Using your outfit to express your emotions is nothing new. It’s easy to associate a sleek suit with strength and determination or a cozy lounge set with leisure and warmth. But how about your shoes? What do they represent to you? Maybe a pair of vibrant sneakers exudes creativity or distressed biker boots signify a tough attitude. Tapping into your emotions is exactly what modern footwear brand Odissì wants you to do when you put on a pair of shoes every day.
The brand, which launched in September, is on a mission to marry quality Italian craftsmanship with emotional design. With timeless silhouettes like loafers and Chelsea boots, the debut fall/winter 2024 collection isn’t necessarily capitalizing on trends. Rather, it’s the moods the shoes can help you express that really matter to Odissì. “Fashion is a powerful way to express who you are, and shoes can be a boost or a counterbalance to an emotion,” says Daniele Michetti, creative director at Odissì. “Sometimes, we just go along with trends and style standards, choosing pieces that don’t always show who we really are. It’s better when what you wear truly matches what you’re feeling inside.”
To that end, Odissì’s goal is to create shoes that are meant to enhance the feelings and personality of the wearer. “We aim to create joy and love, but we also acknowledge frustration, anger, and fragility,” Michetti states. To him, the most inspiring people are those who express all their emotions without shame, and opt to wear pieces that reflect what they’re feeling.
Michetti knew that in order for the shoes to help the wearer convey an emotional narrative, they needed to tell a story themselves through expressive design. That’s why he leaned on his own emotional experiences to help inform the creations. “Without emotions, everything loses its impact,” he says. Michetti looked to people he met, galleries he visited, music he listened to, and even tastes and scents he came across during the creative process, all of which are reflected in the blend of colors and contrasts present within the collection.
He notes that intentional choices like materials and colors are used to soften, highlight, or contrast a shape. For instance, he points to the Emilie, riding boots that play up contrast with a dark brown knee-high strap that accents the black shaft. Another pair, the Hailey, features luxe gold hardware to soften the traditionally tough moto style.
Of course, tuning in to your emotions when you’re getting dressed each day takes practice and intent. “Think about the feeling you want to create when you wear that specific accessory,” Michetti advises. Not every outfit can perfectly encapsulate your mood, but when it does, that feeling of empowerment and liberation is one you’ll want to keep coming back to — that feeling, and your Odissì shoes.
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