Jerome Rousseau's Shoes are Gorgeous, Wearable, Walkable Art

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This week, we had the unique opportunity to visit footwear designer Jerome Rousseau’s home to preview his Fall 2010 collection, and see the beauties from his Spring 2010 collection, which is just hitting stores now. Rousseau launched his label in Fall 2008, and as a relatively new designer, he’s made great strides. His shoes have graced the feet of Charlize Theron, Cameron Diaz, January Jones, Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Stewart, to name a few. The Canadian designer now lives in Hollywood.

Rousseau spent 10 years honing his design skills, working with labels like Matthew Williamson and Isabella Fiore, before branching out on his own. This is the designer’s third collection, and with each season he brings in fabulous new bodies and recreates older ones, for full collections that offer sumptuous selections that appeal to both the Hollywood party gal and a more refined, even mature shopper.

For Spring 2010, Rousseau says his collection was inspired by the human anatomy: ligaments, bones, muscles, skin. The elastic in many of his pieces acts as the muscles that compliment the leather bones. The shoes aren’t just sexy, they’re designed to highlight and celebrate the sexy details of a woman’s foot, from side cleavage and ankles to the toe bed and calf.

Aside from being a truly phenomenal designer, Rousseau is a pleasure, and the most gracious designer we’ve ever met. Walking around his studio in his shoes, we felt like a princess, a modern day Cinderella.

Jerome C. Rousseau footwear, for the Spring 2010 collection, retails for $495 to $895 and is available in Los Angeles at Barneys New York, Diavolina, Zainab and Madison Beverly Hills. (Text and photos by Samantha Lefkowitz.)
· Jerome C. Rousseau [Official Site]