The Tove universe is growing. Renowned for its refined silhouettes and elegant take on city style, the London-based label has witnessed a steady rise since its inception in 2019, catalysed by its inaugural runway show last year (autumn/winter 2023). And now, founders Camille Perry and Holly Wright – who first met while working at Topshop as head of design and head of buying, respectively – have added yet another string to their bow: footwear. “It felt like there was real appetite for people to see the perspective of the brand in the footwear space”, they tell Vogue of customer demand.
Having honed their vision for eveningwear, outerwear and modern workwear, they realised the importance of “building out the collection” for their loyal clientele and worked with makers in Portugal to attain their vision. “We couldn’t find what we were looking for, so felt compelled to create it,” they remark. Timelessness was key: “We always think of the versatility of a piece and where our woman will be wearing it. It’s so important for each piece in our collections to have purpose. ‘Can the shoe be worn to dinner, but also on holiday?’, ‘will it work with denim and a dress?’” Wright and Perry explain. “The footwear collection had to feel like it offered pieces that our customer would return to time and time again.”
The three debut flats – the Darcy, Pascale and Renee – are a hat-trick of versatile design, available in cream, black and “vivid red”, which effortlessly complement the mainline pieces. “They feel like a continuation of the same narrative,” they say. “We feel they strengthen the identity of the Tove woman and complete the look for her.” Details, including the shape of the footbed, the curvature of the toe, the level of sole cushioning and the subtleness of the leather, were meticulously decided, and they measured the straps on the Renee sandals down to the nearest millimetre. The result? Shoes that feel “elegant and special, but not so precious that you are too frightened to wear them when it looks like rain!”
Like Tove’s ready-to-wear, each shoe takes on a name and personality. The Darcy is their version of a classic ballet pump, with an almond toe and a high-cut vamp that elongates the foot. The Pascale draws inspiration from a traditional babouche, rendered in tumbled leather that brings added texture, with a collapsible heel to be worn as a shoe or a mule. “They are perfect for day through to evening as they elevate a look without looking forced.” And lastly, there’s the “uncomplicated” Renee; a sandal with thin, T-bar straps. “The shoes aren’t over-styled, they are quiet with a focus on beautiful leather and delicate details,” Wright and Perry surmise. “They epitomise the ethos of the brand.”
Tove’s new footwear collection are now available to buy at Net-a-Porter and Tove-studio.com.
