Jimmy Choo Bon Bon Crystal Bag

The first standalone luxury footwear brand to go public, Jimmy Choo is an internationally renowned fashion house, and its bold Romy stilettos, glitzy Bing mules and sleek, minimalist Minori boots dazzle on red carpets, wedding reception dancefloors and in oft-Instagrammed restaurant interiors all over the world.

Jimmy Choo was born Zhou Yang Jie in 1948 in Penang, Malaysia. Growing up, the young Mr. Choo showed an early interest in the family business — his father was a prominent shoe designer in Penang — and made his first pair of shoes in his father’s workshop at the age of 11.

Choo moved to England in his early 20s to attend Cordwainers Technical College. He subsequently worked for a couple of footwear manufacturers and honed his skills. In 1986, Choo set up a modest handmade shoe business in East London. Ten years later, with the support of Vogue magazine's fashion editor at the time, Tamara Mellon, Jimmy Choo Ltd. went global with clothing, purses and accessories largely crafted in Italy and stores in Manhattan, Beverly Hills and elsewhere.

The Jimmy Choo brand quickly gained a reputation for its sophisticated and elegant footwear designs, which were often adorned with luxurious materials like Swarovski crystals, pearls, and exotic animal skins. The company became a favorite among celebrities, including Princess Diana, who wore Choo on an official visit to Australia. Choo gifted a pair of heels — now on display at the Smithsonian — to Michelle Obama for the presidential inauguration of her husband, Barack Obama. The TV series Sex in the City, which regularly celebrated Manolos and made a star of Fendi’s iconic Baguette, featured countless pairs of Jimmy Choo heels that heightened the visibility of the brand and cemented Choo’s legendary status in footwear and design. 

In 2001, Choo sold his share of the company to Tamara Mellon and private equity firm Equinox Luxury Holdings, but he continued to work as a designer for the brand until 2011 before launching a new luxury footwear brand, Jimmy Choo Couture, which specializes in bespoke shoes and handbags.

Over the course of his career, Choo has been recognized for his contributions to the fashion industry, having earned numerous awards and accolades. In 2002, he was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire), and in 2011, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Footwear News Achievement Awards. 

And shoe design is still a family business, as two of Choo’s nieces both work in fashion — Sandra Choi is creative director at Jimmy Choo, while his other niece, Lucy Choi, founded her shoe label in London in 2012.

Find vintage Jimmy Choo shoes, shoulder bags, clutches and other accessories on 1stDibs. 

Ever since we’ve needed an accessory to carry our personal items when we’re on the go, shoulder bags have proven indispensable. Today, vintage and designer shoulder bags are such a treasured part of fashion history that they even get their own museum exhibitions.

Prior to bags becoming an essential piece of any ensemble for any gender, women wore pockets strung on ribbons as garments that were separate from their gowns, accessible by openings in the fabric. Small handbags and handheld purses were developed before the accessory gained importance as functional and fashionable. Most had more in common with wallets than anything else.

While the bags of the 16th century warranted ornament, such as exteriors embroidered with silver-gilt thread and beads, it wasn’t until the late 18th century and early 19th century that the design and craft of bags had really broadened. Handheld purses were finished with details that were meant to garner attention, and bags were fitted with shoulder straps. A stylish shoulder bag meant that women could tote jewelry, cash and perhaps a decorative snuff box full of tobacco to an evening ball across town.

The early 1900s saw the introduction of gold and silver minaudières. The patenting of these compact bejeweled clutches has been attributed to revered French jewelry house Van Cleef & Arpels, and today they remain a fashion favorite. One of Judith Leiber’s innovative minaudières even earned a role in the movie Sex and the City.

A luxury shoulder bag is a work of art with a long, fascinating origin story, and entire brands and fashion lines have emerged around creating the perfect versions of shoulder bags and top-handle bags. For example, the iconic Hermès Kelly bag, which was popularized by actress Grace Kelly, is a widely coveted, collected and often faked entry from the handbag hall of fame. And while vintage Gucci tote bags have their own dedicated fan base, collectors and lovers of luxury are likely familiar with the Dionysus, a pared-down Gucci shoulder bag that manages to make a substantial statement anyway.

Embrace a classic look with a vintage shoulder bag designed by Chanel, Givenchy or Fendi — find yours on 1stDibs today.