Charlotte Stone

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Charlotte Stone

Charlotte Stone crafts the shoes of our dreams—just high enough, cheerful in color, and get this, comfortable. Sounds too good to be true, right? But it’s the double truth, they are marvelous. Charlotte’s effortlessly wearable collection matches her laid back, creative spirit, and we are enamored by her unique design approach that truly helps ladies feel their best from head to toe.

MELISSA: Things are a little different right now, we’re in an unprecedented time…where are you getting inspiration from these days?
CHARLOTTE: Indeed, things are pretty strange right now! Well, spring is in the air out here in Ventura CA, so my garden has been a really lovely source of inspiration. Everything is in bloom, there are colors (and scents!) everywhere. I’m also digging into all the art books I’ve collected over there years. Mostly they just sit on shelves and look pretty, but now I actually have the time and focus to leaf through them and remember all the fantastic shows we’ve been to.

MELISSA: You’re an LA brand but are based a little bit up the road in Ventura, can you tell us about your oceanside studio and how that influences your creative process?
CHARLOTTE: Our studio is a mile from the ocean. Our view out back is acres of avocado trees on a huge hillside, and when the ocean layer floats in, it spills over them creating this cloud-fall that is just pure magic. The studio is an old auto shop, one of those metal buildings with super high ceilings and leaky roofs, but we love it here. Ventura has a much slower pace than LA, that helped me to calm down a bit. I give myself more time with ideas, I stop and contemplate design decisions more thoroughly now. Oh and being by the beach really makes me lean into that So-Cal sunny vibe…nothin’ wrong with that.

MELISSA: We are in love with your platform shoes, tell us how you landed on that signature style?
CHARLOTTE: Thank you! Well, it’s that whole fun-and-function thing. You can feel sexy and dressed up, but also work all day and go out for drinks or grocery shop without murdering your feet!
MELISSA: Your shoes have height but have enough stability to be walkable, was that a conscious choice?
CHARLOTTE: Yes, it’s all about that sweet spot between festivity and practicality! My shoes are about fun and vibrancy and color, but if you can’t walk in them, what’s the point? I am a stickler about adding comfort features wherever I can in every style we make. Plus, we fit and wear-test everything. Every shoe that we sell, I have personally walked a mile in, so we know they’re going be good to your feet.

It’s fun to get emails from people who normally don’t wear color, and how doing so makes them feel confident and inspired!

MELISSA: Your collection is so wearable and is chock full of neutrals AND color. You seem to have a unique knack for making color not feel intimidating, what’s the trick?
CHARLOTTE: Color is intimidating for a lot of women! We see our customers in 3 loose categories: Color Crazed (think full length vintage caftan with bright yellow platforms), Color Dabblers (think color-blocked tops and bottoms) and Color Novices (think white-tee and jeans, plus a lil’ dash of bright). We try to show people how color can be mixed with your wardrobe, and how you can style them in all these different ways above. It’s fun to get emails from people who normally don’t wear color, and how doing so makes them feel confident and inspired!

MELISSA: What are some of your daily particulars that you always put on (jewelry, accessories…etc.)? …this could be pre-social distancing or what you are doing now
CHARLOTTE: I wear earrings every day, but these gold Peace earrings are in heavy rotation right now. My go-to’s for shoes are the Dolly sandal which I wear with socks in the morning (tip * slather feet in balm or salve aprés-shower, then socks, then sandals) and then in the afternoon when it warms up, off come the socks and my feet and nails are all happy and hydrated. I’m also living in all my linen clothes! They’re comfortable, feel chic but not fussy, and I can go out in garden in them if I’m feeling it.
MELISSA: With summer on the horizon, what’s next for Charlotte Stone?
CHARLOTTE: So. Much. Color. There will be a veritable color-ama. We want our shoes, and our brand as a whole, to be a source of joy and inspiration for people, whether it’s the customer wearing them, or the security guard that stops you on your way to your office to say you made his day with your mis-matched shoes (yes, that happened)! We’re pretty sure these new spring beauties will brighten your day, inspire your closet, and put a smile on your face ?

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Perennial tastemaker Charlotte Ronson has always been a touchstone for a certain kind of off-duty, downtown chic. Ronson has an established career as an entrepreneur designing clothes, accessories, and beauty products that are reflective of her signature style—feminine and sunny but with a classic edge. Truly ahead of her time, she was one of the first designers to diversify her namesake line which led to unique retail collaborations which helped expand her business and expose her wares to a global shopping audience. We recently met up with Charlotte in NY to hear about what’s she’s currently up to and what’s on the horizon for 2020.

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It’s fun to get emails from people who normally don’t wear color, and how doing so makes them feel confident and inspired!

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