Jerome C. Rousseau: The Next Louboutin?

By Beth Whiffen
October 25, 2011

Jerome Rousseau Jerome C. Rousseau’s eponymous footwear line is one of the hottest emerging shoe labels in recent memory. Editors from Vogue, Bazaar and Elle have embraced it. A laundry list of celebrities such as Freida Pinto, Kristen Stewart and Scarlett Johansson have worn it on the red carpet. And directional stores such as Barney’s, Fred Segal, Madison Beverly Hills and Harvey Nichols merchandise it next to established lines like Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin.

It's possible that one of the reasons the line has been so well received is because the man behind it is as endearing and captivating as his shoes are innovative. We sat down with the charming Jerome C. Rousseau to talk about his journey since the launch of his line, his love of dance-pop and how he finds Los Angeles to be a continual source of inspiration.

The Inside Source: You launched your line in 2008. What has been the most challenging aspect? The most rewarding?

Jerome C. Rousseau: There are a lot of challenges! I think the biggest challenge is the workload. There are tons of different areas to cover, from designing a brilliant collection to traveling to present it, but also the many aspects of running a business. I always have a “to-do list” with 100 things on it! The most rewarding has been the support and enthusiasm of press and retailers for the label, and to see the label grow at a fast pace.

The Inside Source: What has been the most exciting moment for you as a designer thus far?

Jerome C. Rousseau: Launching the first collection. It’s a magical time in a designer’s career to launch a first collection.

The Inside Source: With Fashion Weeks all over the world having just wrapped, everyone is talking about spring trends. What are the big trends in footwear going to be?

Jerome C. Rousseau: I feel strongly for a return to ultra-feminine silhouettes and a modern aesthetic. I like the idea of detailing being more into the cut and the silhouette, as opposed to embellishment. Feminine platforms continue with stilettos or block heels. Soft natural shades mixed with bright summery tones like orange look new and fresh. I’ve been inspired by the beautiful paintings of James Nares for colors and also for their subtlety.

Jerome C. Rousseau

Jerome C. Rousseau Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

The Inside Source: It’s spring on the runways, but it’s fall in the stores. What are the key shoes every girl needs for fall 2011?

Jerome C. Rousseau: A statement pair of knee boots and a playful sandal with intricate details.

The Inside Source: When a woman gets dressed, do you think she should always start by choosing her shoes before anything else?

Jerome C. Rousseau: You’re asking a shoe designer, so of course I’ll say yes! And I know many women agree with me. But I don’t think it’s a rule that applies all the time. Sometimes choosing a simple outfit first will dictate the pair of statement heels that will complete the outfit.

The Inside Source: Walk us through your design process. Where do you look for inspiration and how do you apply it to your designs?

Jerome C. Rousseau: Inspiration is something easy for me. I never really plan what the inspiration for the collection will be. My inspiration reflects the different things I have fallen in love with over the few months prior to designing the collection. For example, it could be a book that someone offered me and that was on my table for a few weeks. When I start sketching, it could be the only thing on my mind. I usually effortlessly combine a few elements together to create a story that inspires me. It can be music, cinema, someone I met, nature, nightlife etc.

The Inside Source: What are your musical and artistic influences right now?

Jerome C. Rousseau: I listen to Jens Lekman, Robyn, Shakespears Sister, Sandi Sirocco, Simon Bookish, Riviera F, Bishi, Patrick Wolf. A lot of London bands inspire me at the moment, also Scandinavian bands. I mentioned James Nares earlier—I’m obsessed with his work. Verena Paloma Jabs is a constant favorite artist.

The Inside Source: You picked Siobhan Fahey from Bananarama as the model for your fall 2011 collection. What made you choose her to represent this particular collection?

Jerome C. Rousseau: I have been a huge fan of Siobhan my entire life. Siobhan has talent and integrity, and I find her inspiring. We met about ten years ago in London and reconnected in Los Angeles recently. I was honored she agreed to be the face of our new campaign. She’s a confident woman and she’s well in her own skin. She loves dancing and is incredibly youthful and connected to the world around her. That’s very sexy and very cool. Her songwriting in Shakespears Sister has been a big influence on me.

Jerome C. Rousseau

Siobhan Fahey from Bananarama modeling Jerome C. Rousseau footwear

The Inside Source: You created the “Quorra” sandal (which is really cool!) for the movie "Tron: The Legacy." Tell us about that.

Jerome C. Rousseau: Thank you, yes it’s a really cool sandal! Disney approached me last year to see if I’d be interested in collaborating with them for their new "Tron" release. I’m a huge, huge, huge fan of the original "Tron", so I was most excited to do this. I didn’t want to do a gimmicky shoe with reflective light strips etc—it was too obvious and not in line with the DNA of my label. I decided to create an architectural sandal inspired by the lines of the architecture in the original and the new "Tron" movies. This sandal helped establish a strong following for my label—it has been a brilliant collaboration. I’m back on the working table on a new Disney collaboration. More details will be revealed soon!

Jerome Rousseau

Shoe designed by Rousseau for the Disney movie "Tron: The Legacy"

The Inside Source: There aren’t many high-end footwear labels based in Los Angeles. Why did you pick L.A. over NYC or Paris?

Jerome C. Rousseau: There’s a lot of potential in Los Angeles that hasn’t exploded yet, and it’s most exciting to be part of a city that’s culturally and artistically establishing itself. The lifestyle here allows me to be focused and pull all the inspiration from my travels together and to create a strong collection. It wasn’t an easy city to get used to, but I have met the most inspiring people and I have my favorite places to go to that I crave whenever I’m not in LA.

The Inside Source: What celebrity are you dying to have walk the red carpet in your shoes?

Jerome C. Rousseau: I’m fortunate that a lot of my favorite celebrities are already wearing the label. January Jones and Charlize Theron are two favorites of mine, and they’re big supporters of the label. I’d love to see Cyndi Lauper or Robyn wear my shoes.

Jerome C. Rousseau

Celebrities wearing Jerome C. Rousseau footwear: Kristen Stewart at the Teen Choice Awards 2009 (photo by Steve Granitz/Contributor, Charlize Theron at 'The Burning Plain' photocall (Photo by Fotonoticias/WireImage)

Jerome C. Rousseau

January Jones at A Night Of Fashion & Technology With LG Mobile Phones (photo by Jordan Strauss/Contributor), Vanessa Hudgens at Comic-Con International (photo by Chelsea Lauren/Contributor)

The Inside Source: A lot of people equate shoes that are made in Italy with luxury, but they don’t really know what it means. Can you explain why Italian-made shoes are superior?

Jerome C. Rousseau: The best components all come from Italy, also the best artisans. From building the lasts and heels to the top quality insoles, outsoles, leathers, pattern cutters and of course, the very skilled artisans in the factories putting all these elements together to build the shoes. Italy is one of the few countries where it is still possible to make smaller productions in more exclusive numbers. The passion for footwear is tangible and the dedication to making a quality product is a tradition.

The Inside Source: Do you ever shop or browse eBay for inspiration for your line or just for fun?

Jerome C. Rousseau: Yes, I love to browse for fun items on eBay—usually music or record players or vintage items.