Well Heeled

Sophia WebSter’S wardrobe is as bright and bold as her London home — and her delightful shoe designs.

- Lucy Halfhead

LIFE IS SHORT. Buy the shoes!’ reads a cushion resting on the bed of the British accessory designer Sophia Webster. It’s just one of the many playful touches in her east London house that reflects her mission to put the fun back into luxury fashion. Paper lanterns shaped like ice-creams hang from the trees in the garden and a half-eaten chocolate cake made to resemble a Disney princess in a frothy yellow ballgown bears witness to her daughter Bibi Blossom’s third birthday party the day before. Webster is wearing a cat-print jumper that reaches down to her knees (she’s a dainty 155 centimetres tall) and bright pink fluffy slippers, while Bibi is clearly still in a party mood as she runs around in a bright-pink flamingo onesie.

Yet there is no doubt about the seriousness with which Webster approaches her business. Combining exuberantly feminine designs with a strong sense of sophistication, she not only produces eight adult shoe collections every year, but also brings out two more for children, as well as four handbag lines, and bridal pieces. “I love adding different product categories, but it has to be the right timing. I designed kids’ shoes when I was pregnant and they’ve been a huge success. But really, I was just being selfish because I wanted cute shoes to put Bibi in,” she says, laughing.