In the introduction to her book “Cult Heels: Exceptional talent in shoe design,” fashion journalist Ursula Carranza lays out the case for her focus on footwear.
“In the past decade alone, shoes—be they pumps, sandals, or sneakers—have become the central player in a woman’s wardrobe,” she wrote. “Once considered a mere accessory, shoes are in-and-of art in their own right and have the power to seduce and transform.”
They are “cult objects,” argues Carranza, who has worked at People en Español, Siempre Mujer and Time magazines.
Los Gatos designer, Flor de Maria Rivera, finds herself among names like Stuart Weitzman, Jessica Butrich, Giuseppe Zanotti, Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo, with a 12-page spread in the 10×11 coffee-table volume.
“I am incredibly honored to share these pages with so many of the household names that nurtured my love for shoes,” said Rivera in a release. “Having my designs selected for Cult Heels, worn in global red carpets and chosen by the A-lists in the entertainment industry is a true testament to the power of dreams”
Rivera’s company has been on the rise in recent months, with support from influencers like Saweetie, Cameron Diaz and Jenna Ortega (who donned a pair for Coachella).
The Loft Publications book was printed in Spain and features text in three languages—English, German and Spanish.
The chapter on Christian Louboutin celebrates the designer’s recent Flamencaba line, his Icons campaign as well as his Nudes collection.
Carranza’s examination of Malaysian shoemaker Jimmy Choo is glitzy and aspirational.
The pages on Flor de Maria zeros-in on 20 styles, including the Carrie sandal, which made its way to a red carpet before the business had officially launched, and Rivera’s Flor design, which was inspired by Peru.
Ursula Carranza said Rivera just had to be included in the book, in part to highlight her success as an entrepreneur.
“Her story is truly remarkable,” she said in the release. “Flor de Maria’s shoes are superbly elegant, sexy and feminine. To me they are the finest expression of modern elegance: glamorous and sexy but timeless at the same time.”
