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11
Apr
2013
Today I am delighted to share with you a brand new shoe collection, so new it hasn’t even been launched yet! Agnes & Norman is the brainchild of the very lovely Rachel Simpson, who is one of the nicest people I have met in the wedding industry! Rachel has put together a vintage inspired shoe collection for men and women that reflects the styles of the past and the quality that came with it.
The collection is absolutely beautiful and launching this month so I’m delighted to give you a sneak peek of the stunning designs PLUS Rachel has been kind enough to offer one very lucky Boho reader a pair of their very own Agnes & Norman shoes, just scroll down to the bottom of the post to find out how to enter.
From the home of elegantly understated bridal shoes, designer Rachel Simpson presents a brand new vintage inspired shoe collection for men and women.
agnes & norman is a luxuriously affordable range of footwear, taking style inspiration from a bygone era. Thoughtfully designed by award-winning designer Rachel Simpson and carefully handmade by skilled craftsmen in Spain, the emphasis is on simplicity and quality.
Every shoe tells a story and feels like a treasured heirloom. Each pair is designed to fit perfectly, feel indulgent and exude unique character and good old-fashioned quality.
Fifteen thoughtfully designed styles make up the stunning new spring/summer collection. Available exclusively online at www.agnesandnorman.co.uk, the new collection launches in April 2013.
In 1927 Agnes Stafford & Norman Simpson got married. It was snowing, so Agnes had to be carried to the church so as not to spoil her shoes. Eight children and twenty-two grandchildren later, in 2001 one of those granddaughters became a shoe designer, travelling to shoe factories around the world. Several years later in 2008 she launched her own bridal shoe company.
Four years on, with Rachel Simpson firmly established in the bridal industry, she returns to her roots to launch her latest venture.
For 2013, alongside the established and much-coveted bridal shoe collection, comes a brand new and exciting vintage shoe brand. Continuing to offer the fundamental qualities of Rachel Simpson shoes- quality, comfort, style and that little something which makes them so beautifully unique- Rachel is proud to present agnes & norman, her signature shoe collection for men and women.
Luxuriously affordable, the brand new agnes & norman collection combines classic ideas and vintage styling with on-trend colours and silhouettes. Spicy, rich tones and earthy neutrals in leather and suede are married with delicate stitching, metallics, flattering straps and cute bows to create vintage style shoes for work, rest and play. With over a decade of experience designing for a variety of high street brands, Rachel’s designs are as comfortable as they are stylish, with carefully selected heel heights and full leather linings.
Shoes like they used to be.
After graduating from De Montfort University in 2001 Rachel Simpson worked for a number of high street brands as a successful freelance designer. Whilst training, it was the art of shoe making which became the passion, and it was for this reason Rachel bought a couple of old footwear machines and built a workshop at the bottom of the garden!
It was whilst making commissions here that Rachel saw a gap in the market for fashion lead yet timeless, well made bridal shoes. After sourcing the perfect suppliers and several development trips to the factories, the first collection was launched into the market at the 2008 National Wedding Show. The fantastic reaction proved that brides were ready for something a little different, but also that they weren’t the only ones, and the brand soon attracted a large number of well respected boutiques as stockists.
Today award-winning* Rachel works closely with the factories to create shoes which are as comfortable as they are beautiful. Every shoe is exclusively designed in the UK and beautifully handmade in Spain by skilled craftsmen and women. Emphasis is on quality, with full leather linings and high-grade leather, satin and suede uppers. As well as her love of vintage, inspiration comes from all over, including current trends and of course listening to customers!
Rachel Simpson’s bridal collection is available online now at www.rachelsimpsonshoes.co.uk and both nationwide and internationally through carefully selected bridal boutiques.
*Winner of Best Bridal Shoe Collection 2012 – Wedding Ideas, Highly Commended for Best Shoe Collection 2011 – Perfect Wedding
One winner will win a pair of agnes & norman shoes of their choice from the current spring/summer collection (available for all to order from 15th April).
www.agnesandnorman.co.uk
FACEBOOK
@agnesandnorman
Elsie 800 are gorgeous – I love them! Major shoe lust :)
Daisy is my favourite closely followed by every other pair in the post. I wore a beautiful pair of Mimi’s by Rachel for my wedding day and will be treating myself to a pair of these beauties if I don’t win – best shoes I have ever owned.
Following you on twitter and face and LOVE your style. Simply adore the simplicity of the Gracie heel, would look perfect with any outfit and stylish. Great for that comfy, yet fitting wedding shoe. Also, very much like the summery feel to the Daisy 808! Can’t wait to see more. Men’s shoes are jammy too! Thanks BOHO XX
Daisy 808… for sure…. closely followed by Gracie in that duck egg blue.. and… oh heck, they are ALL beautiful!
These are all so beautiful – deciding is a nightmare! I think Audrey is my favourite, closely followed by Elsie x
I love all of them! Elsie 800 is my favourite though :)
Oh wow! Love love all these shoes! Have just liked on facebook and Mabel 807 is definately my favourite as I’m a bit in love with t-bar shoes!
Mabel 807 Please!! Crossing my fingersssss!!
Loving these! Gracie is my favourite :) xx
Betsy 810 come to me you red hot sexy shoes of delight! And on another note, hurry up and get these shoes in the shops I NEEEEED them in my life!
Id love to win a pair of Daisy 808s…so pretty! :)
Hi boho :o) absolutely love Greta 811 or Betsy 810! both gorgeous with just the right size of heel, sooo difficult to find! (size 7 if i’m lucky 1 please!)
Thanks so much!
Elsie 800. T Bar, purple, suede, patent, perfect! :) x
Just one favourite??!! I like LOTS! OK, so if I have to choose then it would be Daisy, closely followed by Florence and Betsy.
I love all of these shoes. And I’m not even the sort of person to go silly over shoes (I have three pairs of heels at the mo). But, if I had to choose, it would be Elsie 800. Because they match my hair (and my nails at the moment, incidentally), and you can’t beat a T-bar strap for memories of primary school. Also, its kind of fate – my nickname for 15 years has been Agnes. Just before my Nan Vera died, she also revealed that, during WW2, she was also known as Agnes to her colleagues in the Wrens. Anyway, your shoes are completely beautiful. Can’t wait till they’re available! x
oooo, Gracie in duck egg blue to wear on my wedding day! I really wanted Rachel Simpson’s Hettie in blue but they disappeared, however these Gracies would be perfect, understated elegance, beautiful shape, and of course would fulfill my ‘something blue’ category perfectly!
They are all beautiful and I’ve had my eye on Mabel since I first saw your sneaky shots on FB but if I was lucky enough to win a pair of shoes I would choose Frank 818 for my hubby to be, he’s been an absolute love recently so he deserves a beautiful pair of shoes almost as much as me! :)
I want them all!! But if I had to choose it would have to be ‘Daisy’…’Claudia’… aw man I can’t decide they are all utterly devine!! xx
OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what beautiful shoes. Lovely to see classics in modern colours. Really, really, really love them all. The names are fabulous!
If I had to choose I think I would have to say Connie 814 or Betsy 810.
Oh love these so much! I’m voting for Frank 818 on behalf of my other half, he would be head over heels for them :)
Betsy are my favs! Emma xx
I love Gracie in the blue and Daisy in the yellow, I can’t decide, I would love either!! I’m going to go bankrupt when these shoes launch :D
Spencer822 without any doubt, I’d love to offer these to my favourite dinner party friend. Hè can talk ànd write for hours about perfect shoes and craftmanship.
Tx.
Oh gosh, I love them all. My favourite would probably be the Mabel…wow…BUT I would have to vote for the Frank 818 for my boyfriend…I can guarantee there would be tears if he were to receive them. REAL TEARS. I will take photos if he wins! :)
Thanks for the competition!
So hard to pick just one pair. They are all beautiful and i cant wait until i can own my own ‘Agnes and Norman’ and by the envy of all my friends! I want them all!! But Connie 814 will be my first purchase if i don’t win!
Are bloggers allowed to enter too?! Hehe, i so so love the Daisy 808’s i have 4 weddings to attend this year so i definetly need a new pair of shoes ;-)) xo Lou
Duck egg Gracie. Timelessly beautiful. They make my heart sing! (And would be gorgeous with my wedding dress!!) xxx
I love love love ‘Mabel’ 807! And I hope they are all going to be available in size 43
Rachel little
(by name, not shoe size)
Such a beautiful collection. Totally in love with all the t bar styles. Think Mabel 807 are my absolute favourite x
Daisy 808 and Betsy 810 but I love them all. These are just what I have been looking for!
I’m loving all of these shoes! But the Daisy 808’s have stolen my heart :-) a brilliant competition, thanks very much!
Oh wow, how have I never heard of these beauties before?! They’re all gorgeous and the men’s are fab… but I could definitely see myself wearing Audrey 805 … They look like fab wedding shoes too, shall put them on my lust list! The Mabels are beautiful too… swooooon.
lucy x
It has to be Betsy. Not LEAST because of the phrase ‘Heavens to Betsy’ but that daring flash of colour from my vintage frock is exactly what I’m looking for/ Plus, a tad sexy too…!
Following you already on Facebook. Lovely selection of shoes, for a vintage gal like me its fab to have era specific shoes!
I love Connie 815 for the summer months :)
Ive just seen the competition to be in wit a chance of winning a pair of Agnes & Norman pair of shoes. What can i say, its about time there was a business out there that does fabulous inspired vintage shoes. I cant decide between Daisy or Mabel. If i’d of known sooner i would of bought a pair as my wedding shoes!
It has to be Betsey 810! Just sublime!
These shoes are just too gorgeous.
Daisy and Audrey are amazing, especialy as my dress maker/sister in-law is called Daisy and her nickname for My fiance is Audrey.
I also love Elsie, but i wish she was yellow so i could have them for my wedding ;)
Very hard decision! But Daisy 808 has to be my favourite! So summery.
Already a fan on Facebook and counting down the days until I can order some for my honeymoon at the end of April! x
I love Daisy 808 in English Mustard! When we finally get some sunshine, they will be perfect with gorgeous cotton floral printed tea dresses and a wee cardigan. Scrummy!
Wow, what a beautiful collection! Not entirely sure how anyone can choose just one pair but I’ve definitely fallen head over heels (no pun intended!!) for Connie 814, exactly what I’ve been looking for to wear on my wedding day, plus I can wear them again – and again, and again…! x
Mabel looks gorgeous! I can’t wait for these to become available!! Doing an extra shift at work so I can afford them! A long 12 and a half hours Saturday night shift! That’s how much I want a pair!!!!
Mabel 807!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Totally modern vintage!
Ohmygosh!, this is beautiful vintage shoe heaven! My fiance has wrestled my tablet out of my hot little hands to see what I’m cooing over. I think if I was to pick only one pair, it’d be the duckshell Gracie. They’re just so elegant!
These shoes are soooo beautiful – loving Daisy and Greta the most I think!
I love them all, my favourite for me would be Gracie. They look like you could wear them both casually and more dressed up, potentially with my wedding dress.
Love the story about the name of the brand. As a child I took after my grandma who used to walk around without shoes. Now as an adult I love looking out for shoes that I feel comfortable wearing and look as beautiful as the ones above.
Know my husband to be will also love the collection, as the first thing anyone notices about a guy is his shoes.
Xx
I would love to win a pair of Agnes & Norman shoes – especially the Gracie in Mint Green or the Elsie..
Greta all the way! Although Mabel is a close second… xoxo
So hard to pick a favourite – I love them all! But, I think there is something extra wonderful about the colour of Elsie x
It’s just got to be Greta for me! Planning an elopement for 2014 in Iceland and a pair of these would set me well on my way into married life x x
Gracie-shoes look lovely and would be perfect for my whimsical lace dress :)
But I can’t say I don’t adore the rest of the collection!:)
This is such a fantastic competition, I cannot wait for the grand opening of the site this month.
If I was to win I would pick the mint coloured ‘Gracie’ heels. They are just the perfect all round shoes, I could wear them at work and in the day time. The scalloped heel detailing just makes them that bit special and different.
If I don’t win I am going to save up!! Love it.
Wow, what a treat! Thank you for the opportunity Rachel & Kelly. I love Greta 811 but if I were to win this competition, I’d choose Frank 818. They’re exactly what my gentleman companion is looking for! X
The Greta 811 shoes are just divine! So pretty and timeless….I’m keeping everything crossed!! They would be so perfect with my dress! xxx
I’ve been pining over the lovely Agnes & Norman collection for a good few days now, both for me and my beau!
I’m moving to London in a few weeks and would LOVE a pair of the Daisy 808 to prance around in whilst exploring my new neighbourhood in Primrose Hill!
X
I love love love the Daisy 808 shoes! They would be perfect for my wedding!
I adore the daisy 808 so I’m crossing everything to win a pair!!!
i saw these shoes in Vintage Life magazine i think, as soon as i opened the mag, there they were on the inside of the first page…. i didnt even flick through the magazine.. i put it aside and jumped on the net to find out more… i have been egarly waiting ever since.
i have got my eye on Gracie in mint Green but i do think it will be the start of a very large collection, they are perfect in everyway!
Wow – this collection is absolutely incredible! I think my favourites have to be Mabel 807, not only because they’re stunning but also because they share the name of my Morris Minor. The men’s shoes are amazing too, I might have to persuade my OH to buy himself a pair of Franks hehe.
I’m so glad that there’s now a range of vintage style shoes that I’ll actually be able to get my feet into!
What lovely shoes, I’d go for the Mabel 807’s. stunning.
loving the Greta 811s! All things crossed! x
Wow! Amazing! Can’t wait for the collection to go live! Not long now. I’m in love with them all, but I really love Mabel 807. They’re perfect! I love t-bar shoes, and the colour of these are just perfect. Even, I don’t win, I’ll definitely be treating myself to a pair! x
ooh, I LOVE the Betsy 810’s!! x
I really like Elsie 800. The color is gorgeous!
They are all amazing but I think I have fallen in love with Mabel 807… and Daisy 808! It’s impossible to decide :-)
xxx
How on earth do I choose just one pair?!!!!
Gorgeous shoes & love the addition of shoes for men :-)
Well, I am a sucker for a red shoe so I think I’ll have to choose Betsy 810 (although Greta 810 is a very close contender!!!)
OMG! They are all amazing! What a fantastic competition! My favourite one is definitely Mabel 807!
What a stunning collection and is definitely needed in today’s expanding vintage market!
Betsy 815’s all the way for me :-)
What a beautiful collection! I love Betsey 810 a real piece of old style glamour that I could wear every day! Also love that they share my daughter’s name!
Absolutely love every single one of these beautifully designed shoes!!! My jaw dropped at the Mabel 807’s! Perfect for every season!!! Can’t wait for April 15th!
So hard to choose, I love them all. Searching for the perfect wedding shoes and Greta might be the ones. Thanks for sharing!
I love the Daisy 808! I have the perfect vintage frock to wear with them.
I want them all!!but Mabel most of all!
Oh my- decisions, decisions. I’ve been eyeing these up waiting for you to launch for ages now. I think my favourite is Daisy 808, although there isn’t a pair I wouldn’t wear. I wish you’d been around when I needed wedding shoes- although I may have ended up with quite a few pairs..
I’d love to win Frank in Brown for my other half – it would be great for him to have something special for our big day.
Fingers crossed! :)
Betsy 810, if I have to choose just one pair!
Difficult to choose but the Elsie 800’s are beautiful!
I want them all! But for the competition purposes I would love Mabel 807!!
Hard choice but I think it would be Greta 811 as they’d be best for my wedding. Will be checking out the rest when you launch though!
Mabel 807! or….audrey 805. I want them all!
It has to be Betsy 810…. one click of those heels and any girl would be right at home in them :)
I love Connie! They would go beautifully with my vintage wedding dress and the colours in my bouquet! Here’s hoping xx
I absolutely love these shoes!!! They’re exactly what I’ve been looking for :) and such a beautiful story about Agnes and Norman. I love a pair of shoes with some history!! If I had to choose my favourite it would be Greta 811 or Mabel 807!! Fingers and toes crossed x
Love love love the Audrey shoes. Such a great idea for a company – best of luck!
I love, love, love the Gracie shoes- they are beautiful !
Ooh… these are all just so perfect!!! I think I’d go for the mint Gracie design as they’d be perfect for a capsule wardrobe for work, rest and play! There are so many others I have on my wish list too! Congratulations on a wonderful collection and thanks Boho Weddings for sharing! I have my fingers crossed! xXx
Oh my, what a beautiful collection – the plum coloured Elsie 810’s are gorgeous. So need them in my life and on my feet! Toes crossed! :)
What a brilliant give-away, such gorgeous shoes! I’m in love with the Mabel 807 shoes, so stunning!
Stunning collection!
If I was lucky enough I would love the ‘Daisy’ in warm spice x x
Ooh too many pretty shoes. To start my collection it would have to be Elsie. They would have matched my December wedding colour scheme perfectly but as they weren’t available I had to make do with ginger and mimi from the bridal collection!
What gorgeous shoes! I have spent a while drooling over them all, but would particularly like to win the Connie 814 shoes as they would be perfect for the bridesmaid dress I am wearing in the summer. I am also keeping fingers crossed that you design a winter collection before my December wedding! Xx
My oh my! These are fabulous! They ate all so pretty Gracie is my favourite pair. Simple, classic and chic, they’d look charming with a dainty vintage tea dress, or skinny jeans alike. And the pastel green hue is right on trend. Absolutely loved reading Rachel’s story! What an inspiration she is! As a fashion graduate with a similar entrepreneurial story myself, I am excited to see more designs from her and wish her every success!
Wow, what a beautiful collection. I loved reading the background of how the business started too – I feel much more inspired to buy than I ever do in a high street shop!
It’s a very difficult choice but my favourite pair is Daisy – a really classic style with a twist in the gorgeous colour. Would be so wearable for almost any occasion but I’d love to save them for ‘best’ and wear them with a little tea dress!
Oh my goodness, this is an exciting competition! I hope I win :)
Without a doubt i would go for Gracie in mint green. My mother used to have a pair of mint green shoes that I used to totter around in as a child and they were my absolute favorite. I’ve spent my adult life trying to find a pair of mint green shoes of my own, never finding a pair that reminded me of my mother’s pair. Gracie in mint green are those shoes! I could stop looking!
What a gorgeous range. Loving the Daisy 808. Beautiful colour.
I would love a pair of the Elsie 800 please! Such beautiful shoes and amazing photography.
I LOVE all of these shoes! I would love to own Mabel <3
lovely. beautiful. perfect. Mabel.
Wow I’ve fallen head over heels( no pun intended ) ,
These shoes are totally beautiful. Elsie. Florence and Mabel! gosh how could you choose. I love them all. :))
Ooh I have been eyeing off the Elsie 800 heels. Timeless and gorgeous! Perfect reception shoes for our upcoming wedding. Thank you so much.
Oh man, the Mabel 807’s are stunning! Fingers crossed!
I’ve just been to the Agnes and Norman website (via Facebook) and shortlisted AT LEAST four styles that I will not be able to live without; Gracie (in mint), Daisy (in warm spice), Florence (in cappuccino) and Mabel, dear sweet Mabel. She’s swept me back 20 years to my grandmother’s house in Fife, baking fairy buns, dancing to the radio and playing dress up with my big sister. My granny had almost the exact pair of shoes that Rachel has created in Mabel. Happy days. :)
Oh baby! the Mabel 807′s are stunning! I think they would look great on my feet! :)
BETSY 810! Love at first sight! Great job and they look gorgeous! Bravo!
Absolutely beautiful! I like the Greta 811’s, they really do look like something my grandma would have had in her wardrobe. Love them!
I would love to wear the Elsie 800’s at my wedding! Our colors are purple and orange, and these would match perfectly!
I would love to wear the Betsy 810s. When I step into them I’ll be stepping back to a time of grace and substance. But with every new step I take, every stroll, every skip and every twirl on the dance floor they’ll be creating my own history of treasured memories.
Oh they are all totally stunning!!! I would love the Mabel 807’s, perfect shoes to wear with my vintage tea dresses x
I love the style DAISY…Just in time for “The Great Gatsby”film release.Infact
I love all of them….Fingers crossed.xx
It’s all about Mabel for me. Every time I look at them, my tummy turns over and I get a little lump in my throat…. it must be love x
I’m trying to win this for my girlf who is as pretty, elegant and cool as a pair of your shoes – she is more than a superstar and loves the mabels (don’t tell her I said any of this)
Gah! The Daisy 808’s would go perfectly with our yellow and grey themed marquee wedding :D
Adore the beautiful colours and classic vintage designs…….timeless.
I’m already in love with Rachel Simpson shoes and now they spring these on me!! I’m in love with Elsie in plum! But that was hard to pick just one pair though…their all very beautiful!
I love so many of them but I have to choose Mabel! Looking at these shoes sent me crazy looking around the web for other styles i could potentially order from Australia. I haven’t found anything close so I returned to the Agnes and Norman website to drool some more. They have THE perfect authentic look and feel.
Oooo!!!! Love them all but DAISY 808 are divine. Will look gorgeous with my vintage dresses xx
Fingers crossed as I would love to win a competition! xx
Love all of them, they are as beautiful as the Rachel Simpson wedding shoes I wore for my wedding almost 4 years ago! I’m finding it hard to choose between Gracie and Daisy, they would both look beautiful with my new vintage dress! xxx
Audrey… or should that be Elise…. they’re all beautiful shoes!
I love ‘Greta’. They would be a fabulous starting point for the 50’s style dress I am planning to make – I think they would look glorious with green! x
I love these shoes they are stunning, have a wonderful vintage style & look. I think you are a truly talented designer Rachel this is an fabulous collection. I would love to own a pair. I love Florence & Elsie & Betsy. But would be proud to wear any pair they are all just truly gorgeous. X
I love all your shoes! But I love both Betsy and Mabel…. I just can’t decide… My nanna had two pairs of shoes similar to these! I used to wear them as dress ups!
Wearing Connie would be like walking on Sunshine and make my feet look so pretty!!!!!
Floppy hat, floral dress and Connie on my feet ….Heaven!!!!
There was a young lady called Edel
Who thought Agnes and Norman’s shoes were so swell
On Facebook she saw a new shoe called Mabel
And thought I’d like to win these if I’m able
With these lovely shoes I’d be the belle
I love Greta!
I would love to win Stanley in chocolate brown for my husband to be.They would look great with my ‘Ginger’ shoes I have bought from Rachel Simpson for our wedding in July!
I love Mabel 807. I had a shoe clear out and have realised my shoes are now all black so these would be a fab way to inject some colour back in ready for the summer.
The Frank 819 for my future husband to wear on our wedding day in the fall!
Betsy 810 -BEAUTIFUL!!! I have been looking for a beautiful pair of bright coloured shoes for my wedding and these are perfect :-)
Maybel 807s all the way – the colour, the look – everything! They look so comfy too! x
Oh my! I just tried a pair of Agnes and Norman shoes on yesterday – spotted them in a window in Kingley Court and would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to wear them for my wedding :) Please pick me to win :) Thank you x
How to decide?!
It’s what my feet are missing and my life
Beautiful
Feminine
Perfectly formed splendidness
I love love love the Daisy! They’re gorgeous! But if i won i’d get the Frank shoes for my husband to be to wear at our wedding in August! These would look amazing with his mis-matched suit xx
I can’t even tell you how excited I am to find this story. I found my dress from a Etsy shop names Ouma and my dress is amazing but I’ve been searching everywhere first for shoes that will be good quality and that are my style… as my mom always says “I’m from another time…” my style and overall personality is not with this decade or even century… so I have so much appreciation for your beautiful craftsmanship and style. Thank you for sharing your story and can’t wait to look for my perfect shoe for your selection. Our wedding is in Oct. which the weather will be “unpredictable” but I can see Tristan in Frank 818 and my dress is Champagne colored so I’d pick Florence 813, Mabel 807 or Gracie blue. Thank you for sharing!
Melinda
Such a tough decision! But I absolutely adore the Connie 815 and my boyfriend would look great in the Frank 819!
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