"It's All in the Design"

(snap) then you really need to know about ELLE’s latest finds – the three hottest designers that celebrities and die-hard fashion fans alike are queuing up to get their hands on.
First up is Laurence Dacade(1). This Parisian woman’s name may not be instantly recognisable to you but trust us, you have definitely lusted after her shoes as she has designed for amongst others, Chanel, Givenchy, Christian Lacroix and Karl Lagerfeld. Yes, she is responsible for your overdraft. Her shoes are sexy and elegant with, naturally, a serious dash of chic thrown in for good measure, and with a philosophy that there is ‘no need to suffer for beauty’ she is without doubt a shoe designer after our own heart. As if that wasn’t enough her latest seal of approval came last week as Gwyneth Paltrow, current queen of the wardrobe re-vamp, stepped out onto the red carpet sporting a pair of Laurence Dacade shoes.
Next on our shopping list is Jonathan Kelsey(2). A Central Saint Martins graduate, Jonathan cut his teeth with four years at shoe Mecca Jimmy Choo before branching out on his own. Since then he has been in great demand and his list of collaborators reads like a who’s who list of the British fashion world; Luella, Giles Deacon, Gina and, most recently, Mulberry. His own label is a lust-have for any discerning fashion fan. Seriously sexy and decidedly sculptural, his designs combine inspiration from the 1920’s and 1960’s with a modern aesthetic and more than a nod to the dark side – these are not shoes for good girls. He has a serious celebrity following - Alexa Chung, Kelly Osbourne and Kate Bosworth are all fans, and he has designed a shoe called Amy especially for Amy WInehouse. Look out for his Autumn/Winter collection – the ELLE team have fallen for the ink blue suede stilettos and patent leather shoe boots.
The final name on the ELLE shopping list is Brit Nicholas Kirkwood(3). Another graduate of Central Saint Martins, he is currently setting the fashionable tongues wagging with the news that he has been appointed the new Head of Accessories at Pollini, working alongside Jonathan Saunders. Not that this comes as any surprise – since the launch of his eponymous collection in 2005 this man has been hot property, teaming up with a veritable array of designers including Chloe, Gareth Pugh, Zac Posen and Philip Lim. One look at his collection is enough to tell you why they all want him. We defy you to resist the sculptural forms and geometric shapes of his designs which are works of art more than practical footwear (not that that will stop us sporting them with everything we own). He’s best known for seeking out unusual skins and cutting-edge techniques to create his designs – shaved stingray, laser-cut mirror leather and sueded alligator are all commonplace in his collections.
Laurence Dacade is stocked at Harvey Nichols and Matches.
Jonathan Kelsey and Nicholas Kirkwood are both stocked at Harvey Nichols and Dover Street Market.
Happy shopping ladies!

(Elle U.K.)