Clicking up her heels

Chelsea Jones outfits her wedding party in Ciel Bleu footwear,

Chelsea Jones knows all about putting her best foot forward. The shoe designer gave her fledging company a big plug during her wedding last weekend when the bridal party wore her new heels.

Jones, her three sisters and mother were all decked out in shoes from Ciel Bleu Footwear ( cielbleufootwear.com ) a unique, athletically inspired women’s line that touts foam insole, rubber flex-pad soles, builtin arch support, vented upper fabric and streamlined heels.

Jones, 29, grew up in Westboro attending Nepean High School and Algonquin College. She worked in corporate communications in Toronto in the resource sector and moved to Vancouver almost three years ago. A soccer player and runner, she spent a lot of time in running shoes.

“I kept thinking that there has to be a better shoe after running around the financial district in Toronto in heels. I yearned for something more functional with cushioning for the heels and thought it would be cool to build those types of components.”

Jones starting sketching shoe designs and attended a materials’ show in Portland, Oregon, and eventually connected with a small manufacturing company in Brazil. She launched her business at the end of 2011.

“Brazil has a huge market for women’s shoes. They are known for their high-quality leather, craftsmanship and fit. I’m their only North American customer so I have access to their technical designer. I come up with the concept for the shoes and do all the sales and marketing. ”

Jones currently sells seven styles with 22 model colours, but will likely double that number next year. Her flats and classic pumps are the biggest sellers. During her July 6 wedding at the National Gallery each member of the bridal party wore a different heel (classic pump, wedge sandal and lace-up pump), as well as white, blue and red J. Crew dresses.

“My husband is from Oregon so we wanted to represent Canada and the U.S. coming together in our colour scheme.”

Jones wore a custom wedding shoe with a gold and silver lace overlay on the leather. She has had so many requests for wedding shoes from her friends that she plans on creating a bridal line in the future.

PHOTOS: RYAN PARENT PHOTOGRAPHY Chelsea Jones, centre, the brains behind Ciel Bleu Footwear, is shown with her wedding party outside the Fairmont Château Laurier, including Shannon Jones, left, Brittni Jones, Miranda Jones and flower girl Paisley Fish, who was wearing her own shoes.

Walk this way: Chelsea Jones of Ciel Bleu Footwear outfitted her bridal party with shoes from her collection, including, from left, Skigh heel in blue, $185, Aspire sandal in black, $119, Trace heel in white and gold, $195, and a custom wedding heel.

Ciel Blue Footwear is an athletically designed line that touts foam insoles, built-in arch support and streamlined heels.