It’s hard to imagine that Kristina Cavallo’s shoe collection could become any more fabulous.
But like her passion for footwear, it’s continued to grow over time.
When WAG visited Cavallo in February 2015, she had dedicated one of the bedrooms in her New Rochelle home exclusively to all things footwear — from her selection of designer pumps, heels, wedges, booties and sneakers, to nail polish, lipstick and lip gloss by Christian Louboutin, to shoe-themed wall décor. She even had an assortment of Barbie dolls, created through the limited-edition collaboration between Louboutin and Mattel, in which Barbie was given her own red-bottom heels.
Cavallo’s shoe room, which is something of every woman’s fantasy, is still there. The crystal chandelier still dangles delicately from the ceiling; the shoes are still in pristine condition; and the glass island still showcases some of Cavallo’s extra special items, though with some new additions.
One of her newest prized pairs is a dazzling pump by Jimmy Choo that was inspired by Disney’s 2015 remake of “Cinderella.” Glittering from all directions, the Ari is a shimmering suede pump covered in Swarovski crystals, featuring a stunning crystal cluster. They’re so extraordinary, she says, that she doesn’t take them out of the case.
Cavallo also has a handful of other shoes that she doesn’t wear — for good reason. The shoes have been signed by some of her favorite designers, like Louboutin, whom she’s met several times.
“I met with Louboutin again last February,” Cavallo says. “He signed a pair of shoes for me, they’re inside, but there weren’t many of them made, so I can’t wear them.”
But with a collection so vast, she has many more options. And though she shops from a range of designers — like Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Gianvito Rossi, Charlotte Olympia, Aquazurra and Rene Caovilla — they all share the same arresting quality. Each shoe is bedecked with crystals (usually Swarovski), boasts eye-catching colors or bears an artistic element that’s unlike any day-to-day footwear.
“If I know that something is there that not many people are going to have and it’s going to stand out, then that’s what I want,” she says. “I want something that’s different, something that stands out and something that will be talked about for a long time.”
Cavallo points to hot pink pumps by designer Charlotte Olympia that were inspired by Barbie and have multicolored pom-poms made of doll shoes. Another by the designer features the profile of a face — including a crystal eye — which is a motif in her creations. There are black pumps by Nicholas Kirkwood, which include a signature pearl that is wedged between the heel and the sole. And then, of course, there are those revisited from our last shoe escapade — Charlotte Olympia’s Graca Pump, which reveals a colorful bird in the red heel/cage design; the section of Yves Saint Laurent platform sandals in every color; and a host of sky-high pumps destined to bring out the inner Lady Gaga.
Not only does Cavallo wear the shoes, but she’s up-to-date about happenings in the shoe world. While chatting with her talented makeup artist Katrina D’Onofrio — whose clients include stars from HBO, Bravo and MTV — she discussed changes in Gucci’s design team, which led to an all-new look and Jimmy Choo’s merger with Michael Kors.
With all of her knowledge of the shoe biz — to say nothing of her spunk and glamour — it’s no surprise that Cavallo aspires to design her own collection. But until then, she has been working hard as the co-owner of her father’s insurance business, Patrick J. Cavallo Agency in the Bronx. If the shoe fits….
For more, follow Cavallo’s Instagram @newyorkshoequeen.
