“Hi, Rihanna,” Tepper Itzler said as she accepted the Launch of the Year award on behalf of her mother Sneex founder Sara Blakely at the 2024 FNAAs on Wednesday night.

Indeed, the 8-year-old daughter of Blakely, who was joined on stage by Amy Griffin, stole the show at Cipriani South Street as the crowd of nearly 400 guests cheered her on during the speech.

“I’m accepting this award on behalf of my mom,” Itzler said. “She is in Dubai. I’m a little nervous because I have never given an acceptance speech before, but my mom always says, ‘With hard work, anything is possible.’ I think Sneex is amazing. As you can see, I’m wearing my mom’s Sneex from her closet right now.”

The adorable moment continued with some fun facts about Blakely. “Some things you all don’t know about my mom are, number one, that she’s a great back scratcher, number two, she makes amazing pancakes on Sunday, and number three, she makes great Sneex,” Itzler said.

This isn’t Blakely’s first time in the rodeo. The entrepreneur is most well known as the founder of the Spanx intimates’ brand, which launched in 2000 and was built it into a market leader valued at $1.2 billion as of 2021, when Blackstone acquired a majority stake.

Now, the entrepreneur is leveraging the power of online platforms to bolster her new Sneex luxury shoe brand, which began selling direct to consumer in August. And it’s certainly gained attention, landing on Oprah’s Favorite Things list for the holidays and garnering celebrity fans that include Gayle King, Jane Fonda, Reese Witherspoon and Hoda Kotb.

With Sneex, Blakely has introduced a new footwear silhouette she’s dubbed a “hy-heel” that merges an athletic sneaker with a stiletto. The collection — which is made in Spain with luxurious nappa leather and Italian mesh — so far consists of three styles retailing for $395 to $595.

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.

Best Shoe Moments at the FNAA 2024

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On Dec. 4, Sneex will be honored with the Launch of the Year award at the 38th annual FN Achievement Awards. Below is an article from the magazine’s Dec. 2 print issue about how the brand came to life and aims to empower women with more comfortable footwear.

Debuting a new business in 2024 feels a little different for Sara Blakely, who last launched the Spanx intimates brand in 2000 and built it into a market leader valued at $1.2 billion as of 2021, when Blackstone acquired a majority stake.

“When I started Spanx, there was no social media. The internet was just becoming a thing,” Blakely recalled. “To get anybody to know about my product, I was standing on department store floors eight to 10 hours a day for four years straight, telling 40 women a day and hoping that those 40 women would tell five friends.”

Now, the entrepreneur is leveraging the power of online platforms to bolster her new Sneex luxury shoe brand, which began selling direct to consumer in August. And it’s certainly gained attention, landing on Oprah’s Favorite Things list for the holidays and garnering celebrity fans that include Gayle King, Jane Fonda, Reese Witherspoon and Hoda Kotb.

But with that bright spotlight also came many opinions on social media. “Some people love it. Some people don’t. Some people need to get used to it,” Blakely said.

And ultimately, she added, those conversations are a good sign. “When people have strong reactions, it means I’ve that done something disruptive and innovative. For people to have that much emotion around something and start a conversation, I don’t mind it at all. I completely embrace it.”

With Sneex, Blakely has introduced a new footwear silhouette she’s dubbed a “hy-heel” that merges an athletic sneaker with a stiletto. The collection — which is made in Spain with luxurious napa leather and Italian mesh — so far consists of three styles retailing for $395 to $595.

The brand was in development for roughly nine years. Though interestingly, a hybrid shoe wasn’t the initial plan.

Blakely, who struggles with foot pain, first set out to create a more comfortable stiletto for women. “There are so many things in our day-to-day life that are rapidly iterating and evolving. But the high heel has had a pretty traditional construction for a long time without much change,” she said.

But after four years of no progress — and continued resistance from factories in Europe — Blakely hit a wall. “I was just about to throw in the towel and I remember saying, ‘I just want my high heel to be as comfortable as my sneaker.’ Then a light bulb went off, and I decided to change direction completely,” she said.

She made her first prototype by cutting up a sneaker in her closet and attaching it to one her classic stilettos. From there came the difficult process of finding a manufacturer. Blakely said most factories she met with in Spain and Italy knew how to make heels or sneakers but not both; however, she persisted in her search because she wanted to offer an alternative to luxury heels, something made with fine craftsmanship out of premium materials.

Challenging the status quo is familiar territory for Blakely, who faced similar hurdles with Spanx while working with North Carolina’s male-owned textile factories. “A quarter of a century later, I felt like I was back in the same position, still fighting that fight to convince people to evolve their ideas — and evolve them in the name of comfort,” she said.

Fate finally prevailed, leading her to a factory in Spain. “The factory owner happened to go to Florida State University and graduate the same year I did, which was like divine intervention,” said Blakely. “He felt connected to me and became willing to help me make the shoe.”

Sneex aims to solve three pain points for women: relieve squeezing in the toes, provide more stability and support in the heel, and take pressure off the ball of the foot by redistributing the weight.

“The fashion industry for so long has been focused on how we look, and I care about how we feel — and I don’t think it needs to be mutually exclusive,” said Blakely. “A big part of why we’ve had to put up with pain for so long is because the majority of people making what we wear aren’t wearing them and aren’t experiencing it. I believe that if they experienced it, there’d be a higher motivation to change the feeling.”

And she’s not alone in wanting an alternative. Since launching, Sneex has outperformed expectations, selling out of multiple SKUs. And Blakely noted that in its first 24 hours, the brand sold a pair of shoes in every state in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii.

Some of her early customers are female entrepreneurs and executives, who are showing up on conference panels in Sneex heels. “It doesn’t surprise me at all,” said Blakely. “I think that women in the business world really want a [new type of] heel.”

As for what’s driving her personally with this new business, Blakely (a mom to two kids) brings it back to her family and sending a message to the next generation. “My daughter is now 8, and I think about her a lot, about wanting to be an example to her that women don’t have to compromise, that they should dream big, and that beauty does not have to be pain,” she said.

For 38 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2024 event is supported by sponsors Listrak, Marc Fisher, Nordstrom and Vibram.

The Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, visited the new Queen of Halloween, Drew Barrymore to talk about her holiday line, the album that started it all and how she wore heels to visit the Great Wall of China. 

Adorned in a red velvet gown and dazzling diamond jewelry, Carey made a grand entrance, escorted by two shirtless men. These men wore Santa hats, pants, boots, and gloves, adding a festive touch to the occasion.

In sharing that she opted for high heels to walk around one of the great wonders of the world, Carey received a thoughtful gift from Barrymore—a pair of Sneex by Spanx. The innovative luxury footwear brand ingeniously merges the essence of sneakers and heels into a single, stylish shoe. In a unique fusion of style and comfort, the innovative “hy-heels” combine the elegance of traditional high heels with the functionality and ease of sneakers. These hybrid three-inch stilettos aim to provide the best of both worlds, allowing wearers to embrace a chic and sophisticated look while prioritizing comfort and practicality.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DByqcOHOC8Z

For the visit to “The Drew Barrymore Show,” the singer opted for silver strappy sandals. With a historical significance rooted in ancient civilizations, strappy sandals have been a staple in the fashion world for centuries. Today, renowned footwear designers such as Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Stuart Weitzman, Aquazzura, and Ancient Greek Sandals create stunning collections of strappy sandals. 

These sandals range from classic, elegant styles to modern, trend-forward designs. The metallic trend of 2023 dominated the runways and world tours of fashion icons Beyonce and Taylor Swift. Its captivating allure suggests that it’s here to stay for the foreseeable future. 

Weekday mornings on CBS, tune into “The Drew Barrymore Show.” 

13 Times Mariah Carey Had Super Extra Style for Christmas

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Gayle King attended a Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty game at Barclays Center earlier this week in New York. King was joined in the stands by Carmelo Anthony and his son, Kiyan Anthony.

In a polarizing twist, the journalist donned a pair of Sneex in a black and gray colorway. Branded as a luxury hybrid sneaker heel, King chose the brand’s The Blake silhouette. Retailing for $545, the sneaker meets heeled bootie featured adjustable velcro closures instead of laces, a mix of mesh, suede and leather uppers and 3.07-inch stiletto heels.

Sneex was founded by Spanx founder Sara Blakely, born out of necessity and frustration with the lack of comfortable heels on the market. The sneaker meets heel invention isn’t new but Blakely’s design claims to marry all the comfort of a sneaker with the style of a pump. King was among the brand’s first celebrity supporters.

To the chagrin of many, sneaker heels are coming back in a major way. We’ve seen a resurgence in the hybrid style with brands like Isabel Marant, who practically pioneered the wedge sneaker trend, giving footwear fans a range of neutral silhouettes to choose from.

Converse, Comme Des Garcon and Nike have all released heeled sneakers in some shape or form within the last few years, revitalizing the hype for the strange but playful silhouette. It’s street style meets couture, dressy meets casual.

The television personality paired her heeled sneakers with a cozy aqua and white argyle sweater and simple tailored black slacks that matched the color scheme of her footwear almost perfectly.

King’s shoe style is sharp and vibrant. The “CBS Mornings” co-host often wears pointed-toe pumps and heeled sandals in a range of colors, patterns and embellishments for formal occasions, hailing from brands including Paul Andrew, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik. Off-duty, King can also be seen in equally colorful sneakers from Allbirds, Nike and Roger Vivier. She is also not afraid to get comfortable when necessary and recently wore flip flops on a red carpet.

Gayle King’s Shoe Style Through the Years

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To celebrate Black History Month, Adidas has tapped a select group of sneaker retailers to honor local Black women who are making a difference in their communities.

For this effort, Adidas Cornerstone Community —  the brand’s retailer-driven initiative focused on supporting BIPOC-owned businesses — partnered with Sneex and Clicks in Milwaukee, Premium Goods in Houston, Wish ATL in Atlanta, Ldrs 1354 in Chicago and GBNY in Queens, N.Y.

Each retailer, Adidas explained, will work with the brand to produce a piece of content or host a community-driven event to celebrate the woman they selected to honor. These women, according to Adidas, will be honored through its Honoring Black Excellence (HBE) initiative, which is dedicated to recognizing the extraordinary achievements of Black individuals, communities and culture year-round.

Sneex and Clicks, both owned by Eric “Shake” James, will honor Dannette Justus, who has long promoted literacy and reading skills in Wisconsin. Adidas confirmed Sneex and Clicks will host a celebratory event and dinner on Feb. 10 for her, as well as 30 other community leaders who have changed Milwaukee for the better.

“I have been a fan of hers for a while now, watching her stressing to children how important it is to read,” James told FN. “This is special to me because it gives me an opportunity to shine light on someone who’s also doing the work, to let her know that no matter how small the work may seem, it’s needed and appreciated.”

As for Premium Goods in Houston, the retailer will honor Adia Dightman, a bull rider whose grandfather, Myrtis Dightman, is referred to as the Jackie Robinson of the rodeo. Myrtis Dightman was the first Black man or woman to compete at the National Finals Rodeo.

“Adia and her family are the future of this legacy and she represents a new wave in an underrepresented group of Black female trail bosses,” said Jennifer Ford, owner of Premium Goods. “This activation is showing the world that Black cowboys and cowgirls have been around since the beginning. Trail riding is not new to the Black community. Furthermore, there are some queens out here leading.”

Ford said Premium Goods is documenting the Dightman family, female trail bosses and the youth “as an homage to the past, present and future of the Black heritage they created.” This includes a short biopic on the history, as well as the current state and future of the first Black trail riding rodeo team, the Prairie View Trail Riders Association, which will spotlight Adia Dightman and the three other women who lead the team today.

What’s more, Ford said Premium Goods is also honoring these women trail bosses with a kick off pampering on Feb. 23, courtesy of Adidas.

Wish ATL has selected Pretty Girls Sweat founder and CEO Aeshia DeVore as its honoree. Pretty Girls Sweat is a wellness company focused on inclusion with a goal of making fitness fun, accessible and affordable. 

To honor DeVore, Wish ATL will host an event featuring a trainer-led workout session, a set from a local DJ, healthy refreshments and bites from Local Green Atlanta and an educational workshop.

“Her focus with Pretty Girls Sweat aligns with our ‘Wish You Well’ initiatives and it was a perfect opportunity to work together. Her spirit and drive to surround our community with knowledge about health and wellness is super important and we are delighted to help amplify her voice in any way we can,” said Julie Hogg, co-owner and CEO of Wish ATL. “We also are ecstatic to work with the young ladies at GSU and AUC campuses on this project. Health and wellbeing are important to us, especially in our fast paced environment, so any opportunity we have to learn and grow from like-minded leaders is so valuable.”

Ldrs 1354 in Chicago will host a three-day event to honor FlashHoops founder Veronica Peterson. FlashHoops is a mobile platform focused on helping children learn math while receiving basketball skill training from their favorite athlete. This event, which will take place from Feb. 23-25, will include a basketball tournament, panels and a workforce development experience that aims to provide community members with new opportunities.

And GBNY in Queens, N.Y., will honor licensed mental health counselor Grace Lekan Lamour, who focuses on self confidence and self perception. To honor her, the retailer will host a workshop on self love and positive affirmations for students of Girls on the Run, which she will lead.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Eight years ago, with no prior experience in sneaker retail, Eric “Shake” James sought help from industry veteran Jazerai Allen-Lord to get his first Milwaukee-area store, Clicks, off the ground. However, in the time since, Allen-Lord, founder of creative agency True to Size, has become a central figure in his community-driven endeavors, which are primarily focused on his midwestern hometown.

“A lot of times, we look at big target cities, but we don’t think about where else we can make the most impact for our community,” Allen-Lord told FN. “This is why I go so hard for Shake’s work. What he’s doing, there’s very real change. You could see his impact in Milwaukee in a very short amount of time. With 10% of effort, you’re going to see a difference much quicker than you would in other circumstances.”

Their collaborative charitable journey will continue tomorrow, two months removed from the 10th annual Jam Master Jay Back to School Bash, when James and Allen-Lord will host two family- and youth-focused events.

First, they will deliver pizza, drinks and 100 backpacks and pairs of shoes — with the help of Adidas — to kids at the LaVarnway Boys & Girls Club, a short drive from Clicks. Later on in the day, they will give away 100 turkeys to families at the St. Augustine’s Preparatory Academy on the south side of Milwaukee.

Next month, James and Allen-Lord will adopt 150-200 families on Dec. 18, getting lists from them and shopping for the kids.

It’s events and initiatives like these that will inform perhaps the biggest project yet: a physical presence for youth in the community, which will be known as the J.A.Y. Academy.

To date, the J.A.Y. Academy — which stands for justice, arts and youth — has been used as an umbrella term for James’ community-focused initiatives. But his desire to take this further was bolstered recently with news of the LaVarnway Boys & Girls Club, the site of tomorrow’s shoe and backpack giveaway, closing by the end of the year.

“That club has been around for 64 years. It’s crazy for it to close,” James said. “I was really upset when I found out because I used to play ball at like club, I learned how to play pool there and how to interact with people. And I’m seeing this trend of those resources being taken away, which is super unfortunate.”

For years, James — who owns and operates the Clicks, Sneex and Black Market banners — has engaged in a variety of community-focused endeavors. Aside from the Jam Master Jay Back to School Bash, which has been going strong for 10 years, James added a community center called Study Hall to his Black Market store, which opened in March.

Allen-Lord said the years of work would inform the vision of a soon-to-be physical academy.

“I knew Shake’s long-term dream was to have his own version of a Boys & Girls Club for kids to be able to learn and develop skills to adjust to the climate that we live in. And he’s been forming all of the programing and the pillars that he wanted,” Allen-Lord told FN. “Myself and Dawn Martin, my head of experience at True to Size, we went into a bat cave for a week last year and put together all of the programing and created a pitch deck with all of the insights.”

When the academy comes to fruition, James will look to bring professional development, financial literacy, wellness education and more to Milwaukee youth. James said the hope is to give them the tools that they need, such as the importance of credit, tutoring, job interview training and more, to build a brighter future.

At the moment, James is awaiting approval of the nonprofit status for the J.A.Y. Academy. Once he has that, James said he will then look to acquire a building, and has his sights set on the nearby Memorial Lutheran School. Also, James said he will seek financial commitments from brands such as Adidas and Nike to ensure the academy’s longevity.

James said the J.A.Y. Academy will open sometime in 2022.

“I want this to be around 64 years like the Boys and Girls Club was,” James said.