Happy Feet: With every pair of Beverly Feldman shoes, you always get a little something extra

By KARALEE MILLER

- McClatchy Newspapers

Beverly Feldman is many things. Internationally renowned shoe designer. Dog lover. World traveler. The one thing she's not?

MCT

"Priscella" multi-colored strappy slingback heel, $185; "Isabela" 3 inch open toe wedge, accented with embroidered flowers and butterly detail, $185; "Ramona" heel with leopard print footbed, vinyl strap and crystal accent, $165, all by Beverly Feldman.

"A person of moderation," she says with a sly giggle.

And she wouldn't have it any other way. This is a woman who believes diamonds should be worn during the day.

Women over 50 should be single and loving it. And that, "if you're not born attractive, God, make yourself attractive."

At 5 feet 4 inches, she's petite in stature but big on opinions. She's fabulous with a capital "F." We found her to be nothing but delightfully fun and her bravado extraordinarily refreshing.

Although she's not on par with Manolo or Louboutin in terms of name recognition - or pricing - Feldman has found other ways to connect with her audience. Can you imagine Mr. Blahnik writing a blog?

Didn't think so; but Feldman does. Her entries, available through her Web site, www.beverlyfeldmanshoes.com, give you insight into her whirlwind world.

Feldman's designs have adorned the feet of women for 30 years.

When the now 61-year-old fashionista was starting out, she attached the tagline "Too much is not enough." It's a philosophy Feldman adheres to in all facets of life.

"That motto is something I very innocently gave myself when I first started," she says, her voice laced with a native Massachusetts accent.

"I didn't even know, when I was 31, that was the intelligent thing to do - to have a logo or saying with your brand. It stuck and became big."

Indeed. Feldman's shoe and accessories company operates global offices in Spain, New York and China. She recently added a line of sunglasses to her collection, and a collection of costume jewelry is in the works.

She resides in New York a third of the year. Otherwise you can find her in Ibiza, Spain, a locale that's a huge source of inspiration.

"That, to me, is the perfect place," she says. "I shine in the summertime because of the fact I live in Spain. I'm sunshine all year-round. I make happy shoes. Shoes that are comfortable, borderline sexy - and sometimes shoes that really cross the line."

Women looking for style with a sensible heel or flats with flair know Feldman can deliver. However, they also love the unabashed sass and commentary that accompanies each pair. One season in 2000, Feldman decided to share a few words on the soles of her shoes.

"I wrote a little something about a `Happy New Century,' " she recalls. "Then I just started writing sayings or phrases with every collection. Just little philosophical things. They're just supposed to be little inspirational thoughts for my customers."

Feldman recalls being in her New York boutique and watching as women came in, picked up her shoes and immediately flipped them over to read the soles.

"That's when I knew I'd hit on something," she says.

This season's note: "Queen of Love, Summer of Love." Her all-time favorite came a few seasons ago, when the soles read "Design Your Own Life" - something Feldman decided to do years ago, while growing up in her home state.

At 18, she moved from Massachusetts to New York to attend the Pratt Institute. Five years later, she moved to Spain to take a job as a shoe designer, a profession she has held onto ever since, ultimately starting her own company.

"I've been successful from day one," she says with unapologetic confidence. "I don't know any other life. Now I have a lot of people under me, a great young staff. I'm the mama bear now."

She has even earned the nickname "Queen B," which is how she signs off on the postcards that accompany each pair of her shoes.

With her jet-set lifestyle, Feldman says the hardest part is being away from her seven poodles. The "high-maintenance" brood is well cared for, though, she says. A staff of four tends to them while she's gone. In addition to Ibiza, Feldman says she gains inspiration daily, be it from a beautiful notecard or museum-quality art. Even a certain 14-inch plastic doll served as an early muse.

"Barbie," she says. "I'm very girlie, and very girlie turned into being very much a woman."

ONLINE

Check out Beverly Feldman's blog or shop online at www.beverlyfeldmanshoes.com