The Story Behind the Ivy, Red sneaker
Where do we find our design inspiration? Well, our Ivy sneaker in red was inspired by the 1982 cult movie The Smithereens. The film is an amazing snapshot of downtown New York in the early 1980s- a time when the city’s grit and grime were the bedrock for creativity and unabashed ambition. Wren, the female protagonist, is determined to make it in punk music scene and she suddenly finds herself kicked out of her East Village apartment. What is she to do? Despite being homeless, she’s got some great style with those red sneakers!
Trivia point: The writer and director Susan Seidelman is best known for her 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan and often credited for launching Madonna’s career in the movie business.
Pouting on the subway.
Her love interest was played by Richard Hell of Richard Hell and the Voidoids, an iconic punk band in the CBGB’s era.
Having a lover’s quarrel in front of an “invite” to Max’s Kansas City- this is how you used to hear about parties before email and Facebook.
Kitty Summerall, a unique beauty is the “other woman.”
The below image on the left inspired our Fall 09 look book.
never heard of this but it looks JUST like the kind of movie i’d love, thanks for sharing, i’ll be googling about it next
your sneaker is pretty awesome too, its so cool to get the story behind it..
x
I was just directed to your page and read that a photo of my legs and feet with faux snakeskin mules dangling had inspired your look book, so I thought I’d like to tell you more about the shoes.
I had had them custom-made to my own design using a rough-textured faux charcoal and white snakeskin man-made material.
(I also designed and had made the dressed I wore in the film, Smithereens.)
The director, the wonderful Susan Seidelman, wanted me to wear tones of rose and lavender in contrast to the bolder colors that Susan Berman wore.
Susan Seldelman provided the anklet.
I’m really glad you like my shoes!