MyFDB has gotten a major face-lift slash makeover and in celebration we excitedly teamed up with Arielle Vavasseur and Marisa Spinella of the fabulous Los Angeles-based shoe line, Penelope and Coco for a giveaway. After learning all about Arielle and Marisa don’t forget to enter our contest for some very cool “pumped up kicks” and boy do we mean pumped!

How did you come together to form Penelope and Coco?
We were both working in different areas of fashion– Arielle on a wholesale/marketing/and PR level and Marisa was styling and doing freelance design work. What we individually didn’t have, the other one did, so it was a no brainer for us to come together. When we started developing the concept behind penelope and coco, we knew we were both on the same page and 100% ready to begin the process together. What were once Marisa’s “alter egos” penelope and coco, soon became our individual personas.

Why shoe design?
Marisa: I’ve always had a passion for footwear and accessories. There is something about it that just completely defines one’s personal style. I originally wanted to create shoes that changed the way a woman felt the minute she stepped into them and most importantly I wanted to accomplish that with a shoe that didn’t have a 6” heel–which then resulted in the birth of our classic boot collection.

Where does the inspiration for your campaigns and lookbook videos come from season after season?
We almost always have a vision for the campaign before the collection is even finished. It usually plays off the designs and how ‘penelope’ and/or ‘coco’ would feel wearing the shoe…playful, sexy, sophisticated etc. Our F/W 2011 campaign was a little more sexy than usual, which correlates nicely with the introduction of heels to our brand. We really played up the characters of penelope and coco which was fun!

What pair of Penelope and Coco shoes are your favorite?
Marisa: That’s a tough one… My favorite pair to wear daily would have to be the Willow boot but I also wear the Edie bootie and Kinsley wedge a lot!
Arielle: I live in my Capone boots and Jo oxfords! I always wear black and they go with everything! The Kinsley is definitely my all purpose wedge!

Sum up your personal style in 5 words or less.
Casual chic, mostly black & white, sophisticated grunge.

Name a few of your favorite LA places.
Toi Thai on Sunset, Cha Cha Chicken in Santa Monica, Opening Ceremony on La Cienega, High at Hotel Erwin in Venice (amazing view), Winston’s on Santa Monica Blvd, Altitude (the pool at SLS hotel) – equally amazing view!

And lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring fashion industry hopefuls?
Set goals, stay true to your vision, don’t take no for an answer, and don’t let the set backs take over you, you have to keep pushing! You will be the most successful when you do what is innately you, so its so important to stay true to yourself!

Special thanks once again to the fabulous ladies of Penelope and Coco, Arielle Vavasseur and Marisa Spinella. And now on to the giveaway…

Contest

Here’s what one very lucky winner will receive, the “Edie” bootie, a suede dalmation print ankle bootie with a 2-inch covered platform with black stitch detailing and black 6′ heel. The “Edie” is from their F/W 2011 collection “The Collectibles” and retails for $482.

So how exactly do you win these puppies? (Get it?)

To Enter:

Head on over to the new MyFDB.com and browse our covers section, then leave a comment on the MyFDBlog telling us which is your favorite!

Official Rules: A big thank you to Penelope & Coco for partnering with MyFDB. This contest is open to US residents only and closes Monday September 19th at 1:00 pm (PST). A winner will be randomly chosen and notified via email. For more information and awesome shoes check out Penelope & Coco’s official site and be sure to follow their exciting adventures on Twitter (@penelopeandcoco).