The renowned footwear designer and philanthropist captivated a full house at Elon University as he shared “Stu-isms” and strategies that propelled his iconic brand to global success.
Legendary shoe designer and philanthropist Stuart Weitzman stepped into the spotlight at Elon University on Feb. 26, captivating a packed audience of students, faculty and staff. With his signature blend of style, wisdom and “Stu-isms,” he left an indelible mark, just like his iconic footwear.
Weitzman, known globally for pairing style with comfort in designs worn by celebrities and royalty, spoke candidly about his path from growing up in the footwear industry to the red carpets of Hollywood.
Before the formal presentation began in LaRose Digital Theatre, Weitzman warmly greeted students as they arrived. The room buzzed when his longtime colleague, Barbara Kreger, retired vice president of Stuart Weitzman Holdings, asked a few students for their shoe sizes and invited them to model some of his iconic shoe wear.
Weitzman was introduced by Maggie Rolfe ’26, a Doherty innovation scholar, and quickly immersed the audience in stories of his early successes. He traced his brand’s breakthrough moment to when Aretha Franklin waved a pair of his custom shoes for the cameras upon winning a music award.
“She held them up and said they were both beautiful and comfortable,” Weitzman said. “Within six weeks, every stylist in Hollywood was calling me.”
From there, Weitzman recalled embracing risk and creativity to distinguish himself.
“If they’re not copying you, you’re doing something wrong,” Weitzman said.
Weitzman noted that his innovative product development and marketing campaigns helped propel the brand. He described his Clio Award-winning ad featuring a Dalmatian whose spots formed tiny shoe silhouettes, as well as a memorable Halloween ad in Vogue depicting a pumpkin carved with footwear-inspired eyes and mouth.
“Those ads had to stand out in a sea of glossy magazines,” Weitzman noted. “They weren’t just about showing a shoe; they were about creating a moment.”
Throughout his talk, Weitzman introduced the audience to what Kreger calls “Stu-isms” – guiding principles he’s refined over decades. This advice included:
- Work somewhere else first. Weitzman attributed his confidence in striking out on his own to the lessons learned at another company.
- Hire nice, then hire smart. “You can always mentor someone on the technical side, but you can’t teach nice,” he said, emphasizing the importance of culture.
- Take the road less traveled. Citing the value of unfiltered imagination, Weitzman urged students to avoid letting rules or fear limit their thinking.
- Anything in life, you need support. Just as a well-made shoe balances style and structure, individuals need mentorship, networks and resources to thrive.
One of the event’s highlights was when three Elon students took the stage to model Weitzman’s most famous creations.
One stepped out in a leopard-print crystal heel, a style similar to what Taylor Swift has previously worn.
Another donned what Weitzman fondly refers to as his “million-dollar shoes,” originally crafted for the Oscars attendees.
The final model showed off the shoes in the same style that actor and model Cara Delevingne wore during the 2023 Academy Awards season.
“It’s wonderful to see someone new experience these designs,” Weitzman said. “The shoes are glamorous, but they’re also comfortable, which has always been my goal.”
