Rodeo Drive honors Ferragamo

The fifth annual Rodeo Drive Walk of Style Award will go to famed shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo, known for fitting the feet of Hollywood stars. The ceremony will be held Oct. 8, when members of the Ferragamo family will accept the award on behalf of the designer, who died in 1960.

Born in southern Italy, Ferragamo came to the United States in 1914 and began his career creating custom-made shoes for film studios. His shoe designs have appeared in such films as “The Ten Commandments,” “The Seven Year Itch” and “Some Like It Hot.” Working from his “Hollywood Boot Shop” on the corner of Hollywood and Las Palmas boulevards, he designed for Rudolph Valentino, Lillian Gish, Joan Crawford, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Greta Garbo.

Ferragamo claimed to have invented the wedge heel, platform soles and metal supports for stilettos. Now the label also encompasses apparel, handbags, scarves and fragrances for men and women.

Created by the Rodeo Drive Committee in 2003 to recognize style makers, the award previously has honored Herb Ritts, Mario Testino, Tom Ford and Giorgio Armani.