Shoe designer Weitzman tries MOA on for size

Many shoe lovers own a pair of Stuart Weitzmans, but they might not know much about the man behind the brand.

Thanks to his father, Seymour, who had his own label, Weitzman learned all about shoes at a young age. He is both designer and engineer. His shoes are known for their fit, available in 50 sizes, from 4 to 12 in four widths. Celebrities including Jennifer Aniston and Scarlett Johansson are fans, and Weitzman has designed million-dollar diamond-embellished heels for the Oscars.

Now celebrating his eponymous shoe company's 25th year, Weitzman recently opened his company's first stand-alone boutique in Minnesota at the Mall of America. We spoke to him while he was in Spain, where his factories produce more than 2 million pairs of shoes a year.

Q What shoes should women have in their wardrobes?

A If a woman loves a shoe, she will love wearing it, and she'll find ways to wear it. Right now, a great-looking flat boot with a modern look and toe shape and a fur boot that is fashionable, but functional. And a plain pump or a heel, maybe it has a platform, maybe it doesn't. Pumps are the No. 1 dress shoe now, probably because they haven't been around for a long time.

Q How high are heels now?

A It's not like 20 years ago, when you had to have only this toe shape and heel. I try to make a low heel look as great as I do with a high series. As the heel goes down, the sales go up -- 3 1/2 inches is easy to wear. Once you get to 4 or 5 inches, you have to really want to wear it and put up with some agony to look more beautiful.

A A scarlet red.

Q Any shoes you shouldn't wear right now?

A A woman really shouldn't wear footwear that is not her. Have you seen "Forrest Gump"? Everybody knows the "box of chocolates," but a shoe guy remembers when [Gump] was sitting on the bench and says, "You can tell about a person by their shoes -- where they're going, where they've been." Girls are born into it, starting with the pair of shoes in "Cinderella" to Judy Garland's red sequined shoes [in "The Wizard of Oz"]. Before you're 15, you can't wait to wear your first pair of heels. Style-wise, there's not too much that goes out of fashion now. There are fast-fashion trends: Everybody knows thigh-high boots had their moment a few years ago.

Q Tell me about your Heritage shoe.

A When I was cleaning out the attic, I came upon an original parchment design patent issued 80 years ago with a red wax stamp with a ribbon through it, issued to Mr. Seymour Weitzman. There was a sketch of a shoe from when he was only 25 years old. I had never seen that design with a different way to do straps on an instep. His was made in canvas or silk material, and I made ours in leather-stamp python and added a platform. Right now, it's our No. 2-selling shoe. I even put in for a patent, and I just got the approval. It's nice to make it part of the family heirloom.

A When the economy or the world news is depressing, we tend to make footwear that's bright, lively and colorful. We've made the shoes very happy. So next spring, we did color-blocking in melons and sherbet and exotic-looking cowhides.

Q What should we do to take care of our shoes?

A Putting the stuffer back in the front puts your shoe back in shape that it's supposed to be in. It takes 30 seconds, and it makes a difference. After wearing a boot in humid or wet weather, you have to wipe it off with a damp cloth. If its suede or Nubuck, a silicon spray to protect the surface of the leather is great after every five wearings.

Q What kind of shoes do you wear?

A I always buy a shoe that I like the way it looks. Then when I put my foot in it, if it doesn't feel great, it goes back on the shelf.