INTRODUCING BETH & HERBERT LEVINE | 1949 - 1975 | PT. 2/2

1960 | Herbert Levine Days! Source: The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Everybody thought it was a big joke when Beth Levine designed a pair of white boots and wore them in 1953 when she made a whole collection of them. It was only a few years later that Courreges brought out his white boots in Paris, and you know the rest of the story.

Boots have been so big that it was hard to believe the fashion can last another year. The husband and wife team of Beth and Herbert Levine know the right answer, though. What else can women wear when winter is cold and skirts are still short? Almost one third of their production this fall will be boots.

Eugenia Sheppard

Corpus Christi Caller Times | August 20, 1967

1967 | Beth & Herbert Levine The Glitter Boot Source: The Herald Statesman | Yonkers NY November 20, 1967

The boot is interesting, not because of the fashion, but because of the feeling. The first time I did a high-heeled leather boot, I had this beautiful leather I could not stand to cut, so I made it into a seamless boot. It was comfortable, even though you had to pull the boot on. The last boots I made had the lightness of weight and the comfort of a nylon stocking. I believe that the boot in some form will always be in style because it is comfortable and a bad leg can look good in it.

Beth Levine | June 1978

Footwear Technology Symposium | Gaithersburg, Maryland

For the record, the Levines received another Coty Award (1973) - two years before they closed doors - the only shoemakers to be awarded twice.

September 1970 | Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office Beth's Boutique - Beth's Bootery

The boot business was so successful that Beth and Herbert created four new labels at the end of 1969: Beth Bootery, Beth Boutique, Lafitte and Forann, named after their daughter Ann (2); however the last two labels remain obscure as no shoes nor info seem to be available.

Tony The Shoemaker - named after Tony Acuti, production manager at Herbert Levine, Inc. was the first off-shot brand active since the late 1964. (3)

1965 | Tony The Shoemaker Source: Buffalo Courier Express | May 2, 1965

IN BETH'S opinion, "Never before have boots been such an integral part of the entire costume as for this midi conscious season."One of originals, the laced boot, is getting enormous attention from fashion savants."Lacings reflect a definite nostalgia and also fit perfectly into the concept of softened clothes," Beth said. "It takes a little longer to dress, perhaps, but it is, in itself, an enjoyment of dressing." 

The Daily Press

Utica, NY | September 14, 1970

The Levines joined forces with all the major American designers of their time “to do shoes and boots for their collections. They are keenly aware that shoes come first - that without the right shoe a beautiful design effort can end in disaster. The designers worked with the Levine’s months ahead of their openings to assure the right shoe to complete their looks. They concur with Beth on the importance of working from the ground up.

The Levine’s did shoes for the collections of Geffrey Beene, Seymour Fox, George Halley, Victor Joris, Kasper for Joan Leslie, Adele Simpson, Richmond Tarn, Jacques Tiffeau, Pauline Trigére, b.H. Wragge and the furriers Maximilian and Revillon.” (4) 

Add to the list Oscar De La Renta, Emilio Pucci, Halston, Bill Glass … Not that it is important, but feel free to find yourself a celebrity list of Herbert Levine enthusiasts as it is widely available everywhere.

1974 | Herbert Levine Vinylite Pump Source: The Post Crescent | February 7, 1974

By 1975, the exorbitant price of making shoes in the United States along with the budding popularity of sneakers, led Herbert Levine, Inc. to stop production. Herb had had enough: he took care of his employees’ pensions and severance, and then he proceeded to shut the doors forever. 

Although the Levines had had several offers to licence their name, they felt they would lose control of the quality, which was, to them, unthinkable. Herb felt that no licensing arrangement had ever succeeded and pointed to Schiaparelli as an example: “It was just royalties for a name.” 

Helene Verin,

Beth Levine Shoes (Steward, Tabori & Chang, 2009)

Funny how the Schiaparelli reference is so contemporary.

Filed November 26, 1976 | Granted December 27, 1977 Betherb, Inc. Patent of a two-portion boot

As soon as they closed production Beth and Herbert founded Betherb, Inc. and kept operating within the industry as consultants; an article from August 1976 - when their designs were showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts - placed them working with producers of shoemaking machinery. Betherb, Inc. also had a few patents under their belt.

Herbert Levine died of lung cancer in 1991, while Beth passed away in 2006, aged 91, also of lung cancer. She was still involved in collaborations with well known designers.

The brand Herbert Levine was briefly resurrected in 2008 by Dennis and Lynne Comeau (5), another husband & wife team, but it didn’t last and the label is now owned by an investment group whose Facebook page is dormant since May 2012.

INTRODUCING BETH & HERBERT LEVINE

PART 1/2

NOTES

(1)

The Coty American Fashion Critics' Awards were created in 1942 by the cosmetics and perfume company Coty, Inc. to promote and celebrate American fashion. The City awards were discontinued in 1985.

(2)

Helene Verin | Beth Levine Shoes (Steward, Tabori & Chang, 2009)

(3)

Helene Verin attributed the birth of Tony The Shoemaker at the end of 1969, but advertisements of the brand can be seen starting from October 1964.

(4)

The Daily Press | Utica, NY - September 14, 1970

(5)

Dennis Comeau is a shoe designer who practised under the late Bandolino designer Enzo Angiolini. Along with his wife Lynne, he gave new life to historical brand Bernardo. Bought and sold in a few years, they tried the same with Herbert Levine with a less successful outcome. Side note: Dennis Comeau was actively involved at the beginning of the highly influential New York punk scene although details are fuzzy.

1970 | Beth & Herbert Levine For Tony The Shoemaker The Challis Boot Source: The San Bernardino County Sun | December 7, 1970