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Gianvito Rossi’s signature Portofino sandal is turning 10.
To mark the milestone, the essential style was reinterpreted in 10 new metallic shades in a limited-edition collection dropping Monday in selected boutiques of the brand in Europe and the U.S., as well as on its online store.
Inspired by the colors of the Italian jet-set destination the sandal is named after, the colorful limited-edition range will be available in two heights, both retailing at 790 euros.
Still one of the label’s best-sellers, the Portofino sandal best expresses Rossi’s less-is-more aesthetic and contemporary approach to design, which blends purity of lines and high craftsmanship to offer feminine styles that defy trends and can stand the test of time.
“The Portofino sandal embodies the essence of my vision: beauty in simplicity and quality, as well as in the attention to proportions. Its design is conceived to enhance a woman’s silhouette rather than prevail over her,” said Rossi. “After 10 years, our customers keep looking for it: I like to think that its lines have somehow got out of time to stay, becoming a cherished object women can always have within reach in their wardrobe.”
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Launched in 2014 after that Rossi spent a weekend in Portofino, the style also rose as a go-to accessory to complete red carpet looks ever since, with celebrities seen wearing the sandal ranging from Jennifer Lawrence, Nicole Kidman and Diane Kruger to the Kardashian-Jenner clan.
Rossi founded his namesake brand in 2006 in San Mauro Pascoli, Italy, after spending years studying shoemaking under his footwear-guru father Sergio Rossi. Best known for his sophisticated heels and the signature muted shade of powder pink of their interior soles, the shoe designer sold a controlling stake in the company to Compagnie Financière Richemont last year. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but Rossi retains a stake in the firm.
The deal further encouraged Rossi to expand the distribution footprint with new store openings, as well as widen the product assortment. Last year, the brand stepped into handbags with the introduction of the Valì style, after Rossi toyed with the category in the past with some clutch designs.
