The Bite Magazine - issue 16

T here’s something comforting about vintage style. Not only does it evoke nostalgia and warmth for a bygone era but it also portrays a sense of quality and longevity. Vintage inspired fashion is a style that will always be relevant, regardless of the trends of the day. Ruby Shoo is one of those brands whose shoes stand out a mile without being ostentatious. Elegant and very pretty, the brand has definitely found a niche for creating quaint little heels that are evocative of a past fashion with a contemporary flourish. Based in north London, Ruby Shoo has been quietly building a loyal following since their launch in 2010 with their unique touch of light hearted luxury. Designed by Samantha Lines, the Ruby Shoo aesthetic is very much quirky, fun and retro but with a con- temporary twist. The brand uses a mix of colourful archived and modern fabrics in each collection, adding floral embellishments and contrasting trims for a beau- tifully textured feel. Much like most little girls everywhere, Samantha had an early infatuation with shoes and she’s been lucky enough to turn that infatuation into a successful brand. As a young person spent travelling and exploring the bazaars and markets of exotic lands, a stunning archive of fabrics and trinkets was gathered and eventually became the inspiration for every collection at Ruby Shoo.Whilst her youthful explorations provided her with the vision for design, Samantha’s education at the prestigious Cordwainers College in London gave her the skills and put her firmly on the path to creating her own unique shoes. Whilst the print and colours used are certainly quirky, the silhouettes of the shoes are classic.The collections are peppered with traditional T-bars, peep toes and the occasional wedge, and the heels are slim but sturdy, retaining the elegance of a stiletto without the imbal- ance. It’s the clever use of details that really make the designs stand out; from the scalloped panels on the April, to the pretty patterned lining in the Eva and the delicate bead like trimming on the Miley; each shoe is a display of thoughtful design, equally beautiful from all angles. The same eye for detail has carried over into the brand’s bag collection, which was launched in 2013. The bags created as a perfect partner to the shoes, range from the small and sweet variety, such as the occasion-friendly Stockholm or London designs, to those that can be used practically every day, whilst adding flair to an outfit, such as the Riva, Oslo or Venice designs. With its unique curved shape the Miami is a particular favourite and in the colour tulip, it’s the ultimate summer bag that will easily see you through mini breaks, museum visits and Pimms fuelled BBQs and for an evening out, the Torino in the stone/ navy print is a striking clutch that would lend itself to many an occasion. The joy of designs like these is that there are so many wonderful ways to style them.The striking June pumps with their art deco-esque print and small block heel would be perfect with a wide legged jumpsuit, for a look that works for the office, and paired with a state- ment necklace and the coordinating bag for dinner after. The Jenna shoe has wedding written all over it but whilst they’d look gorgeous with a midi skirt, they’d do fabulously styled for the day with a pair of distressed jeans, a pussy bow blouse and tousled hair, the perfect subversive mix of done and undone. The Hatty, with its flattering T-bar style and bold print would be great for educing a ‘60s vibe when paired with a mini shift dress and lashings of eye liner, or you could go full on ‘50s Grease with a full pastel skirt and a high pony tail but with a pastel leather jacket in place of a cardigan to keep the ensemble from looking too kitschy. www.rubyshoo.com TheVintage Shoo bite shoes