oceanic Museum of Art. The image of the dramatic pair of heels on the sign influenced him, and he later used that image as inspiration for his own sketches.

Louboutin often skipped school to peruse flea markets or attend cabaret shows, and when he was kicked out of school at 16, he started to work with the prominent Parisian cabaret, Folies Bergère, where he had the opportunity to make shoes for the dancers. He landed a job in 1980 with famed shoe designer, Charles Jourdan. Over the next three years, he freelanced for fashion houses Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel. He also spent time working with Roger Vivier. His experiences with Jourdan and Vivier helped equip him with the necessary tools to launch a successful brand under his own name. He opened his premier store in Paris in 1991 and he quickly became a favorite of celebrities and illustrious public figures.

His first admirers and customers included Princess Caroline of Monaco and Madonna. He has revamped the stiletto with a flair for sexiness and poise. Known for his exoticism and design details that feature feathers, bows, jeweled straps and whimsical prints, his most recognizable emblem, is the “Sammy red” sole of every heel.

Louboutin deciding to add the red sole — at the last second using red nail polish — as a statement for one of his seasonal collections, and kept the color as his customers continued to request it. Louboutin became a household name thanks to references in popular culture and continued to expand his brand, opened his first U.S. store in 1993 in New York City’s Upper East Side. 10 years later, he ventured into designing handbags to complement his legendary shoes.

Men were able to purchase red-soled shoes in 2011, when he launched his first men’s collection. The same year, the shoe designer was caught up in a red clash with Yves Saint Laurent (Saint Laurent Paris). Trademarking his signature red-soled shoes back in 2008, he filed a lawsuit against YSL for trademark infringement after a red-soled shoe appeared in its cruise collection.

In 2012, the judge ruled in Louboutin’s favor as exclusive owner to the rights of the red-soled shoe, and YSL could continue to sell shoes with red soles as long as the rest of the shoe was made in the same color. The Louboutin brand is nowhere close to losing its stomping speed, as of now the luxury brand has more than 42 boutiques worldwide and sells 600,000 shoes annually. Taking a stab at the beauty world, he has teamed up with Batallure Beauty LLC to launch Christian Louboutin Beauté set to be released sometime in 2013.

Citing the Holly Hobbie doll’s layered patchwork clothing as a reference point for resort, Riccardo Tisci, Givenchy’s creative director, realized his inspiration by adding a ruffled peplum effect to a variety of silhouettes. This included a gabardine trenchcoat, a chocolate brown leather top that was paired with a printed tapered skirt, and a denim dress — all executed to perfection. His photo prints stunned and were seen in two floral options, as well as in a spectacular floral confetti burst. “It was so full of print, which is becoming a sign of Givenchy,” Tisci said to WWD. “I wanted to develop that, and deliver a collection that was part Gypsy and dolly.” The outcome was both.

Opening looks included various white lace ensembles (a particular standout was the corset dress worn over pants), which led up to a neutral trench with a floral lined collar and lapel — offering a hint of the colorful prints that followed. We then saw a green and pink floral printed strapless dress shown over slim pants, the same print in a jacket and pant combination, a floral print dress covered with a leather bomber jacket, followed by numerous peplum looks, and ending with a black jacket and a black, oversized, flared out pant for evening.

Collars and cuffs were completed in combinations of sparkling crystals, mother of pearl, obsidian (volcanic glass formed as an igneous rock), and onyx. Just stunning! His color palette consisted of white, taupe, navy, black and gold and he played with a variety of fabrics, including cotton poplin, leather and textured lace, presenting a brilliant, wearable collection. Strappy white, black and printed pumps with concaved heels and peep toe ankle boots in white lace, black leather and various prints (the same used in the apparel) finished the looks.

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Born in 1957 and raised just a few miles from Rimini, Italy — a town famous for its impeccable shoe manufacturing, Giuseppe Zanotti created his first collection with 15 employees, including a jeweler and an embroiderer.

Today, more than 350 people work on his collections. Modernizing traditional silhouettes, Zanotti produces more than 400,000 pairs of shoes annually.

As a young designer, he freelanced at the fashion houses of Valentino Garavani, Christian Dior, Roberto Cavalli and Gianfranco Ferré.

Zanotti opened his first boutique in Milan, in 2000. Since then, stores in New York, Dubai and Paris have opened, totaling 50 stores globally. Footwear News, a publication by WWD, awarded Zanotti Designer of the Year in late 2000.

Ranging in prices from $500 to $3,000 a pair, Giuseppe Zanotti footwear is esteemed as luxuriously crafted shoes. Crystals, pony-hair and metal embellishments appear on sandals, booties and pumps as staples of the brand. Zanotti continues to manufacture styles that are casual yet sensual with a wide array of heel structures.

Zanotti has collaborated with Chopard, model Anja Rubik and rapper Kanye West and has designed for Vera Wang, Thakoon and Balmain. In 2010, he won the “Prix d’Excellence de la Mode” from Marie Claire International for Best Footwear Collection.

The first men’s collection was presented at the Pitti Uomo menswear trade show in June 2012, solidifying the designer’s influence in footwear design. Giuseppe Zanotti Design has since branched out to include handbags and accessories.

ALEXANDER WANG – Fall/Winter 2013-14 Collection – New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

November 14 – November 15 Thursday Friday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm 11:00 am – 7:00 pm fall / winter merchandise for women now up to 90% off retail prices we have been restocking daily    HELMUT LANG   now 30% off everything t-shirts now $28 sweaters now $56 blouses now $63 bottoms now $35 – $91 dresses now $84 – $126 blazers now $70 – $140 outerwear now $210 leather jackets now $280 above prices reflect the 30% off markdown prices are rounded up to the nearest dollar

Hugo Boss’ Spring/Summer 2013 campaign translates a breath of fresh air into sophistication and leisure. The stills feature models Liu Wen, Toni Garn, Edita Vilkeviciute and Gabriel Aubrey. Photographed by renowned photographer Mikael Jansson, this advertisement will surely leave you pining for warmer climates.

By Malaika Woods

Photo Credit: Versace/Mert and Marcus

Photographer team Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot shot fashion supermodels Kate Moss, Joan Small and Daria Werbowy as they gracefully portray modern day goddesses in the Versace Spring/Summer 2013 campaign.

Inspired by the annual music festival, Coachella, (which takes place in an expansive California desert) Mert & Marcus recreated their sandy version in London.

Each model is accompanied by a male counterpart, or counterparts in Moss’ case. One of the toughest feats as a model is to stand out when photographed alongside multiple subjects. Moss pulls this off like a triumphantly.