Beth Levine
Encyclopedia
Beth Levine was an American
fashion designer most known for her designs from the 1940s through the 1970s.
Under the Herbert Levine label, bearing the name of her husband, Herbert Levine
, Beth was the best-known American women's shoe designer from the 1950s to the early 1970s, and is still referred to as "The first Lady of American Shoes Design" (http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/labels.php?labelno=489&mode=search&PHPSESSID=5167fb4b2c8cefa4feef4256d3c9c082).
, the third of five children of Anna and Israel Katz, Lithuania
n Jewish emigrants who operated a dairy farm. In the 1930s, she moved to Manhattan and found work as a shoe model, then worked her way up from a stylist to head designer for I. Miller. She served as a Red Cross volunteer during World War II
.
when she applied for a job designing shoes for another shoe manufacturer in 1944 and married him three months later. In 1948, they founded together the Herbert Levine label. He was head of the firm, and this gave her designs the chance to come to center stage.
Beth Levine's greatest influence is considered to be the re-introduction of boots to women's fashion
in the 1960s and the popularization of the shoe style known as mules
. When Nancy Sinatra wore Levine boots in publicity shots for the 1960s hit song These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
demand for fashion boots
leaped so much that Saks Fifth Avenue
opened a special section its shoe department called Beth’s Bootery.
Beth had recognized how much women admired the delicacy and femininity of high fashion shoes when she modeled them on her tiny (size 4B, European size 35) foot. She set out to create designs that would make women with average shoe sizes look more delicate and feminine in their shoes, and in the process changed the silhouettes of American fashion. She experimented with cutting away more and more of the leather to expose more and more of the foot, in the process creating shoes that were regarded as both sexier and more elegant than her predecessors.
, Spring-o-lator mules
(where an elastic
strip allowed the wearer to keep the shoes securely on while wearing stockings despite the lack of any straps at the side or back of the shoes), stocking boots (panty hose with heels attached, as well as boots made from materials like vinyl and acrylic) and clear plastic shoes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion designer most known for her designs from the 1940s through the 1970s.
Under the Herbert Levine label, bearing the name of her husband, Herbert Levine
Herbert Levine
Herbert Levine was an American fashion executive active from the 1940s through the 1970s. Together with his fashion designer wife, Beth Levine, he led the fashion accessory Herbert Levine label bearing his name until 1975.- Life :...
, Beth was the best-known American women's shoe designer from the 1950s to the early 1970s, and is still referred to as "The first Lady of American Shoes Design" (http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/labels.php?labelno=489&mode=search&PHPSESSID=5167fb4b2c8cefa4feef4256d3c9c082).
Beginnings
She was born as Elizabeth Katz in Patchogue, New YorkPatchogue, New York
-Notable citizens:* Franc D'Ambrosio, Broadway Actor, best known for being the longest running Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. Graduated Pat-Med HS 1981* Michael Fagan, professional bowler...
, the third of five children of Anna and Israel Katz, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n Jewish emigrants who operated a dairy farm. In the 1930s, she moved to Manhattan and found work as a shoe model, then worked her way up from a stylist to head designer for I. Miller. She served as a Red Cross volunteer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Designer career
She met Herbert LevineHerbert Levine
Herbert Levine was an American fashion executive active from the 1940s through the 1970s. Together with his fashion designer wife, Beth Levine, he led the fashion accessory Herbert Levine label bearing his name until 1975.- Life :...
when she applied for a job designing shoes for another shoe manufacturer in 1944 and married him three months later. In 1948, they founded together the Herbert Levine label. He was head of the firm, and this gave her designs the chance to come to center stage.
Beth Levine's greatest influence is considered to be the re-introduction of boots to women's fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
in the 1960s and the popularization of the shoe style known as mules
Mule (footwear)
Mule, a French word, is a style of shoe that is backless and often closed-toed. Mules can be any heel height - from flat to high. The style is predominantly worn by women....
. When Nancy Sinatra wore Levine boots in publicity shots for the 1960s hit song These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
Jessica Simpson recorded her own version of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" for the soundtrack to the film The Dukes of Hazzard . Simpson's cover was co-produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and was released as the soundtrack's first single in 2005)...
demand for fashion boots
Fashion boot
A fashion boot is a boot worn for reasons of style or fashion . The term is usually applied to women’s boots. Fashion boots come in a wide variety of styles, from ankle to thigh-length, and are used for casual, formal, and business attire...
leaped so much that Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
opened a special section its shoe department called Beth’s Bootery.
Beth had recognized how much women admired the delicacy and femininity of high fashion shoes when she modeled them on her tiny (size 4B, European size 35) foot. She set out to create designs that would make women with average shoe sizes look more delicate and feminine in their shoes, and in the process changed the silhouettes of American fashion. She experimented with cutting away more and more of the leather to expose more and more of the foot, in the process creating shoes that were regarded as both sexier and more elegant than her predecessors.
Innovations
Fashion innovations introduced by Beth Levine for the Herbert Levine label include boots as Haute CoutureHaute couture
Haute couture refers to the creation of exclusive custom-fitted clothing. Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finished by the most experienced and capable seamstresses,...
, Spring-o-lator mules
Mule (footwear)
Mule, a French word, is a style of shoe that is backless and often closed-toed. Mules can be any heel height - from flat to high. The style is predominantly worn by women....
(where an elastic
Elastomer
An elastomer is a polymer with the property of viscoelasticity , generally having notably low Young's modulus and high yield strain compared with other materials. The term, which is derived from elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with the term rubber, although the latter is preferred...
strip allowed the wearer to keep the shoes securely on while wearing stockings despite the lack of any straps at the side or back of the shoes), stocking boots (panty hose with heels attached, as well as boots made from materials like vinyl and acrylic) and clear plastic shoes.