N°21 Spring 2015. Photograph by James Cochrane
N°21 is officially jumping on board the e-commerce train. The Italian brand, known for its widely recognizable Ronny mules, announced via Instagram that it will debut its online store tomorrow (December 21). Founded by creative director Alessandro Dell’Acqua in 2009, the brand’s new e-commerce site will play host to womenswear, menswear and footwear collections.
Since its debut on the runway as part of N°21’s Spring 2015 offering, the mules quickly became a cult favorite and an Instagram phenomenon. Street style stars such as blogger Leandra Medine, Anna Dello Russo, and Georgia Tal, as well as region-based fashion influencers Latifa Al Shamsi and Nora Al Suwaiti of Confashions have heavily documented the origami-like silhouettes. The shoes have since become a mainstay amid the designer’s collections, and have grounded its presence in the Middle East; the Italian label teamed up with Level Shoes on a limited edition collection this past October.
No. 21 Fall 2016. Photograph by James Cochrane
In an interview with Footwear News , Dell’Acqua notes, “I often think about the shoes before I start designing anything else. I like to [explore] contrasts. Last spring, we played with big bows to create a boudoir mood through the shoes because the clothes were very masculine.” The mannish juxtaposition was also present for Fall 2016. The Ronny mule underwent a makeover, where the satin fabrication was replaced with velvet and glitter finishes, and the bow transformed into a side buckle, paired on the runway with tartan coats and oversized, graphic knits and grungy separates. As for Resort 2017 we see the bold folds return to their signature aesthetic, featuring nautical stripes and mounted-on kitten heels.
