Madonna's Brother Launches Shoe Line

                                                   

 

Christopher Ciccone (Photo: Dailymail.co.uk)

When your big sister is a worldwide superstar, it's hard to step out of her shadow.  Christopher Ciccone, younger brother of Madonna, is showing the fashion world his sister isn't the only one with creative talent.  The artist/interior designer just launched his first shoe collection at London Fashion Week.    

Being the brother of a music and fashion icon can be something of a challenge to create product that would been seen as innovative and to garner the respect of the design community.  The collection includes rubber boots, brogues, sneakers, sandals and his version of riding boots.  Most of the styles use rubber, leather and canvas to create pieces that have his artistic stamp on it.  Ciccone's designs were inspired by Mondrain, Delacroix and Georgia O'Keeffe.  He says that doing shoes isn't like his artwork because with this anyone can have a pair.  But with art it's limited to one buyer.  

He told CBS.com, "The difficult task was to bring something new to the market and give (the shoes) an uplift and make them a bit more interesting to wear as fashion as opposed to something that just keeps your feet dry."

He chose to debut the collection in London because he says that he's always had a connection to the city.  "I think the footwear connects to the city itself from the design point of view and from a functional point of view."  The shoes, with their rubber soles are definitely suited to wet weather conditions London is best known for.

The Ciccone Collection

                                         




References: cbs.com, Yahoo! News, Reuters

     

Truth or Dare by Madonna

Three styles from Madonna's new Truth or Dare footwear collection.
(Photo: Thomas Iannaccone)

She's been a fashion icon she she appeared on the music scene back in the 80's.  Through the course of her career she's been a trendsetter and has represented designers from Jean Paul Gaultier to Versace.  She took the leap into design in 2007 in a collaboration with H&M.  By 2010 she launched a label for young women called Material Girl.  The label's success has led to Madonna's desire to expand her fashion lifestyle brand.  With a fragrance set to debut next month, she is also stepping into the footwear business.  The icon is launching a shoe collection under the label, Truth or Dare, scheduled to hit stores in Fall 2012.

  The collection will be produced by the Canadian footwear retailer Aldo Group Inc.  There will be over 60 styles available with prices ranging from $89 to $349 USD.  The selection will include various styles from flats to over-the-knee boots.  We can expect to see Madonna's creativity in the design of the collection.  She plans to have a hands-on approach consulting on every aspect of the design process.    
Madonna's stylist, Arianne Phillips, will also be an important part of the product development.  Phillips was quoted in Footwear News saying, "Her fingers are really on this brand.  The first thing I did was remind her (Madonna) of all the shoes she wore over the years and we took the styles that we can't live without."

  Stores that plan to stock her merchandise include Nordstrom and Macy's in the U.S, Selfridges in the U.K. and at The Bay in Canada.  By 2013 the label should be available in parts of  Europe including Italy and Spain.  The hope is that Madonna's name will garner mass appeal.  Her personal style and evolution over her career has set trends and defined a generation in fashion.