ELEGANT WOMEN'S FOOTWEAR, MY TRIBUTE TO FEMININITY

 

Stefan Meuwissen's love for women's shoes was awakened at a relatively late stage in his life. To be precise, it happened in his early twenties, soon after he completed his studies. This interest, which would later develop into a fascination, originates from this period.

 

This love blossomed at a time when Stefan was travelling to renowned fashion cities such as London, Paris and New York. During his visits to these metropolises, known for their numerous big fashion houses, his eye was caught by the self-confident women and It girls elegantly sashaying down the pavements. A sight described by Stefan Meuwissen as 'a feast for the eyes'. He was particularly intrigued by the way in which the women exhibited their self-confidence.

 

The rapid pace of urban life, through which the women manoeuvre themselves daily, explains their natural urge to show off their best side. Stefan registered this discreet form of ambition in the subway. He admired the ease with which, on their way to work, they deftly exchanged their ballerinas or sneakers for a pair of heels. Perhaps a daily routine. A rehearsed trick. Artless art. And with the very same ease, they merged with the crowd and walked jauntily into their offices. Like a chameleon, they adapted themselves to their environment in a remarkably smooth manner. Seeing this made Stefan realise the effect that wearing high heels has on a woman. A wonderful sight!

 

The nightlife in these metropolises gave Stefan the opportunity to see women proudly flaunt themselves within their comfort zone, or the urban hunting ground. He was struck by how much importance was given to the heels they wore, and particularly to the designer of those shoes. The signature, an eye-catcher. Wearing high heels lent a certain air of distinction. It armed these sophisticated women with a definite allure, bringing forth a significant change in their behaviour; yet this was a positive metamorphosis. As if it was a way of escaping from the daily grind. Living in the delusion of the night.

 

This exhilarating madness, amidst which women displayed their beauty without inhibitions, fed the imagination of Stefan Meuwissen. It unleashed a sort of passion which, one evening, prompted him to start making sketches. His ideas on paper, streamlined and independent. The first lines were simply scribbled on a post-it. Yet in no time at all, the drawings started piling up. Immortalised in ink. At first, this remained an informal activity. A good way to utilise time. But this was to change soon.

 

During a flight from Brussels to New York, a stewardess noticed his sketches. She walked by several times and stopped each time to steal a look at the shoe designs. Like the eye-catching signature of a top designer, Stefan's sketches grabbed her attention. Just before the landing at JFK in New York, the stewardess could no longer restrain her curiosity. She asked Stefan whether he was a shoe designer. To this question, he replied that it was just a hobby. The stewardess seemed to be somewhat taken aback by his answer. But she managed to counter this with a compliment: "You should really become a shoe designer."