In Their Shoes: Andrea, Karen, and Jessica Wazen

In the spirit of the season, we asked the sisters how they most enjoy spending time as a family. For them, it's when their children (of which they have nine between them!) are tucked up in bed, and they gather at one of their houses to relish in the 'joy of missing out’. They describe themselves as feeling most complete when they’re all together, recharging one another with the strength and solidarity they find in their sisterly bond, leaning on each other for advice on balancing the 'motherload,' career crossroads, and style choices.

The sisters reminisce on how their lifestyles (and closets) have evolved and how they've enjoyed many different eras together before and after having children. While the paths they've walked to get to where they are today individually have looked a little different, one thing has remained constant: family comes first. They all have unique tastes but champion and celebrate their differences, remaining unwaveringly supportive of one another as they evolve in every facet of their lives.

For her latest collection, Andrea Wazen draws inspiration from her mother's closet and her daughters to bring together her two greatest passions—family and footwear. She seamlessly translates her signature heels with delicate fabrics and intricate detailing into beautiful yet comfortable tiny flat versions to create four matching 'Mini-Me' styles that mothers and daughters can wear together. This collection is designed to be worn and loved for years to come and, most importantly, to create lasting memories with family—just like the Wazen sisters have always done.

Andrea Wazen's Mini-Me collection launches exclusively at Level Shoes on March 11th, just in time for Mother's Day on March 21st. Shop the complete collection, only at Level.

How would you describe your relationships with each other as sisters and what does it mean to you?

KW: When I was pregnant and found out I was having twins, I already had a boy, and I was praying that it would be two girls because I know how important and how blessed we are to have each other. We are each other’s best friends and support system. There isn’t anything stronger than the bond of sisters.

JW: I know Andrea and I are twins, but it feels like we’re triplets. It’s always the three of us. It’s more complete when we’re all together.

How did your work change before having kids versus after having kids?

AW: Something interesting about starting work without kids and eventually having kids is how your routine, mindset, and purpose change. At first, you’re working because you love to work, and then it becomes, "I’m working because I want my kids to look at me and be proud of me; I want to inspire them and show them that you have to hustle and work." Time management also changes after having kids. Before, it was my own time and rhythm, but now I have a schedule, and any minute I miss, I potentially miss out on bedtime. It’s a big change and a lot to manage. But at the same time, you get it, and it starts working—we’re women, we’re strong, and we just do it!

JW: We must also thank our mom because we have her as an example. A working mom equals our mom, so we were born into that.

KW: She always had an amazing way of balancing things, so we never felt at any point in our lives that our mom’s work took any time away from us. It was the opposite. We were always so proud to see our mom's accomplishments, so it was something we grew up with.

Andrea, what does being a Middle Eastern designer mean to you?

It means so much to me. The more I grow, the more proud I feel of my heritage and where I come from. I think, as Arab designers, now more than ever, we need to show our talent and show the world what we can do.

Talk us through the Mini-Me collection and the thought process behind the designs.

Before I had kids, I remember someone asked me if I would do a kids’ collection, and I said no—why would I? Once I had my own, I couldn’t wait to design shoes for my daughter. I always imagined that if we attended a special ceremony or went out, I’d love to do this matching thing. It was always an idea I wanted to do, and I’m happy that we're here again, finding a great shoe factory that can make this mini-me version of a high-end stiletto because kids’ shoes are very different. We need to look at comfort and safety before anything. Women don’t look at safety when choosing their shoes—the higher, the better, or the more uncomfortable, the prettier! But for kids, it has to be comfortable, flexible, and soft. This journey has been so interesting, and I’ve learned so much from it—I can’t wait to do more!

What is one piece of advice you'd give to your daughters as they grow up?

KW: Because my daughters are now at a pre-teen age, they're nine years old, I talk to them about the importance of loving themselves and being true to who they are because I know how powerful that can be. Once you accept yourself for who you are and your uniqueness, you don't try to be someone else just to fit in. I see how important that was for me as a preteen, and I hope they keep this as a strength for them.

AW: It's also about believing in herself and knowing there’s no limit to what she can do. Even when she's just two, she’s trying to put her shoes on, and she tells me, “I cannot.” I tell her, “No, mama, you can do it. You can do anything.” As long as you give children all the support they need to achieve their goals, they can achieve whatever they want. I mean, the world is theirs.

JW: One piece of advice I would give is to be kind. This is what we need in the world we're living in. Even if someone’s trying to stop you, keep going; good things happen to people doing good.