InStyle is hands-down my favorite fashion magazine, mostly because they do an amazing job of blending fantasy with the real world, and show you actually what to buy and actually how to wear it. As the authority on what real women wear, it makes a ton of sense for the magazine to get involved in the process of creating pieces themselves…but did you know that InStyle has never ventured into the world of retail? Never ever ever?
Likewise, there’s Nine West: well-priced, stylish, and wearable in real life (I’d say about 50% of my shoe wardrobe comes from the store). The brand has done some amazing collaborations in the past – Kirna Zabete, Pamela Love, Sophie Theallet – but never before has it collaborated with a major media outlet. Never ever ever.
So this collaboration is very first-of-its-kind.
Very exciting.
And! I had the honor of getting the chance to interview InStyle Accessories Director Leah Karp for an exclusive first look at the collection: why the magazine chose Nine West to partner with, how the collaboration came about (over a dinner in Paris!), the creative process behind the styles. (We also got to take a peek inside InStyle’s legendary fashion closet. Which was just a little bit of fun.)
My personal favorite styles:
The Gamin in Leopard (and Red…can’t decide)…
The Genial in Pewter…
And the Destino in Dark Red Pony Hair.
The collection (ranging in price from $79 to $149) debuts today both in stores and online.
Check out this month’s issue of InStyle for a 12-page booklet in which the style experts behind the magazine explain exactly how to style each shoe, and post an Instagram photo of yourself wearing a pair of these shoes with the hashtag #9WInStyle for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be featured in an upcoming issue of InStyle.
