Armando Cabral Celebrates His Dapper Shoe Line With DETAILS At Bloomingdale’s

 For all the walking they do, it’s surprising that more of today’s successful models don’t have their own shoe labels. They could take a page out of Armando Cabral‘s book: his namesake label of luxurious Italian kicks are truly works of art. Last night, Cabral and DETAILS celebrated his brand’s arrival at Bloomingdale’s with an in-store event, featuring a Q&A session hosted by the lively Bevy Smith. While his devoted following of well-dressed hommes gathered around to quiz the designer, he offered up advice and tips on how to wear his loafers and brogues. Once the questions were over, an intimate group of Cabral’s friends, a few members of the  DETAILS team (including fashion director Matthew Marden, style director Eugene Tong, senior market editor Justin Berkowitz, and associate publisher Chris Cormier), and a few Bloomingdale’s execs trekked to East Pole for a chic din. But the real stars of the evening? Cabral and his gorgeous girlfriend, Crystal Wilson, who was bedecked in a killer Cushnie et Ochs suit, that the designers personally picked out for her. The beaming duo thanked the crowd for their unwavering support and even handed out a teeny souvenir: a black bracelet with a silver disk embossed with the brand’s logo. “Next dinner, we’ll have a gold bracelet for you,” Cabral promised the crowd. Between Bloomie’s and supper, we took a moment to chat with the designer and got the dish on what’s coming next…

How did you get into the shoe biz?
The line started back in 2008 out of my lifelong passion for shoes. Being a model really exposed me to all of these great shoes. But I wanted to find something that was a little more versatile. Styles were either way too fashionable or too casual, so I figured if I could find a way to combine the two, I could create something original and new to the business. We launched our first collection in 2009, and here we are!

Are there any pairs of shoes you came across while modeling that really stood out?
I remember in 2005 I was backstage at Michael Kors‘ show, here in New York, and I remember holding a pair of sneakers made out of canvas. I thought, “This is great, but if I made this, I could do it better.” That was day one of this brand.

Has Michael Kors weighed in at all?
I saw Michael Kors and I talked to him about it, so he knows about the line. He told me that he thinks it’s great!

Do people recognize you more for being a shoe designer or for being a model?
It’s funny, it’s becoming both actually. I would say 60 percent of people still recognize me as a model and the other 40 percent is like, “Oh man, I love your shoe line.” So you know, it’s a good mix!

Why is it important to have your line carried at your Bloomingdale’s?
I think Bloomingdale’s represents perfectly what we’re trying to convey as a brand. They have the image and the type of customer we want to attract.

Which shoes did you decide to wear tonight?
I’m wearing simple, classic shoes, which is what I wanted to wear, before I even checked the weather. I knew I didn’t want to ruin the shoes in this rain, but I decided to just wear them anyways.

Do your modeling gigs for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dries Van Noten, and J.Crew factor into your design process at all?
I travel as a model all over the world, and every month I’m traveling to Asia, Africa, or Europe. I gather references and inspiration from my travel. Then when we go to design in the studio, we just conceptualize everything, like the mood board and the actual designs.

You’re well-known for smiling often during shoots! What makes you happy?
I figure it doesn’t cost anything to smile. And in fact, the more you smile, the more contagious it is to others, so I try to do it as much as I can. And I’m happy with my life, that’s another reason!

Have any big names worn your shoes?
Carmelo Anthony is one of our biggest fans, and I know Elijah Woods is, too. But we’re also making a pair of shoes for Rihanna!

Wow! So women’s shoes are part of your line as well?
We just started women’s, which will launch in the U.S. by next season.