Q&A: Charlotte Olympia at Neiman Marcus

Photography by Regina Arriola; Photos: Rodrigo Gaya on December 5th, 2012 in Art Basel 2012, Bal Harbour Shops, Fashion

Charlotte Olympia

Bal Harbour, FL – December 4, 2012 – She’s a whimsical designer that clearly doesn’t take fashion too seriously, and Charlotte Olympia has created something of a footwear cult amongst avid fashion-obsessed females everywhere. In honor of Art Basel Miami Beach, Olympia unveiled a Basel-inspired collection of her gimmicky, sky-high heels (her signature Dolly style, to be exact) to a select group of Miami’s style set at Neiman Marcus in Bal Harbour Shops. The event also gave attendees a preview of Olympia’s Resort 2013 Glamazon collection: a feather-infused assortment of accessories inspired by her native Brazilian roots. And while we picked the designer’s brain over tea, we came to realize that the fantasy we wear on our feet is the reality she lives every day.

Q: Tell us about your Art Basel-inspired collection, I see that you’re wearing a pair of them today.

A: We did them in our signature shoe model, Dolly, and we decided to do this during Art Basel for obvious reasons. I chose five twentieth century artists to represent each shoe and I chose ones that would be recognizable from a consumer point of view. I had an artist paint them for me. The artist is actually a friend that I used to go to school with, and she’s obviously very talented. They are all completely hand painted—literally works of art.

Q: Your shoes are made with a very specific customer in mind. How did you find your niche in the market?

A: As a younger designer I established my aesthetic in order to set myself apart from others. It’s about establishing signature silhouettes but at the same time; I guess the essence of the brand comes from a personal place. I love the 40s and the 50s and all things glamorous and old Hollywood, so I try to turn that into my designs. It’s about making beautiful pieces that make you smile. I like surreal elements. It’s taking something fun and making it wearable.

Q: How do you find a balance between your creativity and what’s marketable?

A: I begin backwards by making something that is absolutely fantastical and out there, and then I can tone it down. But the ones that sell the best are not toned down at all. I think with accessories you can get away with making things a bit more whimsical. I believe that there are people who want more from their accessories. At the end of the day, accessories are objects and that’s why I love designing them—because they look beautiful, worn or unworn. You can wear them or just look at them.

Q: Tell us about your leap from shoes to handbags.

A: It started naturally. The first bag I did is called Pandora; it’s a Lucite clutch box. A lot of the bags stem from the shoes. I like matching things. The Pandora is a simple and classic bag, and sometimes that’s what I like. Sometimes I am a less is more person, and other times I am a more is more person. The brand is about doing something that is a bit less serious. I like things that are special. I like to make things that people want, maybe not need, but they certainly want! I try to make collectibles.

Q: Every artist has a method. What’s yours?

A: It starts with a feeling—what I’m personally feeling. The Glamazon collection is inspired by Brazil, I’m half Brazilian, and it was inspired by more organic forms of things that are obvious Brazilian objects. I am inspired a lot by shapes and forms, and I like to take the obvious and make them wearable. My collections are inspired by the 40s and 50s, of course, but sometimes completely random things.

Q: You have 30 minutes to pack for a two-day vacation to Miami. What’s in your weekender?

A: Well I actually only had two minutes to pack for this trip! I have a uniform, I know what I like regardless of what’s in fashion at the time or not, and I know what I believe looks best on me. I like to throw in dresses always, color and shoes. I have my go-tos: a super-high wow show, or queen B shoe as I call it, a pair of my flat Tutti Frutti shoes—they’re my favorite—leopard print wedges because leopard goes with everything and you can wear them day and night, and definitely a wow shoe! My mother always said, ‘you never know where you might end up!’ I always pack a Pandora bag and my banana bag too if I’m going somewhere tropical. I’m very tongue-in-cheek and obvious. And red lipstick!

Q: In the spirit of Art Basel Miami Beach, tell us how you define art.

A: A lot of the stuff that I design is in my head. I designed a Miami collection, but I haven’t spent much time here. I feel like I’ve been here before though, maybe in a past life. I’m a fantasist. I visit places in my head and I research. I like to make my own art—I have the most amazing two-piece suit from Versace that used to belong to my mother in the 80s, and its got an Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe and James Dean print on it. I didn’t think that I’d ever really wear it, so I had it framed in my wardrobe. It’s all about making your own art, because art is different for everyone. For me, it’s footwear and bags and objects that look beautiful both off and on.