Exclusive Video: Charlotte Olympia Shows Us Round Her New London Shop - And We Meet Bruce The Leopard!

The glammest shoe designer in heel-dom gives us a personal tour of her newly-opened gem of a London store and talks us through her favourite shoes and inspirations

The glammest shoe designer in heel-dom gives us a personal tour of her newly-opened gem of a London store and talks us through her favourite shoes and inspirations

Shoe designer Charlotte Olympia, the lady behind fashion's highest heels and cutest Kitty flats, is as glamorous as the pieces she designs. We all know this, but it's nice to see that even at 8am she doesn't let the side down. Mais non.

When we slipped down to her brand new London store in Brompton Cross for a private tour ahead of its opening, we found our favourite heel queen wearing a blush pink lace dress with a scarlet mani and matching lips, as fresh and sultry as a Forties starlet lost on the way to an audition.

Safe to say, her store (now officially open), doesn't let the side down either. From the makeup-coloured walls, brass shoe shelf frames and the fuchsia pink pouff all ready to fling yourself down on, it's shoe heaven.

Always a fan of the mid-century aesthetic, for pre-fall AW15 - the collection in store now - Charlotte was inspired by surrealists like Kandinsky and Dali. She talks us through her favourite pieces, including her personal high point (literally), the Two Faced wedge.

She also shows us - squeal - the limited-edition baby shoes she's designed for the store. If you don't have a suitable child, borrow one now, quick!

We're pleased to say that Bruce the Leopard, Charlotte's mascot, made a personal appearance - in fact, if you ever wanted to know how she originally found him, she reveals the story in our video. He has 'friends' in each of her stores now, of course.

Click on the video to see the full interview with Charlotte, and take a tour round the new store. To feast your eyes on the full Charlotte Olympia pre-fall collection, click through the gallery above. Drool. Start saving now...

Check out Charlotte's new store at 114 Draycott Avenue, London SW3

Jess Wood