Cool Girls Keep Wearing These Shoes

If we were the betting type, we’d say you’ve probably spotted By Far’s shoes on your Instagram feed. The Bulgarian accessories label has been around for just a year, but in that time, it’s managed to make its way into the wardrobes of cool fashion girls while landing at retailers like Moda Operandi and Need Supply Co.

Unable to find the versatile shoes they were looking for, founders Valentina Bezuhanova, Sabina Gyosheva, and Denitsa Bumbarova decided to design their own. “The three of us always had a fascination for fine beautiful accessories,” Bezuhanova tells Who What Wear. “However, we recognized that there was a gap in the market for such pieces that are comfortable and can actually work for any occasion.” Enter By Far. Dreamed up to fill that gap in the market, the covetable collection includes minimal block-heel mules and crocodile slingbacks, all priced between $200 and $400. With an aesthetic that feels fresh and modern designs women want to wear, it’s no surprise they continue to gain momentum.

Go on to read our full interview with Valentina Bezuhanova of By Far on the importance of Instagram and how a dream about Jane Birkin inspired the brand’s boots. Then, shop some of our favorite styles from the collection.

WHO WHAT WEAR: What motivated you to start designing shoes?

VALENTINA BEZUHANOVA: There’s something very strange and mysterious about girls’ obsession with shoes. I guess we just embraced it.

WWW: Describe the girl you typically design for.

VB: By Far represents the women who travel all around the world and need chic and comfortable shoes that will work for them throughout the year. The By Far girl is cool and intelligent. She’s not about clubbing—she’s more about long night talks and lying in the grass.

WWW: What inspires you as a designer?

VB: Denitsa is our main designer. She is completely consumed by shapes, colors, and textures. She even envisions her styles in her dreams. Once, she dreamed she was behind a movie scene—I guess she was part of the crew. While she was having a break, Jane Birkin came toward her, took off her long boots, and gave them to Denitsa as a gift. She woke up and remembered every little detail of the style as if it were a reality! These boots are going to be in our new collection.

WWW: What is a typical day like for you as a designer?

VB: Our kids are the most important aspect of our everyday life—we just want to be there for them as much as we can. Digging for inspiration is a bit hectic but very liberating and fun! Denitsa has been gathering images for years. Sometimes she would get inspired by jewelry she has seen on Lauren Hutton or a color from a coat from the ’90s. She then collides all of those ideas together into one, always considering comfort and chicness.

WWW: How have social platforms like Instagram effected By Far?

VB: For us, Instagram is like a community for our “By Far girls.” We imagine it as a restaurant or a wine bar, where all of us (designers, journalists, creatives, customers, or just admires) gather to talk about our inspirations.

Go on to shop some of our favorite pieces from By Far.