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GLORY CHEN and JOY CHEN FALL/WINTER 2010 FOOTWEAR WITH A DELICIOUS THEME


LUXURY SHOES ON THE MENU


601 West 26th Street, NYC

Words, Images Judith Ecochard

A tasty food inspired collection by Creative Director Joy Chen Kolterman--- tempted savoury types at her  Fall 2010 footwear preview--- that was literally on the kitchen table and or at the café…

Seriously, feminine and labor intensive handmade details, buttery smooth leathers, and construction ingredients that are a secret recipe--- all get in the mix of delectable kickers---

Inspired by a chocolate box/
Bons  Bons .
 Perforated leather with a sweet...


Pasta/ Rice/Linguine….



Salads, Cookies and Pie Crusts on the pumps…textures are amazing.


We thought ---how witty, a translation from artistic concept to elegant reality…with culinary influences wonderfully rendered in luxe materials, rich hues, striking graphics, and custom molded outsoles---

“I love to cook and I watch food programs,” Chen told us.

























“I bought the cookie cutters and I tried to put everything together in the designs.”

From the abstract whimsy and beauty of her thoughts, to functional practical applications---in the actual design of shoes---that of course, sophisticated women will want to wear…

It all works.

Even the packaging resembles recipe books and the tissue paper is in a cookie shape---“that connects the whole thing.”

TOP PICKS:

We loved the cold weather staple that's---“a variations on a cookie cutter”---a snow boot –wedge heel-with a spring instep for comfort.

Joy Chen (Café) selections are more accessibly priced (about $280-$350) but embrace a similar concepts …via cut-outs, metallic accents, bows, and resin ornaments.

There is a continuation of that terrific basket weave we saw from last season…

And as always, there are the custom lasts, specific constructions and unique hardware that make anything “Chen” special.

…and a candy theme in the kids’ kickers. Fun.

Chen herself has a graphics background and is always one of our favorite designers to chat with---as she has strong ideas on how to support the structures of her shoes---and a distinctive and instinctual sense of color and silhouettes.

Shipments are in August 2010

INFO: http://www.glorychen.com

(FYI: Two eponymous boutiques---in SF and NYC)
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