Bal Harbour

sophisticated and chic, but at the same time, she's modern," he says. Rossi recently opened his second stateside boutique in Bal Harbour Shops with a vibrant selection of shoes that capture the city's vibe. "The mood you have in Miami is a little more sensual, like the weather." he says. "Someone who travels to Miami changes a little bit to match that. That's why we offer a color or a special style that's slightly different."On the heels of a successful military- inspired collection, Rossi has launched a spring/summer line that celebrates the brand's 10-year anniversary. Glittering sandals and embellished pumps, garnished with crystal olives, slices of orange and maraschino cherries, are named after classic cocktails. "It was a lot of fun," Rossi says of the new design, which include the lime crystal Mojito lace-up sandal and a sparkling neon Cocktail bootie. "I don't use many crystals because I think it can get kind of pretentious and so I wanted to do it in a more ironic way," says Rossi. "Having a cherry, olive, or orange is a way to play with that. It's an approach that I think is going to become more and more common in fashion: just play, have a little bit of fun." Devotees of Rossi's signature aesthetic, built on a self-described pillar of elegance, modernity and femininity, will be thrilled by a selection of new styles in luscious satin and fringe. The Caribe sandal updates the iconic Portofino silhouette with fringed satin in Tabasco red, while the quintessential pointed-toe Gianvito pump is rendered in a deep purple satin. "Satin is something we're not used to seeing in shoes, but it's very interesting," says Rossi. "It's light, very feminine and elegant, but not as delicate as people think." To ensure optimal comfort and exquisite design, every shoe adheres to a rigorous craftsmanship in the brand's San Mauro Pascoli factory where Rossi's dad plays an advisory role. "When you talk about the quality and make of these shoes, it's based in experience. There's no college for it," explains the designer. "My father has a unique experience and he's very helpful." Rossi's celebrated precision—60 steps are followed to create and ensure perfection of a single classic pump—is what keeps the brand from expanding too rapidly. "I don't want to have a huge network," he says. "I'm really focused on quality. You cannot achieve quality in unlimited numbers." Up next? His elegant footwear will continue to walk the runway for designers like Joseph Altuzarra, Brandon Maxwell and Mary Katrantzou. Rossi will also launch a complete men's line (he's been test-driving prototypes) to complement the existing sneaker collection, but don't expect to find it at the Bal Harbour boutique. "This is a woman's place," he says. "It's her fantasy." 54 BAL HARBOUR "The mood you have in Miami is a little more sensual, like the weather." —Gianvito Rossi The iconic Helmut bootie features a black leather stiletto profiling the foot and ankle. PHOTO COUTESY OF GIANVITO ROSSI

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