Valley luxury shoe designer creates chic yet comfortable heels Perrine Adams I Lifestyle Editor Walk In STYLE Heel and ribbon stripes draw the eye to the Casey Black shoes when paired with a casual or dressy look. Photo by Megan Allen KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE { style unlocked }

When Evelyn Schickling could not find comfortable, fashionable shoes, she created her own. F or centuries women have sacrificed comfort for fashion — suffering silently in suffocating corsets, skinny jeans and stylish shoes either too high, too tight or both. Phoenician Evelyn Schickling spent the greater part of her career in finance wearing painful pumps because the typical comfort shoe was not considered dress-code appropriate. After years of trying to retrofit torturous footwear with inserts and insoles, she took on the challenge of creating the perfect shoe herself. Evelyn Ford Luxury was born from the belief that there must be a way to create fashionable yet comfortable designer shoes. In 2014, Schickling left her corporate life and enrolled in Ars Sutoria, the premier shoe design school in Milan. After successfully completing the program, she collaborated with production experts from eminent luxury brands, including Manolo Blahnik, Oscar de la Renta and Marchesa, as well as the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. After unsuccessfully trying to find an American manufacturer capable of delivering the quality of Italian shoemakers, Schickling decided to manufacture her shoes in the renowned Italian shoemaking town of Vigevano, located one hour outside of Milan in northern Italy. This collaboration led Schickling to accomplish what she set out to achieve — designing shoes that are equally stylish and supportive. Her line of heels, flats and bridal footwear is arguably the most comfortable on the market — with a sneaker-like impact and gait, and customizable arch — all hidden in luxurious Italian materials and produced with uncompromising craftsmanship. A CLASSIC BRETON LOOK What also sets Evelyn Ford Luxury shoes apart is their elegant and timeless designs. This season, the brand pays tribute to Brittany, France, showcasing Breton striped heels and bows. “I love classic clothes with classic but edgy accessories. That explains the unusual color and texture contrasts in my shoe designs,” Schickling said. It comes as no surprise that Coco Chanel was one of the inspirations behind the collection. “I enjoy the classic Breton look. Traditionally a working uniform for men, I think Chanel’s take on the Breton sweater for women just before World War I might have been the first injection of ‘street chic’ into women’s style,” Schickling said. The Evelyn Ford Luxury Casey shoe borrows from shoe silhouettes from that fashion era. The real raffia used in the Casey design reflects the texture of intricate baskets, and the patterns in straw hats and purses from the Brittany region. The striped leather-covered heel and bow are très Breton chic as well. Photo by Mark Peterman Shoemaking town of Vigevano, Italy. FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 27 | MAY/JUN 2022