Jimmy Choo Belt 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. 

Vintage and designer wallets and small accessories, such as wristlets, belt bags, clutches and other compact items, can be the perfect accessory for a night out or running everyday errands.

The invention of paper money dates back to the 7th century in China, but, globally, it took a while to catch on. It wasn’t until 1690 in the United States that paper money could finally be printed and used to pay taxes, for example, following the General Court of Massachusetts’s order that a limited batch be produced to pay soldiers owing to a shortage of coins.

As paper money became more common, so too did carrying wallets. Coin purses were no longer the most convenient option for carrying cash.

Today, just as the world’s best-known luxury houses are celebrated for their iconic handbags and purses, brands such as Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Gucci, Chanel and others offer a sweeping array of sophisticated wallets and small accessories for any event. While wallets seem to be getting smaller and the role of cash is dwindling, we simply cannot live without our bags and bag-like accessories. More options have emerged for carrying our essentials, with cardholders, pouches and belt bags made of nylon and leather gaining popularity in recent years.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage and designer wallets and small accessories.