On Tuesday I attended the L.A. opening of The Left Shoe Company’s first U.S. store. The Finnish brand is a welcome import – they construct Snobby custom-made footwear based on software analysis and scans of your feet that ensure each of your shoes fits just right. A state of the art scanner takes 3D images of your feet/ankles in gridded socks with measurements as precise as .1 cm! Once that’s done, you get to try on sample shoes to see what you like. The options? 20 Italian leathers, 30 styles, and even different soles (smooth leather, treaded, golf shoes with cleats, etc.). Basically, you become your own designer! I was taken with the immaculate dress shoes, but there are tons of casual styles, too. Each pair is handmade in Portugal and delivered directly to you, so the craftsmanship and quality get As all across the board.
The whole experience was incredibly personal. My hubby Tech Snob Rich (who’s not very Snobby in the fashion arena) was so impressed that even he got a fitting – those are his giant feet in the scanner below! The sales staff was knowledgeable and friendly, offering specially selected port and beer. For the grand opening, they served handcrafted Brouwerij West beer (the brewer is a friend, so needless to say I was impressed). For such a great product and experience, I would easily pay upwards of $1,000, and yet the price range is $325 – $695. That’s like a deeply discounted pair of Loubies – guys have it so easy!! The only complaints they ever have with dress shoes are tight spots that cause blisters, and now that problem is solved. If you can’t make it to the L.A. store, keep an eye out in NYC and San Francisco – they’ll be opening there soon. Visit The Left Shoe Company to learn more.
