Helene Westbye – Shoe collection

The shoe designer Helene Westbye chose a small photo studio at a secret location to show of her new shoe-collection for fall 2012, Thursday at Oslo Fashion Week.

Text: Silje Sjulstad. Photo: Dmitry Valberg

Helene Westbye is a young designer, and she has not been in the business for that long. Never the less she has several stores that are selling her shoes in Norway. She was also included in a book that was featuring shoe designers to watch world-wide. The designer decided to show the collection of shoes at a stage with a curtain that covered everything but the models bare legs and Westby’s different shoe styles – so the focus was only at the shoes.

The shoe collection consisted of different styles of pumps, ankle boots and boots – both flats and high heels. It seems like the main focus is on the pumps, and Westbye has designed different styles of pumps, but they all give a high party factor and screams glam and luxury. The pumps look skillfully crafted, and they seem sturdy and easy to walk in – which is a must here in Norway. It was especially a pair of black pumps that caught my eye, with sparkling stones and an opening on the side of the shoe that shows a little bit of skin. Westbye also had made a beautiful pair of strappy sandals with braided leather details, both in black and aubergine.

The designer also had made some nice boots and ankle boots, both in suede lamb skin and in suede patent semi-shiny leather. The main color in the collection is black, but it also concluded the colors: burgundy, aubergine, grey, powder pink and a mud color. The designer had some interesting details in the shoe collection as well. For instance a pair of black suede leather boots with black tassels, and a silver zipper on the back of the shoes.

The collection gives sort of a rock’n roll feeling, but it is also has a lot of feminin details, it is also quite minimalistic without too many details and with pure lines.

Silje Sjulstad, Oslo Fashion Week 9/2- 2012.