Being an EIP (extremely important person) at Net-à-Porter, aka very good customer, is something I can only recommend. I have been a loyal client of the online shopping destination since many many years, and can only tell you that the customer service, the private shopping department and the invitations you get are outstanding. I have become friends with many of the team members. Net-à-Porter has become a family for me, and I am part of it.
Great memories: With Edgardo in 2013 and with Elizabeth last summer in Paris.
During quarantine, Net-à-Porter started an online event series for their top clients. As travelling has not been an option lately, we meet with the designers or beauty specialist, top chefs and others over Zoom. Yesterday, I had sunset cocktails with Edgardo Osorio of AQUAZZURA
and Elizabeth von der Goltz, Global Buying Director Net-à-Porter and one of the most stylish women I know.
For Edgardo it was more like a morning juice as he spent his quarantine in Los Angeles in his beach house located next to the sea. He told us that his favorite thing to do has been planting flowers, mostly gardenias for the smell and lavender for the color. We might be seeing lots of floral details in his next collection as he has been drawing mainly nature.
«FASHION NEEDS TO MAKE PEOPLE DREAM.»
Edgardo is a people person and is truly looking forward to hugging his friends and family again. On Monday, he is going back to Italy as the stores and warehouses are opening again. For him, it was an absolutely new experience to be in one place for over 2 months. Usually, he is constantly on the go, and surrounded by his friends. AQUAZZURA shoes can be seen on the feet of trendsetters, Hollywood stars, European royalty and fashion insiders all around the globe.
Some of my new AQUAZZURA shoes, I got during quarantine.
How did he start his company? After attending the London College of Fashion and Central Saint Martins, he made his first step into the footwear world working with some of the most prestigious luxury brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo, René Caovilla, and Roberto Cavalli. In 2011, after 10 years in the industry and at just 25 years old, he launched his luxury footwear brand AQUAZZURA. His initial idea was to create shoes for dancing. The summer before he created his brand, he was invited to twelve weddings in one summer and was always placed next to the dance floor. No wonder, born in Colombia and raised between Miami and London, he is always the first and last one on it. «Dancing lifts your mood, it’s the best exercise,» he says. On Spotify, you can even find the AQUAZZURA Happy Summer 2020 playlist. As his female friends were always complaining that they cannot find shoes comfortable enough to dance in, he decided to change this.
«COMFORTABLE WAS A DIRTY WORD.»
«You need to fall in love with your shoe. It becomes part of your body,» Edgardo explains. In the past nine years, AQUAZZURA has gained global recognition as an innovator in the footwear industry. «Nine years ago, when I started my brand, comfortable was a dirty word. You should never have to apologize for wearing flats. So I decided to create a flat you don’t need to apologize for.»
Click here for the outfit post with the Christy flats.
The so-called Christy flat immediately caused a frenzy among fashionistas. A classic flat gets dressed up with a pretty lace-up tie and brilliant metallic heel. What else could you dream of? Comfortable, feminine and chic in one.
«LUXURIOUS THINGS TAKE TIME TO MAKE.»
For Edgardo, «the definition of luxury is time. Fashion became too fast. Luxurious things take time to make. For a shoe, a millimeter makes the difference. Either it doesn’t fit or it is uncomfortable.» At AQUAZZURA, it takes around 6-12 months to make a new shoe model. Edgardo explains: «We have a fit model, we always work with. After around 5-7 fit trials, it goes into production. Then we make a size run.»
Edgardo’s sketch was all about yellow yesterday.
«I LOVE TO GIVE A PUMP MOVEMENT.»
At the moment, he has a thing for yellow. He loves India, Mexico, color, and crafts. His favorite details are fringes, tassels, everything that moves. «I love to give a pump movement». While we are in the Zoom meeting, he immediately grabs a pen and starts designing a shoe. Instantly, you can see how he combines his passion for modern design with impeccable luxury craftsmanship to create timeless footwear with a twist.
For his travel tips for Florence, click here please for the previous post.
What will be the first thing Edgardo will do once he is back in Florence? «I’ll grab an insane portion of gelato (ice-cream in Italian), pistachio and cookies & cream and watch the sunset on the bridge.» Where will he spend his summer? «I would love to do a road trip through Italy. I will definitely go to the Amalfi Coast and stay longer there. In August, I will go to Greece, one of my favorite places in the world.»
De Gournay x Aquazzura
«I LOVE MATCHIMALISM.»
When I asked him if we can expect more accessories, such as bags, belts and scarfs or even ready-to-wear as I love matching outfits, he laughed and said: «I also love matchimalism and completely understand what you mean. But before I launch ready-to-wear, I will focus more on tablecloths and home accessories following my collaboration with De Gournay. However, more accessories will follow and in fall, I am going to launch men’s footwear and my own tequila.»
Speaking of which, as we met for sunset cocktails, Edgardo showed us to prepare a margarita and a mocktail, which I loved. Edgardo is obsessed with ginger and includes it in everything he can. He likes it spicy. Cheers!
LoL, Sandra
Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Net-à-Porter, Aquazzura
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