The High Life
When it comes to swanky shoes, everyone has an opinion. But few viewpoints are as educated as Patti Silver’s.
The 67-year-old, who owns influential shoe boutique Fred Segal Feet with her husband Stanley Silver, is celebrating 40 years of shodding Hollywood’s stylish set this year. And through the decades, Patti, who’s the main buyer for the shop, has managed to keep the Melrose Avenue boutique at the forefront of footwear trends.
We caught up with the outspoken retailer to dish on the shop's history, her favorite looks for Spring and why "statement" shoes are more trouble than they're worth.
STACKED: Yves Saint Laurent heels, $795 – one of Silver's favorite looks for Spring.
Style Section L.A.: How has the store changed in 40 years?
Patti Silver: When we started, it was all casual shoes – casual and really funky. There was no such thing as a designer shoe in our store. I had really no high heels. What’s [in-demand] now is more high-heely, more sexy. For men, it’s really tough —there are no suits anymore. We did go to dress shoes, and now we couldn’t sell a dress shoe if we wanted to. My son works on Wall Street and even he doesn’t have to wear suits anymore.
What are some of your all-time favorite brands?
When I started buying named shoes, I bought Stephane Kelian; but it wasn’t like a Chanel, it was just a great shoe. [Italian shoemaker] Andrea Pfister I loved. He had such an imagination. One season it was all circus figures and another season it was all God-knows-what. It was his imagination that made his shoes.
When did the tides turn to all-designer shoes?
In the last ten years it’s gotten really very Chanel-y – people really wanting names.
How has the neighborhood changed since you opened?
When we opened, there was nobody on Melrose accept us. There was maybe a flower shop. It started with Fred Segal’s jeans store, then he added our shoe store a couple of years later.
What’s the secret for remaining one of the most trend-setting stores around?
I think it’s instinct – I don’t know what to tell you. You see some shoes and you think, well these aren’t gonna work or they will work. They like me in showrooms because I don’t take long to make up my mind. I don’t hem and haw and say, ‘Gee, I gotta think about it. I’ve always written my sizes when I’m there because I really know what I like.
BEJEWELED: Guiseppe Zanotti sandals, $875 – another of Silver's top picks.
How would you describe your taste?
I like different kinds of designs. A plain old pump is fine, but that’s not what’s exciting. It’s something with a different sole or a mix of materials or a different heel height. I have a shoe by Roberto Cavalli that’s like a piano key. Those are things I like and not everyone has the courage to buy them. Sometimes it takes courage to be a little different.
What do you think about the whole ‘statement shoe’ era we’ve been going through?
They don’t really work. If they make a lot of noise, people don’t like to walk around being so noisy or squeaky. If you have a pair of shoes where if you lift up your legs they tinkle, it’s not gonna work. They look good, but they don’t sell. It’s not good for retail, I don’t think.
What are you stocking for Spring in terms of styles and trends?
Lots of sandal flats – I bought a lot from Guiseppe Zanotti and brands like Report. They sell well – people want to look good, they want their flats to be stand-out, but comfortable. But they’re not flip-flops, they’re expensive [Customers] either like a really wonderful sandal or a really high heel. The wedge is not as strong as it used to be. They have to really be special.
What are your favorite shoes for Spring?
I have this one Cavalli that’s draped in gold chains – it’s unreal. It’s a high heel. And I have a new line for me, Rafael Young – he’s got some really way-out heels.
Fred Segal Feet, 8100 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 655-9500, fredsegalfeet.com.