Aeyde’s Shoes Are The Perfect Finishing Touch To Your Capsule Closet
Inspired by architecture and the arts, the Berlin-based label’s thoughtful take on modern footwear classics will become your go-to this season and beyond
A shoe is the very foundation upon which to build an outfit. But at Aeyde, a shoe is also a work of art – and a medium for creative self-expression. Heels are turned into spherical silhouettes, or boxy blocks that riff on Brutalist architecture, while toe shapes are angular, or else elegantly refined. When putting one’s best foot forward, the shoe itself has a role in imbuing its wearer with the confidence to stride. Whether it’s a mule or a strappy sandal, the shoe is not simply a building block – it’s an emotional ethos to carry you through each day.
This thoughtfulness is expressed in every style at Aeyde. Founder Luisa Dames is personally inspired by fine arts, culture and theater – and this manifests in her designs that draw from the buildings of Berlin, where the label is based, to the form and function of shape itself. Aeyde’s collections “follow certain principles of sculptural lines,” says the designer, who established Aeyde in 2015. “Berlin has an impressive mix of architecture styles. West Berlin is very classic, while East dominates with its prefab buildings influenced by the Karl Marx era,” she says. “The play between these influences definitely has an impact on our design language.”
Aeyde has become known for its ‘reduced’ aesthetic – and its collections seamlessly weave together references as diverse as German Modernism and Bauhaus art to ’90s minimalism. For spring, that culminates in slick, point-toed slingbacks with double-strap detailing and square-toed Mary Janes, both of which are a contemporary spin on the classic silhouettes. “Our ‘Melia’ style is perfect for a gallery visit or day-to-night drinks,” says Dames. Meanwhile, flat, barely-there sandals are sure to become a summer go-to, whether packed in a vacation suitcase for warm-weather evenings or worn for days spent strolling in the city. They’ll bring a refined edge to everyday looks.
“We design modern classics that pick up the current zeitgeist in fashion and culture, but don’t follow volatile trends
”Luisa Dames, Aeyde founder
“Our core shapes are built upon each season; our footwear is designed to last
”Luisa Dames, Aeyde founder
“We design modern classics that pick up the current zeitgeist in fashion and culture, but don’t follow volatile trends,” says Dames, reflecting on how the collections embody the spirit of timelessness but with a directional lens. And while this seems like a sartorial contradiction, the designer’s purist approach – where products are stripped of superfluity to reach the very essence of a silhouette – ensures even understated designs have shapes that hold interest. Wraparound sandals are replete with squared toes, while Mary Jane shoes are stacked upon a chunkier sole that ensures they’re an easy pairing with this season’s looser-fit silhouettes.
Dial up the contrast by pairing the Mary Janes with ankle socks and a pair of utilitarian shorts once the mercury spikes – it’s a look that is at once insouciant and effortlessly chic. Available this season in patent for the first time, Dames suggests wearing them casually, with a pair of jeans and a simple white T-shirt.
Aeyde’s shoes “fit into a very versatile wardrobe and are transgenerational,” says Dames. “Our core shapes are built upon each season; our footwear is designed to last for ages.” Exquisite craftsmanship is at the core of the label. They’re manufactured with a select few family-run factories in Italy, whose skills have been passed down through the generations – which feels fitting for the brand, whose styles have ageless, trans-seasonal appeal. “They complement a lasting wardrobe,” says Dames. “I can see our Aeyde woman starting the week in the ‘UMA Mary Jane’, or a chunkier loafer such as the ‘Ruth’,” then, she says, switching to the polished ‘Melia’ or ‘Polly’ styles, which feature easy-height heels and refined toes, “to meet their friends in a bar at night.”
Aligned with this spirit of endurance and craft is a commitment to responsible production. The brand’s butter-soft leathers are a byproduct of the local food industry, while metal hardware is upcycled. “In order to minimize our waste, we produce only limited quantities, preferring to scope out customer demand instead of overproducing.”
This sensitive approach is, according to Dames, a reflection of Berlin itself. The city is “approachable, open-minded, intellectual and knows how to have fun. This is how I’d describe the Aeyde woman, too.” No matter where you’re heading, or whatever your mood, there’s a style this spring/summer to suit. Go forth, and conquer.
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