Wednesday Name Brand Pronunciation: Salvatore Ferragamo

Salvatore Ferragamo
Pronunciation: sal-vuh-tor fair-uh-gahm-oh
Just add sand, oceans, and a coconut daiquiri.
When we were nine years old, we were making up elaborate adventures for our Barbies to go on. When Salvatore Ferragamo was nine, he made his first pair of shoes. Salvatore, we salute you. In a career spanning decades, Ferragamo studied shoemaking in Naples, Italy, moved to Hollywood, designed shoes for legends like Marilyn Monroe and Eva Peron, attended USC in order to study anatomy and make more comfortable shoes for women, and returned home to Italy to set up shop in Florence. By the time he was fifty-two, he had a 700-employee factory turning out 350 pairs of handmade shoes per day, and the brand hasn’t lost that luxury cache since. (For the record, we sometimes still miss our Barbies.)
We’re particularly romanced by the 2007 resort collection, which includes the beach honeymoon-ready Pelea sandal. Can’t live your life any longer without a signature Ferragamo piece of your own? Neiman Marcus has their own online Ferragamo boutique for all your browsing needs. And for budget-minded Bridezillas, we must note that vintage Ferragamos are among the easiest designer shoes to find for the antique mall-inclined. Fabulous!