Designer Matthew Chevallard Wants Kate Middleton to Wear His Slippers

Have you seen those velvet slipper-loafers emblazoned with a regal emblem, the ones that have women everywhere trading in their heels for a Hugh Hefner vibe? Those luxe kicks are by Miami-based footwear brand Del Toro, which was founded by Matthew Chevallard (pictured) and two of his childhood friends. After realizing that the velvet shoes they wanted embroidered for their boarding-school graduation would cost them upwards $900, the boys identified a gap in the market for custom leisure footwear and took matters in to their own hands. By 2005, they rolled out their first pair of men's slip-ons, debuting a women's range a few years later, spawning a frenzy of new fans including the Man Repeller. Speaking of bloggers, Chevallard is a big fan. “I believe they help me educate consumers on the quality and styling of my shoes,” he explains to HighSnobette. While he looks to classic Italian women for style inspiration ("slim jeans and an oxford button down paired with either velvet slippers or driving shoes"), there are a few non-Italians that he’d love to see rocking his footwear, like Kate Middleton, Oprah Winfrey, Heidi Klum, and Marissa Miller. We can definitely see the Duchess of Cambridge in a royal version of the slippers, and we’re sure Ms. Winfrey would endorse a pair embroidered with a big golden O.