Photo: Courtesy of In My Shoes
It's safe to say that Jimmy Choo is a brand that's achieved legend status (meaning that it's a brand that even your dad might recognize). However, for a brand so huge, you probably don't know much about its backstory. And, co-founder Tamara Mellon aims to change that. In her upcoming book, In My Shoes, Mellon lays out the drama — soup to nuts — that's plagued her and the brand from the beginning. From drug addiction and sociopaths to dead fathers and inept business partners, Mellon really doesn't hold back. According to BusinessWeek, Mellon has words for everyone, from her mother (described as a "narcissist, a sociopath, and an alcoholic" to Jimmy Choo himself ("I had set up a business with a 'creative head' who, in fact, had no creativity.").
Mellon's own brand will debut early next year, and will follow an interesting new business model that's based more on Zara than Chanel; the Tamara Mellon brand will unveil new styles each month rather than once a season, avoiding the whole high-street knockoffs that plague other luxury shoe designers. What's in store? Judging from the fact that it seems like it was Mellon — not Choo — that was responsible for the devastatingly simple Jimmy Choo shape, expect loads of skinny stilettos, toe-cleavage hugging sandals, and sexpot boots, including a pair of suede thigh-highs cheekily named "Sweet Revenge." Read the rest of the report, here. (Businessweek)