Start Summer Off On The Right Foot With New Matisse x Kate Bosworth Footwear Collection

Celebrity collaborations are nothing new in the world of fashion, but their frequency has steadily increased in recent years, with Zooey Deschanel teaming up with Tommy Hilfiger, Lucy Hale collaborating with Hollister, Iggy Azalea teaming up with Steve Madden, Eva Mendes designing her own apparel and accessories line for New York & Company, Alessandra Ambrosio launching a limited-edition jewelry collection for BaubleBar, Cara DeLevigne lending her discerning eye to a new DKNY collection, and many more instances. Often, these collaborative efforts are simply marketing ploys, ways for fashion brands to attract customers through the sheer star power of the celebrities they enlist. And yet there are other times when these mash-ups feel natural — particularly when they involve celebrities who have amassed a following due to their unique sense of style. Zooey Deschanel’s quirky ’50s-inspired look, then, is discernible in the classic A-line dresses, cardigan sweaters, and nautical themes that abound throughout her collection for Tommy Hilfiger. Similarly, Eva Mendes’ collection for New York & Co. captures her penchant for polished, ladylike dresses with fit-and-flare silhouettes and vintage-flavored prints. Actress Kate Bosworth possesses both star power (her filmography includes such a wide array of movies as Blue Crush, Rules of Attraction, Still Alice, and Superman Returns) and a genuine understanding of both fashion and design, making her an ideal choice for fashion collaborations. Even better, Bosworth has years of experiencing designing for the mass market. In 2010, she launched JewelMint, a membership-based jewelry company offering online customers a monthly selection of accessories for a low fee, alongside stylist Cher Coulter. Earlier this year, Bosworth teamed up with close friend Ambyr Childers to launched AC Jewelry, a line that fuses together Childer’s Native American roots with Bosworth’s effortlessly cool vibe. And now, the “it” girl has collaborated with Matisse Footwear on a limited-edition collection of shoes that feel fresh and modern but maintain the level of sophistication and craftsmanship we’ve come to expect from the footwear brand.

The Matisse x Kate Bosworth Footwear Collection consists primarily of ankle booties, with options like the rocker chic Kate Bosworth x Matisse Catherine Boots (at MatisseFootwear.com), pictured above, which feature smooth leather uppers, a 7″-tall shaft adorned with straps bearing Western-flavored etched buckles, a pointed toe, and a 1″ heel. Another standout design is the Kate Bosworth x Matisse Emma Fringe Boots ($455 at MatisseFootwear.com), shown below, which feature leather uppers (or suede uppers, in the case of the Fawn boot), a 3.5″-tall heel, and a 4.5″-tall shaft adorned with a cluster of fringe strands, each embellished with a pointy, arrowhead-like tip for a touch of Southwestern, festival season-ready charm.

Matisse x Kate Bosworth Emma Boot

Is it too hot in your area to even consider booties? Then check out the playful yet charmingly simple Kate Bosworth x Matisse Kelly Slide Sandals ($320 at MatisseFootwear.com), shown below, which feature a 3″-tall block heel, and a trio of pillowy straps wrapped in leather. The sandals come in versatile black and brown shades, as well as punchier, more festive color combinations — one incorporating honeysuckle pink, soft peach, and white, and the other combining a pale aqua blue with lime green and black.

Matisse x Kate Bosworth Kelly Slide Sandals

When it’s time to dress up or give an outfit a ladylike twist, there’s the Kate Bosworth x Matisse Lois Lucite Heels ($379 at MatisseFootwear.com) shown below, which feature a streamlined Mary Jane silhouette but replace the traditional heel with a chunky, translucent, lucite heel.

Matisse x Kate Bosworth Lois Lucite Heels

Moving back into bootie-licious territory, there’s the Kate Bosworth x Matisse Charlotte Star Encrusted Boots  ($505 at MatisseFootwear.com) shown below, which would be as suitable at a Fourth of July party as they would be when paired with jeans and a graphic tee during a night out on the town. Made of micro-slit leather, these boots feature 2.25″-tall heels and 6″-tall shafts, with gold-toned star-shaped studs scattered along the back of the shaft and the side quarters.

Matisse x Kate Bosworth Charlotte Star Encrusted Boots

For a similar style that lets heels breathe a bit more, there’s the Kate Bosworth x Matisse Judith Star Encrusted Mules ($389 at MatisseFootwear.com) shown below, which feature stacked heels measuring 2.25″ in height, pointed toes, open heels for an easy slip-on design, and a single buckle-adorned strap with metallic star stud embellishments.

Matisse x Kate Bosworth Judith Star Encrusted Mules

If you appreciate graphic designs with sassy sayings that convey a healthy serving of attitude, then you’ll love the Kate Bosworth x Matisse Hoyt “Hot Shot” Booties ($395 at MatisseFootwear.com), shown below, which feature smooth leather uppers, 2.25″-tall heels, and a pull-on design. Along the elastic gore on each side of the boot’s 5.25″-tall shaft, you’ll find a screen-printed word, with “Hot” emblazoned on one side and “Shot” on the opposite side. Talk about boots that make a statement!

Matisse x Kate Bosworth Hoyt “Hot Shot” Boots

I love that so much of the collection has a bit of a Southwestern feel, especially thanks to the buckles and star stud details, but the execution of these concepts feels fresh and cosmopolitan. There’s a certain audacity to the designs, too, that makes them all the more fascinating — even the way a classic Mary Jane is reinvented via a lucite heel.

Also of note, all the shoes in the collection were made in Brazil using genuine leather and suede, and  they were designed to marry fashion and function, incorporating cushioned footbeds for a pillow-y feel, eschewing stiletto heels for chunkier and more stable heels, and settling on moderate heel heights rather than insisting on sky-high options.

I’m completely smitten with the Emma boots in dusty pink, the Kelly slide sandals in either the pink/peach or aqua/lime colorway, and the Charlotte boots in red and blue (they remind me of Superwoman!).  Hopefully, you’ll find some favorites of your own!