Beth Levine

Beth Levine (1914-2006) was an American fashion designer most known for her designs from the 1940s through the 1970s. Under the label of her husband Herbert Levine she 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'. She designde shoes for three First Ladies, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson and Pat Nixon and her clientele also included movies stars like Bette Davis and musicians like Liza Minelli and Barbra Streisand.

Levines greatest influence is considered to be the re-introduction of boots to women's fashion in the 1960's and the popularization of the shoe style known as mules. When Nancy Sinatra wore Levine boots in publicity shots for the 1960's 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.


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