Wacky, wild, tough, and yes…sometimes even tacky. While these descriptors may not be appealing to some, girls around the globe have fallen in love with Jeffrey Campbell’s shoe designs that can be labeled as such. Since its inception in 2000, Jeffrey Campbell has grown to become a household name among fashion fiends. It was then, after a career in the footwear industry at Nordstrom’s, that Campbell began designing and crafting unique shoes in his garage. There’s plenty of mystery surrounding the man behind the brand, and that’s just how he wants to keep it. What we do know is that the company is a family affair based in Los Angeles. He and his wife Christine, alongside their daughters, and his brother Dean all play major roles in operating the business. The Jeffrey Campbell company employs an estimated 10 people in the U.S., while the shoes are manufactured overseas. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of pairs have made their way to the feet of fashion-forward women everywhere.
Jeffrey Campbell gained great momentum and a huge following after the release of the brand’s best selling style. The ‘Lita’, is a lace-up ankle boot designed with a snub toe, a chunky sturdy heel, and a thick platform sole that is curved on the ball providing comfort and stability while walking. Named after Lita Ford of the ’70s girl-band The Runaways, the shoe was initially released in a mustard tone, but has since been made in virtually every fabric and material out there, with embellishments like studs, spikes, and chains.
With the help of fashion-bloggers, their cult followings quickly sought out to have a pair or two of their own. It helped that the shoes cost under $200; much lower than their rivals on the runway that cost an upward of $800. Campbell’s Spring 2010 collection, Pink Rock, was a success as it featured some of the brand’s more popular styles in various shades of pink, drawing in more women and a younger crowd.
In 2012, Jeffrey Campbell branched out to reach a male audience. Named, The Damned, the collection was made up of some of his female designs reworked and reimagined for male clientele. Many of the styles were suited for risk-taking men who wanted extra edginess as part of their look.
Since then, Jeffrey Campbell has continued to release boundary pushing, eclectic, and imaginative shoes, season after season. As an “item driven” company, they’re quick to jump on the hottest trends straight off the runway and create similar styles for the masses. With bold, extreme, and in-your-face collections, the brand is perfect for the not-so-average girl who dares to be different. Inspired by everything from vintage fashion to the bright lights and high-end glam on the runway, Jeffrey Campbell always stays on the pulse of the fashion industry.
Check out some of Karmaloop’s most popular Jeffrey Campbell shoes below and shop their collection to add a little (or maybe a lot) of quirk to your step. Use the hashtag #KarmaloopStyle to show off your Jeffrey Campbell’s and be featured on social media!
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