Paul Andrew is the stylish, ambitious man of the moment. Here, designers and celebrities weigh in on why the designer is destined for major stardom.
Diane von Furstenberg, designer and CFDA president
“Paul is a true talent and really understands shoes,” she said. “He pays a great deal of attention to fit and women’s needs in general. He’s a total pro and will be one of the shoe designers who has an impact.”
Linda Fargo, SVP fashion office and store presentation, Bergdorf Goodman
“I recall vividly my first [encounter] with Paul,” she said. “As soon as we walked into the hideaway location in Paris where he was showing, we knew there was [something] there. I was fortunate to be with our president, Josh Schulman, who has a special radar for footwear. We both got a feeling that happens rarely with these explorations. Paul had shoes that straddled that golden crossroads of being both editorial and commercially viable. He has continued to evolve, but this DNA we saw on our first encounter has remained a pitch-perfect balance of trend and emotion, with a strong core business.”
Tory Burch, chairman, CEO and designer of Tory Burch LLC
“Paul is a talented designer. His innovative use of materials — from printed satin to crystal embellishments — is matched by his extraordinary attention to detail,” she said. “It’s incredible to think that he has only been in business for three years. I look forward to seeing how he evolves.”
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Emmy Rossum, actress
“Paul is unique, kind, charismatic — and handsome. I love his aesthetic. The shoes are feminine, edgy and fun. He’s not afraid to do his own thing, and that’s what makes him a trailblazer in terms of pioneering heel shapes. Paul is also a gentleman, always impeccably dressed and a gracious host. At his showroom, there’s a dish of almonds and cut fruit, which shows the gentleman he is. That extends to the care with which he makes his shoes. They are exceptionally beautiful and shaped to the foot in a comfortable way.”
Nicholas Mellamphy, VP and buying director at The Room for Hudson’s Bay
“I see Paul as the next Manolo Blahnik. Sometimes he does fantastical shoes, but he does look at the design of the shoe as an actual item people use rather than a sculpture. His lines are subtle and clean. People gravitate to him because of that. It’s sophisticated in its simplicity.”
Micaela Erlanger, stylist
“Paul has made custom shoes for me a number of times, and they have always been absolutely perfect for the occasion. The red shoes that Lupita Nyong’o wore to the Golden Globes in 2014 (with a Ralph Lauren gown), the white sandals she wore to the Critics Choice Awards that year and the red shoes Olivia Munn wore to the Met Ball this year [all come to mind].”
