Launching today, the Antwerp-based, mother-daughter brand, BERNADETTE debuts its first shoe collection, radiating a ‘90s appeal.
French from their Paris runway show, the Antwerp-based womenswear brand, BERNADETTE, as from today, had introduced its latest newness in the form of footwear. Adhering to the brand’s philosophy that comfort and style can coexist, and with a nod to the appreciation for the everyday, the collection, the nine-piece collection offers refined kitten heels and flats.
The mother-daughter duo, behind the brand, Charlotte and Bernadette De Geyter, have designed the line for the modern host in mind. As such, expect slip-in shoes, silk satin, leather latex, and thoughtful details in the form the brand’s signature roses and hand embroidery, and all this is wrapped up in a minimal, ’90s aesthetic.
Charlotte De Geyter, co-founder and creative director, lets us in on the new collection.
Felicity Carter: What made you want to expand into footwear now, and how long has it been in the making?
Charlotte De Geyter: As big shoe-lovers, the thought of the ultimate BERNADETTE shoe, had definitely crossed our minds, but the timing needed to make sense. Our brand has evolved in an organic way since the start, and this is something we value a lot.
BERNADETTE started with my mother and I, with my design background and love for drawing, together with my mother’s strong fashion sense and extensive archive of vintage clothing. This resulted in the launch of a small collection of 12 silk brightly colored dresses with hand drawn botanical prints. Since then, the brand evolved together with us, to where the brand is today.
The next chapter this year was to host our first fashion show. We felt ready to show the collection in a different light, and felt the desire to build the universe further around it. This was the perfect opportunity to develop the shoes. They are an extension of the existing BERNADETTE silhouettes and the cherry on top to make the look complete.
FC: Was there a particular moment, memory, or mood that sparked the first shoe design?
CDG: The AW25 collection is called ‘Sacred Women Secret World’. This title is something that has come back a few times in my work because it represents a moment and a mood that is important to me. It centers around the moment where a woman takes a moment for herself, getting ready in her bedroom and boudoir, dressing or undressing, getting ready or taking a moment for herself after a long day. This feminine moment inspired us for the shoes as well; working with silk satin in powdery boudoir shades, some embroidered with delicate embroidery that features little lingerie roses and satin bows, finished with soft suede soles, that come both in comfortable kitten heels and flats.
We also have these leather latex slingbacks with a small leather lingerie roses and bows in the front. BERNADETTE dresses are often quite long and voluminous, so we liked this idea that when you wear one of the floor length dresses, the little bow in the front appears. It’s a playful Bernadette detail.
The shoes are made to wear for every special occasion, whether this is hosting a dinner at home or going out for a cocktail in the city.
FC: Tell us about the shapes, materials, and detailing — and why launch with the kitten style?
CDG: Obviously, my mother and I are the toughest judges when it comes to shoes. We are proud of our existing shoe collections. We looked at our busy lives, and the type of shoes we wear and always look for. We live in Antwerp and walk a lot so we’re always looking for a shoe that we can actually walk a few kilometers with but feel elegant and comfortable. A kitten heel and a flat made sense.
The Bernadette woman likes being comfortable, loves to have fun and can make a Bernadette look her own.
FC: What colorways can we expect?
CDG: The colors come in these powdery soft shades like soft pink, light grey and light yellow made in silk satin. Next to that we’re bringing white latex leathers and black leather slingbacks. The shoes are very timeless and look good with any existing Bernadette look you already have in your closet.
FC: The shapes nod to ’90s minimalism, what was on the mood board for the line?
CDG: Our design aesthetic is always sort of simplified; we choose to highlight certain elements and contrast it with sleek details. The ‘90s minimalism works well with both our printed styles and our classic taffeta eveningwear. It elongates and modernizes the silhouettes.
FC: What drew you to this decade and how have you translated this into the aesthetic?
CDG: My mother and I constantly look for women that inspire us, through all decades. It’s the women that inspire us. Whether it’s Grace Kelly, Gwyneth Paltrow in the ‘90s or today’s Zoë Kravitz. The history and mixing influences is what inspired us for our brand.
FC: What does “modern femininity” mean to you in the context of this collection?
CDG: We love to leave the interpretation open, but for us it’s embracing feminine silhouettes, think bows, dresses and full skirts, but represent it in the now, well-thought about what today’s woman needs and desires. The shoes represent both of this, they’re classic and girly, but also comfortable for a busy woman.
FC: Do you see footwear as a one-off exploration, or will it become a long-term part of the brand?
CDG: We plan on working further on the shapes we now launch, to explore different themes that center the collections and continue to develop the Bernadette look.
FC: Are there any other projects are in the pipeline?
CDG: We’re hosting our next fashion show in Paris beginning of October, unveiling the SS26 collection.
The shoe collection is now available exclusively at bernadetteantwerp.com.