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JANUARY | PAGE 9 | 2015 SETTING THE TONE. I've got books and books of things I wrote or sketched out when I was a kid. I've always been obsessed with footwear. Shoes are one of those things that set the tone for your personality. They are like Ferraris for girls. Guys love their cars; women love their shoes. You can wear a badass pair of shoes, and it doesn't really matter what else you put on or what kind of mood you are in — it changes your attitude. The fantasy of footwear for me started back in the day when I was just a little rug rat chasing after the same fashion my brothers were, back in the days when Vans were cool (the first time). That whole skater/sneaker lifestyle of athletic wear was really exciting for me. It's funny how I've evolved, starting out with athletic footwear and moving into heels. When I started high school, I owned nothing but high heels, literally. I didn't own a pair of flats until I started making my own. I was a high-heel girl 24/7. When I started the business with an oxford, it was really my outlet of making a flat that I felt comfortable wearing. CALIFORNIA STATE OF MIND. The punk in my work comes from my California upbringing. It is not so much rebellion and Mohawks but rather an attitude that people share. It's a state of mind. I grew up with three older brothers during the start of a new movement of skating, snowboarding and the self expression that comes with it. My work celebrates the rebellious idea of starting a new trend and a new way of thinking. The heritage in the line comes from my grandfather and the craftsmanship he taught me. It's my way of preserving the past. BIG BREAKS. The first big store to pick up the line was Jeffrey [New York] for Spring 2012. But Neiman Marcus has really been so important and supportive of my work. This is the first season I've been in the store, but I've been online with them for three seasons. They've been like family to me, open to discussions, and they have helped guide me in building the brand. I was originally connected to them through Ree Willaford of Galleri Urbane who sells art to [Neiman's CEO] Karen Katz. Karen took an interest in my work and met me at the shop to really prep me for what to expect moving the brand forward. She is such an influential voice in the retail world, and for her to take time out was really something special. STAYING AUTHENTIC. That's the thing everyone struggles with. You can't waver with a heritage brand. Brands like Ralph Lauren introduce new things but have to always remain true to who they are. It's about staying authentic. As long as you are authentic, you can expand, but you need to keep your signature. I'm not going to always just make oxfords, but there will always be an oxford in my line. They are the base of the brand. Launching new work while staying true to yourself is hard to do, because in the fashion industry, everyone always has an opinion. You go one way, and everyone says you should go the other. You can't listen to it. I listened to it once, and it messed with my head. I ended up, in my mind, designing one of the worst collections I've ever made. And it was because it wasn't really where I wanted to go. People said I had to have a black, and I had to have a brown. I love color, so for me to take things in that direction was a total departure from who I am. The people I really listen to are my buyers. To sit with the people who buy my shoes, see what they look like, hear their stories and what they want in a shoe, that's who I design for. OUTTAKES. Your life revolves around shoes, right? Yes, the saddest thing is that [my husband and I] seem to have no clothes, but we've always got a ton of great shoes. So, we can walk around nude as long as we have good shoes? I don't want to see that necessarily, but there are some people that I'm sure I wouldn't mind seeing. Have you ever felt that you were an Eastern European woman? Actually, people always think I'm European. I can't tell you how many times I go to shows and everyone thinks I'm British. And, it's the aesthetic of my shoes. But I love that sort of rad oxford. Final thoughts? I tell people you can get everything you want in life — you just don't get to choose when. I would have loved to have done this in my 20s and revel in it in my 30s, but it didn't quite work out that way. So I'm hoping I'll be reveling in it in my 50s. In the master bedroom, a white Takashi Murakami Mr. DOB keeps company with an iconic Eames lounge chair and ottoman. Scott's shoe collection could rival Angela's. Chippewa Heritage boots and Justin Ropers. Framed vintage NRA poster. Scott Milden, Angela's husband, wears a Civilianaire long-sleeve denim western shirt and a light felt New York Hat Company fedora. Andrea Zuill painting from Galleri Urbane. The open living room is a mix of modern street art, including a framed original poster of the 2012 Supreme X Kate Moss campaign. Allie Pohl Ideal Woman piece in fuchsia on a mirrored pedestal. Japanese selvedge denim quilt thrown over a blue velvet Quinn chair and ottoman. Vintage steel lockers with Angela's custom chapeau from Paris, which she wore on her wedding day, and a Paul Smith collectible rabbit figure. In the living room, a modern walnut bookcase from Mecox; limited- edition KAWS figures including a 400% Wood Bearbrick, OriginalFake Tweety and Joe Kaws Snoopy; a painting by Scott Hewett; praying Buddhas from Angela's Thai business partner; and fashion doodles from Dallas illustrator Blake Wright. SHOES ARE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SET THE TONE FOR YOUR PERSONALITY. THEY ARE LIKE FERRARIS FOR GIRLS. GUYS LOVE THEIR CARS; WOMEN LOVE THEIR SHOES " " — Angela Scott Ceramic converse sneakers by artist Gilles Caffier, who began his career in textiles working for Yves Saint Laurent. Limited-edition Jeff Koons coffee-table book. In the master bedroom, Angela's King Charles cavalier spaniel, Butter. Collection of works by California artist Thomas Campbell. On the bedside table are two limited-edition Dunny figures by UK artist Jon Burgerman and artist Tara McPherson.