Beth Levine, 91; Shoe Designer Shod Celebrities, First Ladies

Beth Levine, 91, once known as “America’s First Lady of Shoe Design,” died Sept. 20 of lung cancer at her home in New York, the New York Times reported.

Levine designed shoes for 30 years and her creations were worn by Hollywood stars including Barbra Streisand and first ladies including Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson and Pat Nixon.

She made the white stiletto boots worn by Nancy Sinatra for the song “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ ” and Streisand for the movie “Funny Girl.”

Levine was born Beth Katz in Patchogue, N.Y. She moved to New York City in the 1930s and found employment as a shoe model. She later worked her way up from a stylist to head designer for I. Miller. After working for the Red Cross during World War II, she married Herbert Levine, who ran a shoe company.

A few years later, the couple started a shoe business under Levine’s name.

She was given the Coty Award in 1967 for design innovations, the Times obituary reported.