22.04.10

Practically Stylish

Alejandro Ingelmo

Alejandro Ingelmo is a practical man... although this fact wouldn't be immediately apparent after a quick glance over his collection of towering heels and buckled wedges for women, and blingy kicks for men.

Chatting with the New York based designer at the Finch & Partners press day, he proudly holds up one of the women's pumps to show me the platform built in to the sole. It's a neat trick that makes traversing in heels that little bit easier, something Ingelmo explains is of utmost importance to him because "I care about women and their comfort." He smiles as he says this, fully aware that many would never believe that a designer of such high-fashion, high-heeled shoes could consider practicality and comfort .

And yet this is what Ingelmo does. Even his gutsy, spiked metal 'diamond sole' (with chunky rubber grip) is there for reasons beyond aesthetics; "It's a feature on the men's sneakers, but I like to mix things up, so I thought I'd put it on the woman's pumps," he says. "I thought I'd try it on the lower heeled shoe, because a sole like that is good for the working girl."

With this, it's clear that Ingelmo has the New York woman in mind when he designs his women's range; A woman who stylishly pounds the streets of that most fierce of lipstick jungles and won't settle for anything less than beauty and practicality.

Posted by Sarah Barnes

Tags: Alejandro Ingelmo Finch & Partners