Beloved designer Stuart Weitzman set to retire in May

Updated

The name Stuart Weitzman is synonymous with some of the most stunning shoe silhouettes -- and any and every shoe lover aspires to own a pair (A.K.A. they're not cheap, but they're worth it). The 75-year-old designer has been in the footwear business for more than 50 years -- but according to Footwear News, come May, he's "hanging up his heels."

"I worked 16 hours a day, 350 days a year, for the last 40 years," Weitzman told Footwear News of retirement. "When I started thinking about retirement, I asked myself how I was going to fill up a day, 16 hours a day. I started making a list of things I'd love to do. And this list just happened." Said list includes competing for a second time in the Masters event of the Maccabiah Games in July and producing a Broadway musical. No big deal.

The Weitzman brand is no stranger to the spotlight. Most recently, Kourtney Kardashian and Bella Hadid were spotted donning Weitzman's new white Clinger booties, thus essentially setting a new spring trend. His partnership with "it" girl and model Gigi Hadid -- co-designer of the famous Gigi Boot -- also made headlines in December, when Hadid posed in booties alone as the returning face of the spring 2017 campaign.

Shop Stuart Weitzman shoes we absolutely love:

Though it may seem like otherwise, the designer's plans to leave the business behind aren't abrupt. He first hinted at his retirement two years ago when he "orchestrated" the sale of the company to Coach -- giving the team ample time to set themselves up for success once he walked out the door. Giovanni Morelli of Loewe will step in as Creative Director in May, and Weitzman will officially be a retired man.

When asked if he'll miss the business, Weitzman was blunt. "I'm not going to miss it." While some may call that sad, I call it refreshing.

The man has left his mark -- and he knows it.

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