The Influencers.(practice of fashion designers and makeup artists)

Byline: Lindsy Van Gelder PHOTOGRAPHED BY NORMAN JEAN ROY

Behind every sexy shoe, rich lipstick, or showstopping hairstyle, there's a creative spirit. We take a look at today's most innovative fashion and beauty experts.

The Sensualist

We wouldn't say Bruno Frisoni has a foot fetish. But according to the man who since 2002 has been creative director for Roger Vivier, the venerable shoe and accessory house whose namesake invented the stiletto in 1954, even the act of shopping for shoes should be a sensual experience. "Shoes are something you need to see and take in your hand," says Frisoni. "They are objects of beauty."

Frisoni uses materials and motifs not usually associated with mere footwear: snakeskin bows, crocodile flowers, feathers, crystals, thorns, stingray skin, and straps so elaborate they could befuddle a dominatrix. The bag material that currently entrances him is PVC ("I love plastic"), "but I would like to combine it with a precious material like crocodile or something more strange in order to create an interesting mix." He also longs to design bags using chiffon: "I watched Sunset Boulevard recently, and I had never noticed that Gloria Swanson has a frame bag made of chiffon. It has a big diamond-like brooch to close it. I would love to design something like that."

Despite his hedonistic tendencies, Frisoni takes the comfort of his shoes surprisingly seriously: "The best compliments I get are not just about the design and how sexy it is and da da da; it's when a woman says she can't believe how comfortable the shoe is. To me, that's the most beautiful compliment."

Shoe Rhapsody