While you might own or have tried on a pair of Donald J Pliner shoes, you may not have known there is an actual man behind the label.
Pliner has been in the shoe business for 43 years and is best known for creating a comfortable elastic shoe. He'll be at Nordstrom from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, signing shoe purchases and helping customers find the perfect pair.
Q Why shoes?
A Instead of a spoon, I was born with a silver shoehorn. My father owned a shoe store and I worked at various shoe stores. I opened Pappagalo in 1967. It was like a Manolo Blahnik at the time. It's on the same block that my flagship is today. I started my own line again in 1989.
Q What are you known for?
A High-fashion comfort. My shoes took off because when you buy a pair, you keep buying them. I take a shoe and I fold it, I make it flex, you tell your mother, you tell your lover, you tell your boyfriend, you tell your husband. There's always elastic somewhere in my shoes. So when you're walking it takes away the pressure point. The biggest problem with my shoes is that they last too long. I wish they didn't last so long because people would buy more.
Q What's hot for fall 2010?
A There's a lot of Western influences translated into city dressing, which we're known for, and over-the knee boots and open toes. Look for lace, calf-hair leopard. Platform sandals are doing unbelievable.
