Maud Frizon French designer specializing in women's shoes Country: France

Biography of Maud Frizon

Maud Frizon de Marco was born in Paris, France in 1941. She started her career in the 1960s as a model for Parisian high fashion houses, working with brands such as 'Nina Ricci', 'Jean Patou', and 'André Courrèges'. During that time, models had to provide their own shoes that would perfectly complement the designer clothing and be suitable for photo shoots. Frizon did not like using readily available shoes from other designers, so in 1969, she decided to make fashionable footwear herself and opened her first boutique in the St. Germain des Pres district of Paris.

Frizon's first shoe collection received high praise from critics for its sensuality and unpredictability, instantly propelling her to success. Drawing inspiration from the traditions of Beth Levine and the bold designs of shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, Frizon began creating striking and extravagant footwear. Her name quickly spread among high-fashion boutiques. At the height of her success in the 1980s, her reputation was comparable to that of Blahnik today.

Frizon often used expensive materials and combined them in the most unconventional ways – lizard skin with snakeskin, suede with satin, canvas with crocodile leather. Brigitte Bardot regularly visited Frizon's boutique, known for her love of Russian-style boots with high heels.

Fashion commentator Colin McDowell wrote in the review 'In Shoes: Fashion and Fantasy': 'If shoes could speak like personalities, none would suit better than the products of Maud Frizon's imagination. (Her) original and innovative shoes are to footwear what Dom Pérignon is to champagne.'

Although Frizon released her shoes under the brands 'Maud Frizon' and 'Miss Maud', she also designed footwear for 'Azzedine Alaïa', 'Missoni', 'Sonia Rykiel', and others.

Frizon married Luigi De Marco, with whom she founded and managed the company. In 1999, De Marco and Frizon sold their company and brands to Helene Wajnblum-Liu and her husband, who added a line of knitted and leather clothing to the product range and expanded Frizon's boutique network. The company's headquarters are located in Paris, with boutiques in Brussels and Hong Kong.