Misty Copeland on Life After Ballet, Her New Hobbies, and the Stuart Weitzman Shoes She Recommends to First-Time Luxury Buyers (Exclusive)

If you knew what the last 10 months have looked like for Misty Copeland, you'd either rethink everything you're doing with your life because of what an absolute force of nature she is, or assume she'd be taking a well-deserved break. (I'm doing both.) But after 25 years with the American Ballet Theatre as the company's first Black female principal dancer, and undergoing hip replacement surgery shortly after her final bow, the mother and multi-hyphenate is doing quite the opposite. She's writing children's books, leading her own foundation, curating a one-of-a-kind ballet festival, and most recently serving as one of the three faces of Stuart Weitzman's 40th-anniversary campaign, a brand she goes way back with.The iconic luxury shoe brand best known for its fit-like-a-glove boots is celebrating its 40th anniversary in a big way, spotlighting its beloved Stretch collection, with shoes designed to feel molded to you. The campaign also taps into the nostalgic style shoppers have been craving lately. Misty, who has been part of the SW family for years, felt like a natural choice to return as one of the faces of the anniversary campaign, alongside Gigi Hadid and Yang Mi. In our exclusive interview, she opens up about life after ballet, her personal style, which goes beyond balletcore, and the one investment shoe she'd recommend to someone entering the luxury world for the first time.You’ve had a relationship with Stuart Weitzman for a while now. What’s your first memory of the brand, and what made you want to work with them?The iconic Stuart Power Boot is my first memory. That’s what I think of when I think of Stuart Weitzman. But working with them back in 2019 was one of the most fun and memorable campaigns I’ve ever done. It was their holiday campaign, and we did this hip-hop remix of “Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker. It was so cool and fun, but also sexy, and it felt genuinely me. Now, to be back for the 40th anniversary feels like a full-circle moment. I’m so honored.Touching on that, you've now shot multiple campaigns with the brand. Tell me what it was like shooting your first campaign with them versus working with them now.They’ve definitely followed where I’m at and who I am now. I’m 43, and being in my 40s feels like this evolution of where I am in my career—as a mom, an entrepreneur, an author, all of these things. It feels like the brand has grown with me, and this campaign in particular feels very appropriate for where I am right now. It feels mature but grounded, very New York, artistic, free, and confident. And with the brand itself also maturing and growing, it’s a beautiful collaboration.Stuart WeitzmanIs there a style you're obsessed with from the fall collection?There are so many. I love the Vinnie boot—the low heel, the pointed toe, and that very polished look. I also love the height of the shoe. Especially coming out of a hip replacement, they’re comfortable and beautiful. I’d say those are probably my favorite for fall.You've had your book, the Joyce Ballet Festival, and the Misty Copeland Foundation keeping you busy. Is there anything you've been working on lately that you're especially excited about?To be involved in this campaign and have it finally come out is really exciting. It’s amazing to think about how much has happened since I first worked with them and to see how much the brand has grown. To think that I have a four-year-old now—before, I was living my life with so much freedom, and now everything is very, very different. I guess you could say Jackson is keeping me very busy heading into pre-K this year.What would you say a typical day in your life looks like now that you're not following a strict training schedule?For the first time in my career, I have the freedom to be creative and be in control of all the projects I’m taking on. Every day looks so different. The only constant is waking up, getting Jackson ready, and walking him to school or camp, or whatever that may be.From there, it could be Zoom meetings, physical therapy, working on writing, going into the office at the foundation, shoots—like today—or in-person meetings. It’s a nice feeling to really be the one calling the shots at this point in my career. So I only have myself to blame when my schedule is absolutely insane, right?Especially after years of a hardcore regimen, it must be so freeing. So, have you picked up any new hobbies or routines?I do a lot of very hands-on stuff with my son. We bake together, we cook, we color, and we build Magna-Tiles. I’m teaching him to sew, which was such an important thing for me growing up and definitely helped me in my career, from having to sew pointe shoes to all the other things. Those fun, hands-on, crafty things are some of my favorite things to do with my son.How would you say your personal style has changed now that you're not wearing mostly rehearsal clothes and costumes?It has absolutely changed. Throughout my career, I was following certain trends and things like that, but I think being on stage and being surrounded by the lights, the makeup, and the tutus definitely influenced the things I was wearing.At this point, my style is much more understated than it’s ever been. I want to feel comfortable but look good, and feel like it’s effortless, like I’m not trying too hard, while still feeling like I look my age.Stuart WeitzmanFor the Cosmo reader who might be thinking, “I love a luxury shoe, but is it worth the investment?” Is there a shoe in this Stuart Weitzman collection that you’d recommend as a great entry point?The Stuart Power Boot knee-high boots were my entry point into Stuart Weitzman, and they feel like such a timeless style, especially heading into fall. They’ve clearly stood the test of time, and the trend continues to come back year after year. They’re versatile and powerful at any age—they instantly make you look sophisticated and put-together.Stuart Weitzman has always been known for its top-tier craftsmanship. What makes a designer shoe feel like a worthwhile purchase to you?I think one that can withstand and hold up. Of course, you want a beautiful aesthetic, but when it’s top-notch craftsmanship, you can actually wear the shoe and not just put it on, get in a car, and then go sit down somewhere. I wear my clothes. I walk around the city, and I think a shoe that can withstand all of that is definitely something important to me.Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.