Meet The Designer + The Muse / ALL BLACK Spring worn by Lianna Liss

Our favorite photographer Zach captured Philly fashion blogger & muse Lianna Liss in the newest hottest SS20 styles from our forever favorite All Black Footwear.

We took it to the streets (Rittenhouse Park to be exact) & photographed her in the All Black Simple Block Sandal in Taupe & Red, Crystal Ball Pave Slide, & Banded Pave. Then we chatted with Lianna about her personal style & inspo.

And if that isn't inspiring enough, we interviewed our friend Marty Rose about the All Black brand, the design process, & so much more. 

We love this collection & feel you will too, simply by scrolling through the gorgeous images. But there's really something special about getting a glimpse into all the things which inspire us & our collaborators. We believe that's what makes you fall in love with a shoe over & over again...it's not just about the shoe, it's about the story!

How did you get started as a blogger?  I went to school for fashion marketing and merchandising with plans to become a fashion buyer. After graduating, I worked as a production assistant in fashion, music, and as a personal shopper at a local boutique. Wardrobe styling led to sending clients lots of mirror selfies (ha!) and over time, with the rise of Instagram, it organically became something that people wanted to see more of. What I think started to draw more people to my page is the way I was mixing high/low brands and labels to create fun and accessible looks. 

What is the best thing that has come out of being a blogger? Definitely the people I’ve met! The fashion industry often gets a bad rap regarding cattiness, social climbing etc. however I've had such a positive experience with the people I’ve met. Whether it’s been through social media, networking, fashion week events or collaborating with industry professionals. I've made lifelong friends and the opportunities have brought me to do the things I love (styling shoots, personal shopping, wardrobe styling, event coordinating, attending NYFW shows).

What are your top 3 favorite clothing brands? This is hard! I shop on Revolve and FWRD a lot, love Prada, Nike and Zara OF COURSE :)

Where and how do you find inspiration for your outfits? Aside from the famous blogger and models, I love @brittanyxavier @tezza @aimeesong and @hoskelsa people forget to look at Fashion magazines. I like to pour a cup of matcha and submerge myself in the newest styles and trends in the magazines. I’ll work out ways to integrate some of the styles into my current wardrobe and look for dupes online. I also get a TON of inspo from Fashion Week photographers IG accounts. They catch the best street style...from big names to people who fly under the radar like buyers and fashion writers. 

Where would you say are the most "Instagrammable" spots in Philly? For the most part I like to keep my feed and backgrounds as minimal as possible, so usually it’s a stoop or walking on the street or sidewalk (boring I know.) When I have a full day of shooting planned with a photographer my favorite locales are Chinatown and the Italian Market...the street style vibes are so good!

What's your favorite restaurant in the city? This is probably the hardest question for me because Philly has an incredible restaurant scene. My favorite is probably Vernick. I love the Maryland crab toast and the organic Amish chicken, is seriously the best chicken (Elena's fave too)!

When you have a free day to do whatever you want, what do you like to do? On a day I have no plans, I like to go to The Wellness Refinery and use the infrared sauna. It’s my favorite way to detox and reset. For me, it definitely relieves muscle tightness and helps me get better sleep. Afterwards I like to sit in their cafe, have a smoothie and get some work done.

How do you decide which brands to work with? For example, do you have standards—must be sustainable, designed by a local designer or an international brand? When a brand reaches out to work together I like to do my research, I check out their social media, website, reviews etc. The first question I ask myself is does the brand align with my style and is it a good fit for my audience. A lot of influencers say yes to anything that comes their way and I feel that can start to actually work against you, causing your followers to distrust your opinion and recommendations. For example, with any skincare partnerships I will use the product for a minimum of two weeks before posting or suggesting it to my followers. Honesty is my policy as cliché as that sounds. My standards for working with brands are always evolving and dependent on the situation. I have worked with retailers who only sell sustainable brands and I admire that so much! Sustainability is becoming more and more the norm in the industry but we still have a long way to go. I always LOVE working with local designers, brands and retailers. I don’t think people realize how many incredible creatives Philadelphia has! 

Where is your favorite place you've traveled to? Italy has a special place in my heart. It’s where I went on my honeymoon almost 6 years ago! The food, the fashion, the culture! It’s an amazing country. With everything happening right now I can’t help but reminisce about that trip. 

If you could only wear one type of shoe for the rest of your life, what would it be? SNEAKERS! I'm so happy that sneakers are now considered super ‘fashionable’ and acceptable to wear with dresses to jeans. From chunky Balenciagas to athletic Nikes, vintage white Reebok’s to neon Adidas...I love them all. One of my favorite looks for spring is a flirty feminine dress with a pair of classic white sneakers and a cute ankle sock.

 Next up, our chat with All Black's Marty Rose:  

How did All Black’s journey as a shoe company begin? ACL Footwear Company, the parent company of ALL BLACK first started as a Private Label company for brands like Nordstrom.

How did the name All Black come about? The brand was created to be similar to a Black Label from Calvin Klein or Armani, but the company decided that it was too serious so the name became ALL BLACK to mean top designer quality with an accessible edge.

What was one of All Black’s first shoe designs? Fish Skin ballets, NYC Ballet flats and the famous Soft Bow retro heel.

How does All Black find inspiration for new shoe styles? We follow runway trends, but more importantly we use our minds to stretch beyond the acceptable styles and push the edge a little bit more each year.

How would you describe the All Black brand/mission? To provide fashion forward styles at affordable prices and with an eye toward improving our environment.

How does All Black attempt to stand out in the industry? Just the right amount of edge, making ALL BLACK unique but still accessible.

What has been the most rewarding thing about representing All Black? Seeing a brand grow from nothing to a key player with a very loyal retail customer base.

What trends do you see emerging for footwear in Autumn/Winter of 2020? Key words like Sustainability, comfort, uniqueness are on every one's list of objectives. At ALL BLACK we also make sure there is something beyond unique, rather breakthrough each season, A new outer sole treatment, a new form of construction, a never before used material made of recycled items. Turning newspapers into woven plastic or drinking straws into a woven fabric.

Has Instagram made it easier for All Black (as a brand) to connect with your customers? Instagram has made our business grow dramatically. Our boutique customers constantly post our styles and thus making new customers come to our trade show booths because they see so much of ALL BLACK on social media.

If you could have anyone model All Black shoes, who would you choose? JLO and Alicia Keys.

What is your favorite BUS STOP X shoe style? Love what you do to our basic oxford shoe. You have made the man tailored look into a work of art for fashionable women..

Which is your favorite city in the world? I love New York, Shanghai and Tokyo equally..

We hope you were truly inspired by Lianna's looks & words & Marty's insight into the brand. Now that you have a well-rounded look into our beloved All Black, does it make sense why we've carried the brand for THIRTEEN YEARS & partnered with them to create our BUS STOP X babies?

All of the All Black SS20 featured are available online now. Shop from home while you stay safe & stay home. All orders come with complimentary shipping & we are shipping mindfully, with big, appreciative hearts.

We love you!