Suzanne Rae Shoes for the Progressive, Modern Gentlewoman

Suzanne Rae designs from the belief that clothing can change how a person moves through the day. The New York brand launched in 2010 with ready-to-wear rooted in feminist principles, treating fashion as a form of performance art and designing for the wearer's own confidence rather than anyone else's gaze. Suzanne Rae shoes are made for the progressive, modern gentlewoman, and each pair is made in the USA from Italian leather. They are polished enough for formal dressing and playful in the details that matter.

The opera pumps show this most clearly. A plain closed vamp with no strap or ornament sits on a low kitten heel, a shape that works with wide trousers or tailored suiting. As metallic pumps in silver or gold, these designer kitten heels become the most interesting part of an otherwise quiet outfit. The 70s sandals take their silhouette from that decade and come in both low and high heel heights. Metallic sandals in gold catch the light under a long hem or a cropped trouser, and they fit a dinner reservation as well as a summer wedding.

Behind the shoes is a company that works with family-run factories and invests in its community. Suzanne Rae supports Girls Inc., which offers mentorship and education for young women, and WIN, a New York City shelter for homeless women and their children. In 2014, the brand helped relaunch a sewing program for girls at Girls Inc. in Waterbury, Connecticut, run by Saturday volunteers. Most shoes sold in the United States are now made overseas. These independent designer shoes are made in the USA. Pair them with suiting cut and sewn in New York City factories, and an entire outfit can be traced back to the people who made it.