She may share a last name with one of the oldest fashion houses in Paris, but Alessandra Guerrera Lanvin isn’t looking back. The daring designer’s fashion-forward shoe line, Aperlai, is bold, loud and modern, with sexy silhouettes that soar on top of prodigious platforms. The most fashion conscious of celebrities, like Solange Knowles and Katy Perry, are mesmerized by her geometric, stacked bombshells.
Alessandra, married to Hubert Lanvin, the grandson of the iconic couture designer Jeanne Lanvin, launched Aperlai in 2009. The brand name stems from the Turkish-Italian designer’s family home near Aperlai, a sunken city in the south of Turkey.
From the beginning, Aperlai’s architectural conceptions garnered an overwhelming response from luxury department stores — Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Harvey Nichols jumped to be the first to carry her collection.
“In 2009, there weren’t so many new, niche designer brands. We had plenty of Louboutins, but I wanted something new, something fresh,” Alessandra says.
Her unique, eclectic designs are inspired by years growing up between Milan, Switzerland, London and Turkey — plus her formal training. The 33-year-old designer obtained her bachelor’s degree in international affairs with a minor in art history from the American University of Paris.
“I always think of shoes as sculptures. For me, they really define a silhouette. I am petite, so shoes are the base and I dress up from there,” says the 5-foot-4 designer.
Aperlai’s signature shoe, the “Geisha” pump, features a hexagonal heel that clocks in at nearly 6 inches and a delicate ankle strap. The shoe counts Perry, Blake Lively and Gwyneth Paltrow as fans. Surprisingly, Aperlai’s other definitive shoe is the “Gatsby” — a flat moccasin.
“I only wear very high heels or flats,” Alessandra says. “My mother-in-law, who is super-terrific and beautiful, always looks so stylish when she wears her Lanvin Belgian loafers. She inspired me to create the ‘Gatsby,’ which is an ode to her timeless grace.”
As Alessandra’s shoe line continues to evolve — Aperlai is now available at more than 90 retailers in 20 countries — fall 2014 brings a new venture. The brand launches its first-ever handbag collection, designed in the same graphic, color-blocking vein as the “Geisha” heel.
Alessandra also recently announced plans for Aperlai’s most anticipated addition.
“We are opening our first boutique in July on Rue du Mont Thabor,” Alessandra says. She breaks into a big grin when talking about the narrow, picturesque street just slightly off the beaten path. “There is no other street in Paris that better defines my personality.”