By Clyde Noel

Call it “A Los Altos Success Story” in shoe fashion. Christine Campbell’s recently opened shoe store in downtown Los Altos, Crimson Mim, is proving to be a success with customers.

The 800-square-foot boutique, decorated with vintage chandeliers and zebra-skin rugs, offers a high-end shopping experience in women’s footwear.

Campbell specializes in obscure, hard-to-find designers such as Calleen Cordero, Neely Mack (a Marin resident), Gunmetal and Luc Berjen. They’re all in the Crimson Mim collection with a large inventory behind the red curtains.

Campbell is a former Silicon Valley executive venturing into her first retail experience. “It’s what I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” she said. “Since my soft opening, I’ve been very pleased with the response from the entire area.”

After college, Campbell flirted with modeling in Canada, but the business world captured her fancy. She spent 15 years in marketing, operations and technology at companies such as Ingram Micro and Vantive. She also co-founded three diverse businesses and recently worked with Lockheed Corp., but her dream job was waiting in downtown Los Altos in her own store.

“The store reminds me of a shoe boutique in London,” said a customer. “You’re featuring shoe designs you can’t find in a department store or even a high-class shoe store.”

Campbell’s shoes are appreciated for their comfort and good looks. “It’s not the price, but the style and comfort people are looking for,” she said as she pulled out a wedge with a small heel for a picture.

Crimson Mim introduces designers who are underserved by the traditional retail system. The store showcases the talents of a cadre of local boutique designers such as Susan Furstman of Portola Valley, whose jewelry is displayed throughout the store.

The name Crimson Mim was inspired by Campbell’s grandmother’s name and her favorite color. Throughout the store, Campbell uses a zebra for an icon. Besides the rugs, zebra stripes are featured on the store’s business cards, wrapping paper and shopping bags.

“The zebra is the best-dressed four-legged animal,” Campbell said. “The logo is really about expressing style and class.”

Crimson Mim is located at 322 Main St., between First and Second streets in Los Altos. For more information, call 947-7463.