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For the first time, Aldo is offering a women’s footwear collection in extended sizing, and it has tapped one of the WNBA‘s most stylish players to curate the range: Diamond DeShields.
“Sports and athletes continue to serve as major forces in shaping fashion trends,” Amanda Amar, vice president of global brand strategy, social media and public relations at Aldo, told FN. “Partnering with athletes like Diamond DeShields, who are at the forefront of this movement, position Aldo at the intersection of fashion and sports, with a specific focus on addressing a significant gap in the market: trendy, comfortable shoes available in extended sizes for women.”
The collection — dubbed Aldo feat. WNBA Diamond DeShields — includes 12 of the Chicago Sky guard’s favorite styles from the brand’s fall 2024 women’s line. The looks will be extended from size 11 to 13.
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“I wear a size 12.5 and it’s always been difficult to find stylish and comfortable shoes in larger sizes since very few brands extend past a size 10 or 11,” DeShields told FN. “For me, this collaboration not only meets a crucial market need but just as importantly, it promotes inclusivity and diversity in fashion, ensuring that everyone can find their perfect pair. The way people look at you when you’re rocking heels at 6-foot-5 as a woman is incredibly empowering.”
The collection with Aldo is also bigger than fashion for DeShields, who had spinal surgery in 2020 to remove a tumor that could have left her paralyzed.
“I’ve since been able to recover my full on-court performance while winning a championship ring, and the start of this collaboration with Aldo was my first time wearing heels since my surgery. This partnership, with inclusivity and diversity at its core, was something I had to be a part of,” said DeShields.
The athlete’s curation includes 12 styles in various colorways, including her favorite look from the season, the silver metallic Stessy stilettos. “The silhouette is timeless. You can dress it up, you can dress it down and you can wear it any season. It’s the perfect shoe to help me feel both powerful and feminine,” said DeShields.
Some other DeShields favorites in the collection include the Josita black croco kitten heel slingbacks and the Maybellie black studded boot.
The Aldo feat. WNBA Diamond DeShields collection arrives Sept. 19 via Aldoshoes.com and at Aldo stores in the United States.
Although this collection is new, DeShields is already looking forward to a bright future with Aldo.
“This first collaboration was so exciting and really ignited my creativity, so I would love to continue to partner with Aldo in new and innovative ways, especially in the extended sizing space,” said DeShields. “I would also love to evolve both professionally and personally by exploring even more means of self-expression even outside of fashion.”
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
