THE BRAND TO WATCH OUT FOR: STUART WEITZMAN

The American shoe label is about to get bigger with its new creative director, who was behind some of the 2000s’ most successful It bags.

For over three decades, the label’s been distilling the fundamentals of American sportswear into women’s shoes: sophisticated, trend-influenced yet highly wearable pumps/sandals/flats/boots worn by everyone from a red-carpet-strutting J.Lo to an airplanebound Gigi Hadid. With the installation of creative director Giovanni Morelli (the first to succeed its namesake founder, who stepped down in 2016), expect the “trend-influenced” part of that equation to grow. Morelli was behind some of the most iconic It bags of the 2000s (hint: one featured a very distinctive padlock). And while his first full-fledged collection drops only in F/W ’18, there are already stamps of his hit-making sensibilities in Pre-fall. Signature styles are updated with arty, sculptural hardware; footwear now includes the likes of combat boots and embellished slides; and bags are to be as major (cue the Shoebox, a line of geometric totes and clutches inspired by, well, the name says it all). Everything else, from comfort to prices, are said to remain. (From left) Leather slides, $450. Leather jacket, $8,990, and matching pants, $4,590, Brunello Cucinelli.

Leather mules. Georgette dress, $8,550, Chloe. Leather booties, $1,200. Mohair-blend sweater and cotton-blend jodhpurs, Burberry. Leather boots, $1,200. Leather vest, $1,660, and tulle skirt, $2,130, Moschino. All shoes, Stuart Weitzman. Prices unavailable unless stated