While in Las Vegas last week, I was lucky enough to sit down and interview one not just very talented, but very experienced designer. After spending nearly 20 years working for behemoths in the footwear industry like Sam Edelman, Kenneth Cole and Steve Madden, Gwyneth Frempong-Boadu just so happens to have begun her very own eponymous footwear line, Gwyneth Shoes.

Gwyneth Shoes are designed with fashion, comfort, and functionality in mind, but believe me it’s the fashion that will immediately catch your eye! Gwyneth’s background in dress shoes shows through in all of her collections, but take a look at her Spring 2008 collection on GwynethShoes.com and you’ll find it full of dressy, feminine heels, luxe materials, shiny metallics, elegant peep toes and more. Don’t stop there, though…there’s so much more behind those good looks. For instance, each shoe features the brand’s very own patented sock cushions as well as their “signature flex soles”.  And last but not least, the line was designed with every woman in mind: sizes are available up to 14.

“I always did dress shoes for all of the other companies that I worked for so I felt that it was my forté…it was just kind of natural”, responded Gwyneth when I asked her to tell me about the inspiration and idea behind the line. And what’s behind the wide breadth of sizes available? “That was actually inspired by my surrogate mom and sister who were both very hard to fit, so I thought…there have to be a lot more women that are having the same problems. Back then [size] 9 used to be considered large. It’s quite normal now, even 11! So I thought ‘OK, let’s go up as far as we can – size 14’. Knowing that there was a void I went on and produced the line but I had no idea that there were so many people that had a ‘larger footprint’. That was the inspiration for the concept.”

Gwyneth brings more than just a passion to help to the table. While beginning her footwear career under Sam Edelman she carried the title of head shoe designer and traveled to China and Brazil where she learned shoe making. She continued to travel to the Far East while working for Kenneth Cole. “I was there so often they thought I had an apartment there!” she remarked.

Then one day, Gwen was called upon by Steve Madden himself to help launch the more sophisticated Steven brand. “Steve actually called me. He had this concept of the Steven line and he personally called me to come and do [it]. So I helped to launch that brand and I was there for about 3 years before leaving and [starting] to work on the concept for Gwyneth…so I’ve been around for a while!”

Well all of that experience is certainly paying off. Her forthcoming collections continue to be made up of elegant, feminine, and simply gorgeous styles. The Spring collection that I saw at WSA was full of colors, metallics, and textures – each one a style that I would LOVE to see occupying space in my shoe closet! I asked Gwen what she was looking forward to most for Spring ‘09 and, not surprisingly, her answer included elements that are intrinsic to her own collection. “I think interesting styling, like mixing metals and textures, [and] I still love metallics; they’ve become the new neutrals and I think they’re going to be around for a while. [Also] there seems to be a return to femininity. Women are wearing dresses again!”

And what about for this Fall? “I like the idea of texture. You’re seeing it in ready to wear as well as accessories, like croco. Mixed media seems to be selling very well at retail now; it’s all over Europe and we’re all inspired [by] and are followers of what’s happening in Europe. That and the infusion of actual color. Everything has been black for such a long time. It’s nice to see color, be it for Fall or any season.”

Ready to check out Gwyneth’s shoes for yourself? Visit www.Gwynethshoes.com, but also make sure to check out the Croco Diva, one of their new Fall shoes, on page 155 of this month’s In Style Makeover magazine, (see above). Look for more Fall styles to appear on their website as the weeks progress, especially the Dutchess, a croco-embossed peep-toe boot, and the Quartz, a snakeskin peep-toe pump.

Running With Heels is also giving one lucky reader the chance to win a pair of ‘Pretty’ sandals from Gwyneth Shoes! (As featured on RWH’s ‘Sole Hot/Sole Not’) We think everyone should have a chance to get a taste of the chic style and fabulous comfort of Gwyneth shoes for themselves! So, make sure you're signed up for the Running With Heels email club to be eligible*, (click here if you're not already). We'll pick the winner Friday, 8/15. Good luck from Running With Heels!

* Based on availability. If style is unavailable, winner will receive a style of equal or lesser value. Only U.S. residents are eligible – sorry but we cannot ship outside the continental U.S.!