The actress became world known by her alter-ego, the character Carrie Bradshaw from TV series Sex and the City broadcasted from 1998 to 2014. Set and filmed in New York City, the series focused on the love life of four friends living in the city, but soon became popular for its fashion references and Carrie, the main character and a confessed shoe lover, became an inspiration for young fashionistas all over the world.

The debut of Sarah Jessica Parker into the shoe branding world happens in partnership with George Malkemus, CEO of the footwear brand Manolo Blahnik. The products will be sold exclusively at Nordstrom stores, the experienced fashion business, and shoes prices range from 200USD (150€) to 500USD (370€), with bags being priced around 26 USD (190€) and the trench coat 520USD (380€).

All different models have one feature in common: each shoe has a thin touch of grosgrain ribbon running up the back seam or a tiny ribbon tab on the side of the slip-ons. An inspiration from Sarah’s childhood when her mother would ensure all her daughters had two grosgrain ribbons in their hair. The shoes are all named after women who have inspired Sarah in a particular way, such as, Diana, the model inspired by Lady Diana, and the obviously named Carrie shoe.

The 48-years old actress confessed that the opportunity to create a shoe collection had been around for a number of years, however, Sarah was looking for a dream partner, and according to the actress that could only be George Malkemus, CEO of the famous Manolo Blahnik brand. The iconic fashion business Nordstrom was the choice for the exclusive distribution of the SJP products.

Nordstrom - A brief history

In 1887, 16-year-old John W. Nordstrom left his home in Sweden with the promise of the opportunities existing in the US. He arrived to NY with 5USD and not a word of English to his name. The first few years in the States were hard, and Nordstrom labored in mines and logging camps, before earning 13.000 USD from a gold-mine stake in Alaska and returning to Seatle to invest his money. Joining with a friend, a shoe-repair shop owner, he founded Wallin & Nordstrom in 1901 – a small downtown shoe store. In 1928 John retired and sold his shares to his sons; Wallis also left the business a year later and his shares were also bought my John’s children. By 1960, the downtown Seattle shop had become the largest shoe store in the country, and the company now owning eight locations (Washington and Oregon) was the largest independent shoe chain in the United States.

The following years were marked by new ventures, such as, the entrance into the womens clothing market with the purchase of Seattle-based Best Apparel in 1963. Three years later after purchasing a Portland based fashion retailer, Nordstrom started to offer Northwest customers a ion of shoes and apparel under the new name Nordstrom Best. Mens and childrens wear were added in 1966; the business prospered and new stores followed; the company entered the California market and expanded to the East Coast. In 1968 the three Nordstrom brothers handed the power over to the third generation.

Going public in 1971, the company was formally renamed Nordstrom, Inc, and two years later, annual sales surpassed 100 million USD, with Nordstrom being recognized as the largest-volume fashion specialty store on the West Coast. Other ventures of the company included buying a majority interest in Jeffrey (luxury fashion boutiques) in 2005, and the entrance on the online private sale market by acquiring Los Angeles-based Haute Look.

Today, a fourth generation of the Nordstrom family, teaming up with an executive group and with innovators and fashion leaders, heads up the fashion specialty chain with global reach, offering extend ion of shoes, clothing and accessories. In 2011, the company achieved an all-time record for total net sales at 10.5 billion USD. Nordstrom currently operates a total of 261 stores located in 35 states, with 117 full-line stores, 141 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques and one clearance store. Looking ahead, the company plans to open three new full-line stores in 2014, followed by the opening of its first Manhattan store in 2018, and the expectation is to reach a total of 230 Rack stores by 2016.

For more information about Nordstrom please visit their website, where you can also find more information about the SJP line:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/