Vanessa Noel (born October 12, 1961) is an American shoe designer, hotelier, gallery owner, and philanthropist.

Biography Vanessa Noel was born and raised in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. She was presented at the Philadelphia Charity Ball in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the International Debutante Ball in New York City.

She attended Cornell University in New York, where she graduated with a degree in Fine Arts and Architecture. After graduation, she launched her first shoe line in 1987.

In 2015, Vanessa Noel spoke at the Women in the World Annual Summit along with Barbra Streisand, Jennifer Ashton, and Dr. Holly Anderson to discuss heart disease and the gender bias in medicine.

As of 2019, Noel served on the board of Hanover Charities.

Career

Designer

Early in her career, Noel was known to draw the inspiration for her shoes from her architectural background. She said “I view my shoes as sensual art objects. I create them to be both an individual sculpture and a natural, elegant extension of a woman’s leg.” Her shoes are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA.

Noel is the sole designer for her label. She regularly travels to Italy, India and Kashmir, to work with various artisans. The shoes she produces use products only from Italian tanneries. These tanneries create exotic skins and furs, such as sable, python, and alligator. She also supports the organic and free trade industries, using eco-friendly materials.American Fashion Travel: Designers on the Go. 1st ed. New York: Assouline Pub., 2011. Print. Her collections are handcrafted in Milan, Italy, with each style produced in limited editions."Three Made-to-Order Collections." Footwear News [New York] 8 June 2009. Print.

In 1988, she designed a pair of satin pumps encrusted with 177.85 carats of rubies, which she sold in her store for $15,000."Prices." New York Magazine 26 Sept. 1988: 32. Web. The Vanessa Noel label also include bridal shoes, men's footwear, cashmere shawls, and other accessories.

In 2004, Noel debuted the stretch alligator boots that became her signature. The boots appeared on Kim Cattrall in the Sex and the City movie in 2008."Fur Flies on the SATC Set." Editorial. Grazia 19 Nov. 2007. Print

In 2015, Vanessa Noel launched her first handbag collection and her first fragrance named Stiletto in the form of a scented candle.

Vanessa Noel's shoes have appeared in Sex And The City, Oprah, the Martha Stewart show, NBC News, music videos for Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson, and many fashion magazines. Her footwear products have also been used in the runway shows of Nicole Miller, Rebecca Moses, Chadwick Bell, Keith Lissner, Ralph Lauren and Ralph Rucci's shows in both Paris and New York.

Business In October 1987, Noel simultaneously launched her fashion label and her first boutique on East 66th Street and Madison Avenue,Francis, Lorna. "Vanessa Noel Goes Public with Shoe 'Sculptures'" Footwear News 14 Mar. 1988. Print. across the street from Imelda Marcos'’ old townhouse. In 1990, she was asked to join the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) with recommendation letters written by Carolina Herrera, Carolyn Roehm and the CFDA director at the time, Fern Mallis.

Noel introduced her couture bridal collection in 1990, which was sold in her own boutique as well as at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. Shortly after the collection's launch, Noel designed a pair of shoes for Mariah Carey's wedding to Tommy Mottola in 1993."A Wedding to Di For." People 21 June 1993. Web. Noel's bridal collection was well-received,"Special Services with a Personal Touch." New York Magazine, February 14, 1994: 74. Web. and Vera Wang asked Noel to do her first collection of bridal shoes.

In 1994, Noel opened her second boutiqueAhern, Nichole B. "An Insider's Guide to the Islands." Boston July 2002. Web. in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where she spent her childhood summers, and her boutique was the first New York boutique to open a location on Nantucket Island.Churchman, Lee. "Designing Woman: Bryn Mawr Native Vanessa Noel's Designs for Shoes Keep Feet Both Fashionable and Comfortable." Main Line Life [Bryn Mawr] 1994. Print.

In 1998, Noel designed a collection for C. Z. Guest, inspired by Guest's love of gardening. The limited-edition CZ by Vanessa Noel collection was sold at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus stores."In Full Bloom." Shuz Fall 1998: 16. Print.

Noel opened her flagship boutique on East 64th Street in October 2004. She designed the nearly 2,000-square-foot space herself.

Vanessa Noel Hotel In the summer of 2002, Noel became the first American designer to own her own hotel with the launch of the Vanessa Noel Hotel. Also, the first boutique hotel in Nantucket,Gross, Jaime. "Nantucket." Travel + Leisure July 2004. Web.Kargman, Jill. "City Chic Comes to Nantucket." Departures Nov.-Dec. 2002. Web. the VNH is home to a Vanessa Noel shoe boutique and the Café V bar, where Noel titled the menu “How to Look Good in Your Shoes” and offered high-end food.Susan Magrino Agency. Vanessa Noel Introduces Fashion Forward Food Selections at the Vanno Restaurant. New York, 2002. Print. Noel opened her second hotel, Nantucket's first, and still only as of 2013, boutique hotel, the Vanessa Noel Hotel Green.

The Vanessa Noel Hotel on Nantucket closed in December 2017. The hotel, along with Vanessa Noel Hotel Green, operated from April 2005 to December 2017.

Philanthropy Hanover Charities

In the years 2005, 2010, 2012, and 2017, Noel chaired the Hanover Charities Sugarcane Ball, a fundraising event that is held annually at Round Hill in Jamaica. In 2017, Vanessa Noel, along with Hanover Charities, helped raise a record amount of $474,360 to assist individuals and institutions in the parish. She also holds a Jamaican-themed fundraising event in her shoe boutique before the Sugarcane Ball to raise money for Hanover Charities.

Oceana

Noel became an Oceana Council member in 2010 and regularly chairs fundraising events for the organization. Noel also designed a special edition Oceana shoe that was auctioned on Charitybuzz with proceeds benefiting the organization.

Kipton Art Foundation

In 2010, she became a Vice Council Member of the Kipton Art Foundation, which works to provide artists with stipends to produce their work and to promote up and coming artists.

Other charitable contributions include: The Princess Grace Foundation Community Research Institute "Heart & Soul" Benefit Committee Member (1990) The Fashion Center NYC Bid for Kids Designer Committee Member (1997)"An Industry's Discards; A Child's Inspiration." New York Magazine 5 May 1997: 49. Web. VP of the East 64th Street Block Association (2009) Fair Fund (2009)Johnson, Richard. "We Hear..." The New York Post 26 June 2009, Page Six sec. Print. Bailey's & Clothes Off Our Backs (2009) Philabunndance (2011) Noel donated proceeds from sales following her talk at the Brown Brothers Harris Women's Forum. Recipient of The Salute To Style Award benefiting the Madison Square Boys & Girl's Club (2017) Designed a one of a kind jacket for the DIFFA Dallas auction (2017)

TV appearances Vanessa Noel has appeared on the following television shows: Rachael Ray $40 A Day (February 4, 2005)"Nantucket." $40 a Day. Food Network. 4 Feb. 2005. Television. The Martha Stewart Show (Date ? & January 2011) The Real Housewives of New York (2011, 2015, 2017)"March Madness." Real Housewives of New York. Bravo. New York, New York, 14 Apr. 2011. Television."Mind Your Own Business." Real Housewives Of New York. Bravo. New York, New York. 5 May 2015. Television."It Girl, Interrupted." Real Housewives of New York. Bravo. New York, New York. 12 Apr. 2017. Television Oprah: Where Are They Now? (2016) Open House (2016) CBS News (2016)

Books Vanessa Noel was featured in the following books: Designers On Instagram: #fashion (2015)Designers on Instagram: #Fashion. Abrams, 2015. IMPACT: 50 Years of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (2012) Silver Girl (2011)Hilderbrand, Elin. Silver Girl: A Novel. New York: Little, Brown and, 2011. Print. American Fashion Travel (2011) American Fashion Designers at Home (2010)Suqi, Rima A. "Vanessa Noel." American Fashion Designers at Home. New York: Assouline, 2010. 182-83. Print. Caribbean Hideaways (2010)Nolan, Meg. Caribbean Hideaways: Discovering Enchanting Rooms and Private Villas. New York: Rizzoli, 2010. Print. American Fashion Accessories (2008)Price, Candy Pratts., Jessica Glasscock, and Art Tavee. American Fashion Accessories. New York: Assouline, 2008. Print. Hip Hotels (2003)Ypma, Herbert J. M. "Nantucket." Hip Hotels. New York, NY: Thames & Hudson, 2001. 124-29. Print. Nantucket Nights (2002)Hilderbrand, Elin. Nantucket Nights. New York: St. Martin's, 2002. Print. The Business of Bliss (1999)Allon, Janet. "Fancy Footwork." The Business of Bliss: How to Profit from Doing What You Love. New York: Hearst, 1999. 30-34. Print.

References

External links Vanessa Noel My Site Vanessa Noel Hotel Home Vanessa Noel Hotel Green Vanessa Noel Hotel Green