Welcome to Dan Sullivan’s Candy Land
By Harley Werner
British designer and founder of Irregular Choice, Dan Sullivan, has certainly defied the boundaries of fashion and physics when it comes to his shoes. He creates works of art with eye-popping colors, fun fabrics and a vast imagination! He comes from a family of fashion aficionados (his mother used to design for Vivienne Westwood), but when he ventured off to start his own company, he wanted to defy the social norms and go for something a bit more “irregular”. With a celebrity following, including Katy Perry and Gwen Stefani, Dan Sullivan has a passion and an eye for what is cutting edge.
In a recent interview with Sullivan at the premier party for his Fall 2010 line at the Irregular Choice Soho store in NYC, he explained that the source of his inspiration comes from venturing to exotic and new places around the world. To Dan, it’s about stepping into a change of culture and mentality. He gets “out of the box” by traveling the world, especially to countries like Japan and China, where people have been repressed for many years and are now finally freed from restraint and expressing themselves in new ways. “China,” he claims, “is the new fashion superpower.”
Dan’s designs can seem intimidating, but with a range of heel sizes and styles, there are shoes for all ages. He wants women to feel comfortable when they wear Irregular Choice, but comfortable doesn’t mean boring! Dan believes women shouldn’t be afraid of color or the unfamiliar. With his embellished flats and low-heeled options, he’s confident that there’s a style for every taste. He also tests the limits of physical structure (no, this isn’t science class!), and was very proud to point out that he created an “L” shaped heel that many didn’t think could withstand a person’s weight. Another example is the battery-powered plexy-glass heel that lights up with every step; very modern-day Cinderella! Most importantly for this fearless designer, it is all about making fun shoes at affordable prices.
Irregular Choice’s Fall 2010 Collection channels free spirit, but according to Dan, spontaneity still needs structure-which can be seen in his construction, including heels made from wooden spindles. Boots, low and high, are the focal point for Fall, but satin pumps and plastic wedges are a fresh surprise. As for the color palette, rich emeralds, vibrant reds and deep oranges give life to the collection, because fall doesn’t mean dark and dreary to this designer!
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