When I re-launched the brand earlier this year there was one shoe I knew I absolutely had to include in the new collection. It's a shoe I designed over ten years ago and one which has played a part in literally thousands of weddings, events and special occasions and continues to be a firm favourite today. That shoe is called Mimosa.
When Mimosa first launched back in 2013 I think it was just in two colourways- ivory and my signature colour, mint green. These were closely followed by pale blue and blush pink versions and later on we added a rose gold glitter version. In the years folllowing Mimosa was launched in primrose yellow, lilac, the infamous forest green and we even collaborated with British accessory brand, Laurel Lime to create a limited edition version which was hand embellished with all over Swarovski crystals! So as you can probably tell by now, Mimosa is a really versatile shoe.
So just why has Mimosa been such a popular shoe for weddings and occasions, when there are so many to choose from? It's tricky to know for sure but I'm convinced that when it comes to wedding shoes, we all like a little bit of elegance with a subtle nod to the past. Even the most modern looking shoe is likely to have elements of vintage inspiration- it's a bit like when you hear a song thinking it's an original, only to discover the original OG launched it years ago!
I've always had a thing for t-bar shoes. I don't know what it is but there's something about them which has a timeless appeal (as a rather handy bonus they're also really easy to wear thanks to the support the strap gives you, as well as being super flattering thanks to the t-bar which visually elongates your legs, but I digress!). Although t-bars have been around pretty much forever, when I originally launched the brand in 2008 there wasn't really anyone doing them in a way that I liked, so I had to design my own.
Ever since doing my degree in footwear design one of my favourite shoe designers has been Salvatore Ferragamo- again there is just something about his iconic designs which resonates, they're unique but with a definite vintage edge. There's a particular style t-bar shoe which really makes my shoe designer heart flip and Ferragamo designed several. It's a t-bar shoe on an almond shaped toe with a low heel and stunning attention to detail- a style particularly reminiscent of the 1920s and thirties.
Mimosa looks nothing like any of these shoes (I definitely have my own style!), but what she does have is the same intricate attention to detail (something I'd later become known for in my designs), as well as the classic t-bar and the same effortless wearability. I also spend a lot of time perfecting the fit of all my shoes, and the cut of Mimosa just seems to fit all foot shapes and sizes. It's a shoe you can wear again and again and never goes out of style. Here's to the next ten years!
Love,
Rachel xx
ps- you can see all the current Mimosas here!