A brand new Choo

Thursday, Sep 03, 2009

Gulf News

Sometimes it feels like high street store designer collaborations simply can't get any better. And then H&M names its next tie-up and we go gaga all over again. After Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and the madness that followed the launch earlier this year of the Matthew Williamson collection - which sold out on the same day - the granddaddy of budget fashion has scored a collection designed with shoe company Jimmy Choo. Do I need to tell you how cool this one is? I'd sum it up like this: women who own Jimmy Choos wear them all the time; women who don't have them dream about them all the time. And from November 19 (it's a Thursday, so book the morning off now!), they'll be in a mall near you.

The shoes in the H&M Jimmy Choo collection include flats and the elegantly edgy sandals we're familiar with, but about a thousand dirhams cheaper. They're still not discount shoes - the zebra-print sandals are Dh599. Tamara Mellon, Jimmy Choo's glamorous founder and president told tabloid! that the quality of the products didn't suffer.

Look and standards

"We carried the Jimmy Choo spirit in to this collection by maintaining our look and standards," Mellon said by email. "We worked very well with the H&M design team and have tried to achieve great standards together."

In an even more interesting move for Jimmy Choo, which for a decade has dominated the luxury accessories world, the H&M collaboration includes a clothing line for both men and women. But despite having "big visions and dreams" for the company, Mellon says it will probably be your only chance to own Jimmy Choo clothing.

"This collaboration was a great way for us to explore new categories," she said. "We had great fun working on the clothing, but at this time we have no plans to extend the Jimmy Choo mainline with clothes."

Mellon gave us a sneak peek at the shoes and clothes that will be available - and also into her glam lifestyle.

What would you pick from the H&M Jimmy Choo collection for a hot date?

One of my favourite looks is the asymmetric one shoulder dress in black leather with the zebra print studded platformshoes. It's a great look for going out in the evening.

Your recent split with Christian Slater was put down to the difficulty of a long-distance relationship. What is the best relationship advice you can give?

Follow your heart and trust your instincts.

What are your beauty must-haves?

Lots of water and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream!

Mark your calendar: The Jimmy Choo H&M collection will be available from November 19 in Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates.

By Natalie Long, Deputy tabloid! Editor