AH CHOO!!! Jimmy Choo is The Shoe Icon Master. Cheers!
When you first arrive in Hollywood and you are lucky enough to get invited to a Movie Premiere, the Golden Globes, the Academy Awards. There is a huge chance that you get to actually be right on the red carpet. As you watch the stars walk the red carpet, without question the shoes are amazing. Without hesitation, the question is Whose shoes are those? The designer name that mentioned more than 80% of the time. "Jimmy Choo".
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the shoe legend. Enjoy!!
One of the most glamorous parties I got to see, or be a part of and work in the catering world was the Jimmy Choo opening in Beverly Hills. It was created for the shoe Icon by Wendi Dong Murdock. It was in one of the iconic mansions in the Hills of Hollywood. The Who is who in Hollywood were there and of course the A listers and the the powerful of the Biz.... Epic for sure. Impressive, without a doubt.
Wendi was known for her parties and this one did not disappoint. Wendi herself is quite legendary.!
So...
A little history of the legend "Choo". Choo was born in Penang, Malaysia, into a family of shoemakers. His family name is Chow but was misspelled on his birth certificate as Choo. He studied at Shih Chung Primary School in Love Lane, Penang. His father taught him how to make shoes, and it is often reported that he made his first shoe when he was 11 years old.
Choo graduated from Cordwainers Technical College in Hackney (now part of the London College of Fashion) in 1983. Choo worked part-time at restaurants and as a cleaner at a shoe factory to help fund his college education. After graduation Choo began work at a shop in Hackney which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. His craftsmanship and designs were soon noticed and his creations became featured in eight pages in a 1988 issue of Vogue. Patronage from Diana, Princess of Wales from 1990 further boosted his image.
In 1996 he co-founded Jimmy Choo Ltd with British Vogue magazine accessories editor Tamara Mellon. In April 2001, Choo sold his 50% stake in the company for £10 million. He has since concentrated his work on the exclusive Jimmy Choo Couture line produced under license from Jimmy Choo Ltd. The Jimmy Choo London line, also known as Jimmy Choo Ready-To-Wear or, simply, Jimmy Choo, is under the purview of Tamara Mellon. The ready-to-wear line has expanded to include accessories such as handbags.
The Look
All Choo shoes are hand-made, his perfectionist craftsmanship is displayed in their simple details. They are never overtly fashionable yet are equal in elegance to the designer clothes they are usually worn with. His style is elegant, feminine, maybe sexy. They were favoured by the Princess of Wales, who would buy one style in several colours for evening wear and to coordinate with her day suits. Choo favors crystalline colors, aqua, fuchsia, and bright orange and applies them to luxury fabrics like silk satin and shantung. Python and fish skin are some of his favorite materials because of the way they accept dye, and mink and feathers grace some of his styles. He has used a wide variety of stones, from Swarovski crystals to natural crystals for their healing power. His stiletto heels have been described as "dainty and deadly." Choo's philosophy is that shoes can be both beautiful and comfortable, and his devotees prove the point by their nearly fanatical devotion to his footwear.
Who Wears It
Princess Diana, Cate Blanchett, Madonna, Halle Berry¸Victoria Beckham, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Katherine Heigl, Lindsay Lohan, Beyonce, Cameron Diaz, Kyliue Minogue, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez
THE Jimmy Choo Foundation
THE JIMMY CHOO FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE TRUST THAT EMPOWERS WOMEN THROUGH EDUCATION AND ENTERPRISE TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS.
Corporate social responsibility has always been integral to Jimmy Choo and is embedded in our company values. To reinforce this commitment, The Jimmy Choo Foundation, was established in 2011 to focus upon the empowerment of women and improving their quality of life through education and enterprise. There is a growing recognition that economic, moral and social progress is achieved by giving women the means to contribute to and be included in the global economy. According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) there is clear evidence that bringing women into the economy helps to raise economic productivity, reduce infant mortality, contribute to improved health and increases the chances of education for the next generation. Simply put, progress is achieved through women. According to Jimmy Choo Creative Director, Sandra Choi, "Women have always been at the core of the Jimmy Choo brand, and as a company, we feel passionately about creating a world where women can develop the confidence and optimism to dream and achieve."
The Jimmy Choo Foundation addresses the most common barriers faced by women in developing economies. In order to maximise our efforts and impact, The Jimmy Choo Foundation has partnered with the global organisation CARE International ("CARE"), in particular their Lendwithcare initiative. Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the largest and most established humanitarian aid organisations focused on fighting global poverty. Launched in 2010 and operating in more than 11 countries, Lendwithcare is CARE’s ground breaking programme which supports some of the world’s poorest women, enabling them to lift themselves out of poverty with pride and dignity. Lendwithcare provides female entrepreneurs with access to credit, education and financial tools, encouraging them along the way to develop the confidence that comes with building a successful enterprise. Since 2010 Lendwithcare has benefitted 20,000 women in developing countries though the provision of loans and business training. The impact of Lendwithcare’s investment is multiplied by these women as the benefits are extended to the world around them, creating better lives for their families and building stronger communities. The Jimmy Choo Foundation, in partnership with Lendwithcare, has set a goal of supporting more than 8,000 people in developing countries by 2019.
Funding for The Jimmy Choo Foundation comes from corporate donations and fundraising initiatives coordinated by employees of Jimmy Choo. Whilst Lendwithcare is the primary beneficiary of The Jimmy Choo Foundation, the Jimmy Choo company still actively pursues and supports local charities.
This is an amazing and talented designer, craftsman and great Human Spirit. Just like Choo, I have worked in the food and beverage industry. Its the best way to connect to people very quickly. You only have 8 seconds to make an impression. But those impressions have gotten me into and involved with incredible people as I find my way in the business. I recommend it highly if you want to get to know the human spirit.
A great human spirit is Jimmy Choo. He is current, vital and a part of the design spirit that we relate and become a part of every day. Self Indulgent...yes. Like a Chanel suit classic in every way but the designs are as fresh today as the first one in 1996. Jimmy Choo is a part of all of us. We are in this together. And being in this together and a part of my family, we accept and love everyone. That's is what family is all about. We all have a part. It's up to you to go as large as you want. We can't be held back by the chains of opinions. If we don't do this, someone else will. It starts with you.... Cheers