Meet the Winner: Be A Vince Camuto VIP Giveaway

Celeb-adored designer Vince Camuto started his fashion empire with shoes, and as far as we're concerned the only thing better than a man who understands the importance of a fabulous shoe is a man who actually creates fabulous shoes. Which is why we were so excited for Sally Hale, the winner of ideeli's Be A Vince Camuto VIP giveaway. Working from the ground up (literally) Vince created a lifestyle brand that now encompasses everything from handbags to jewelry to apparel, and lucky Sally scored a shopping spree and some one-on-one time with the design guru himself. We caught up with her recently about her experience:

How surprised were you that you won the Be A Vince Camuto VIP giveaway?
As I told pretty much everyone I met, I entered the ideeli giveaway on a whim, never thinking I could actually win. After receiving the email saying I had won, it took me a week before I even mentioned it to anyone; I was convinced it was a joke. Luckily for me, and my boyfriend, it was 100% real!

This was your first trip to NYC—what did you think of the city ideeli calls home?
I absolutely fell in love with New York City! I’ve heard people rave about the city for years and it surpassed all expectations. We were able to pack so much into our quick stay; making sure to hit the big tourist attractions such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, but also spending time wandering the streets and allowing ourselves to get a feel for “real” New York. Without a doubt, my favorite part was Central Park—that alone could be a reason for another visit!

ideeli is all about fashion, after all, so, as part of the trip you got to meet designer Vince Camuto and his wife (and Creative Director of the Camuto group) Louise—what was that like?
Both Vince and Louise were very friendly and engaging! After the introductions and a quick photo, Vince took us around the showroom. It was interesting to listen to him speak about the process that goes into designing, creating, and producing the shoes, clothing, and accessories. We were lucky to get a little peek into the process behind what you see in stores.

Speaking of the stores, can you tell us about your Vince Camuto shopping spree—we're dying to hear about what you scored!
After touring the Vince Camuto showroom and being treated to lunch at Balthazar, we headed over to the Vince Camuto store in Soho. A bit overwhelmed by the options, the Style Squad started to pull looks for me as I browsed. Once in the dressing room, it was hard to choose my favorites! After some input from the Style Squad, I picked a striped cardigan, a fuchsia halter dress, a pair of wedges, sunglasses, a black and gold bracelet and a black studded purse (which my boyfriend chose, as he still loves to point out!). I was so excited to walk out of the store with a head-to-toe look!

How have you incorporated these pieces, day-to-day?
The two pieces I wear the most are the bracelet and the purse. In fact, I wore both before I even left the city! The bracelet was a last-minute addition to my shopping spree and it took a bit of convincing to get it; I was a strong believer that bracelets just didn’t look right on me. Now I’m so glad that I got it. It works perfectly with a few gold bangles or a black studded leather bracelet wrap that I bought from a street vendor in Soho. Since then I’ve added a few other bracelets to my collection; it encouraged me to start playing with different pieces!

Are you feeling inspired, too? Then make sure to check out our Vince Camuto sale, now through 10 a.m. on August 18th.

The ideeli scoop with Louise Camuto

They say behind every great man is a great woman. We see that, and present to you a woman who is far from just standing behind her hubby--she's right there next to him, calling the creative shots atop a fashion empire we know and love. We're talking about none other than Louise Camuto, Creative Director of Camuto group and Mr. Camuto's gorgeous and business-savvy other half. With all the exciting happenings going on at the go-to label (check out all the insider dish straight from Vince here!), we just had to know how Louise achieves her work-life balance (and in true Camuto girl style, looks perfectly put together while doing it.)

What's it like working so closely with your husband in the development of his brand?
"We have so much fun and we really work hard--but as a team. We live and breathe the brand every day!"

Walk us through a standard day at Camuto HQ.
"Vince and I both start our days at the office reviewing product. Vince will look at the footwear line and work on the color palette, silhouettes, and fabrics. I will be working on product for the whole brand and taking the time to meet with all the design teams to ensure the highest level of quality and consistency of the brand message cross-category."

Does working with Vince affect how you dress for the office? What are you wearing on any given weekday?
"I wear a lot of Vince Camuto product because I love the line we are creating. I change what I wear to the office based on the types of projects I am working on during the day. I love flat boots when I am running around New York city but I love a great pair of heels any day! I really just like to look good by feeling comfortable that what I am wearing can take me anywhere and everywhere my day takes me."

How does your aesthetic align with Vince's?
"Vince and I both love design and architecture so we get inspiration from being out in the world. I tend to appreciate clean lines and Vince loves the Renaissance so we open each other’s eyes to new ideas and inspiration."

What's the best part about working with someone who you know inside and out?
"Working together allows us to each express our vision for the brand while allowing ourselves to be inspired by each other and the world around us. I always feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and opinions since Vince is a great listener. Every day is a great collaboration!"

What do you guys do to unwind off the clock?
"We love going to movies. A great meal is also always a nice way to spend an evening with the family."

Where do you look for inspiration when creating for the Camuto woman?
"I am inspired every day! Seeing how women put together different looks everyday lets the streets be the runway."

Will you and Vince be exchanging gifts this holiday season? What are you hoping for?
"I am just looking forward to spending some time off with the family this holiday. I feel blessed every day and wish everyone all the joy and happiness of the holiday season."

For a look at the latest in all things Camuto--from wear-anywhere boots, to animal-print bags and belts--check out today's sale here!

The ideeli scoop with Vince Camuto

It's no secret that we LOVE shoes. That's why when we were given a shot to pick the brain of design dynamo Vince Camuto, whose shoes we've obsessed over for, we don't know, FOREVER, we jumped at the chance. The multi-talented designer is in the process of launching his first ready-to-wear collection, not to mention taking the Big Apple by storm with not one, but TWO, storefronts in NYC. We couldn't be more excited to shop head-to-toe Camuto once the new locales open, or to have his latest bags, belts, shoes, and sunnies--many ideeli exclusives--here today! Check out what Vince himself had to say on all the exciting happenings at the house of Camuto:

You're known for your collection of luxe footwear that's also accessible to the everyday fashionista. What inspires you when you're designing for the Vince Camuto girl?
The Vince Camuto woman is every woman! She is contemporary, sexy and sophisticated and wants versatility in her clothing and shoes. When I design, I think about dressing the woman for every facet of her life.

It's a digital world and we're just living in it. Do you Tweet?
I very much believe in developing our digital and mobile presence. I think it is the new way to shop and it brings all of us together. I do not tweet myself but we have a team of people dedicated to talking to the customers and listening to what they have to say. I also read everything that is posted because women tell you what they like and what they don’t like about every shoe or piece of clothing that they own or are buying, so I am very involved in our online communities as well. I like to listen to women :o)

You've recently opened your first NYC store in Grand Central Station, with an upcoming opening in Soho. What can Camuto fans expect?
We are really looking forward to employing new technologies in the stores and offering fun product mixes and unique events that allow the customer to have the best time while she shops!

We're so excited about Vince Camuto apparel! What can we expect from the first collection?
The line is really great. We offer women clothes to wear to work, outfits to wear out for a date night or a look to take your kids to a play date. We never compromise on offering great product and the response has been tremendous already.

Do the shoes make the outfit or does the ensemble dictate the shoes?
The shoes make the outfit!