It’s two days since the launch of my shoe business, and it still doesn’t seem quite real that María Perón is finally established.

The months leading up to the launch were an exciting time, but a very busy one, with many Skype meetings and endless emails back and forth to my production teams in Spain. The design process was the fun part, especially selecting colours and leathers from sample charts.

I know I’m blessed to have found such brilliant people to work with. When my first samples arrived by post I felt like a child opening Christmas presents. I experienced the same sensations of excitement and curiosity, but I was nervous as well. What if the shoes weren’t as I imagined they’d be? What if I was going to be disappointed? I had butterflies in my stomach, but as I opened each box they fluttered away in a stream of colour, all silver and gold and red and white. I could hardly have been happier. It was amazing to hold in my hands a real pair of shoes that had started simply as a rough sketch on a piece of paper.

I also consider myself blessed because I have a circle of amazingly generous friends who have helped me so much. I thank them all most gratefully – and I think I’ll end my first post right here. It seems suitably optimistic ...