Shoe Ins: The Haute Five Shoe Stores in Los Angeles
LA doesn’t lack for soles. Of course, we have Louboutin and Choo boutiques,and certainly Beverly Hills’ Barneys and Saks shoe departments are well stocked with all the big names. But you didn’t need me to tell you that. Here are the Haute 5 shoe boutiques that offer something more uncommon.
Mona Moore
Touted by Vogue magazine, Mona Moore (above) is the only south-of-the-border outpost of the uberfashionable Montreal shoetique which offers a very carefully selected portfolio of designer soles from the likes of Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, Zoraide, Pierre Hardy, Phi, Parker Ochs, Rodarte, MA+ and exceptional local designers.
Mona Moore is located at 1112 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, 800.619.0674
Vamp
In Los Feliz, Vamp is a small boutique with some carefully selected lesser-known designers like Faryl Robyn, Dolce Vita, Biviel, Rachel Comey, Bloch, Jeffrey Campbell and Frye, personal service, and some seriously devoted east side fans.
Vamp is located at 1951 Hillhurst Avenue, 323.662.2020
Fred Segal Feet
Let me be clear: you don’t go to Fred Segal for customer service. You go there for a selection you will not likely find anywhere else.
Fred Segal is located at 8100 Melrose Avenue, 323.655.9500
Havaianas
That’s right, the Brazilian luxury sandal maker opened its first US store last month in Huntington Beach, featuring 150 styles including some brand exclusives (Art Nouveau and Art Deco collections, some designer collaborations) and a personal customizing station. Go here and when your Miami and New York friends start touting them next year, you can say “been there—last season.”
Havaianas is located at 300 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach
George Cleverly at Leather Soul
Very simply, London’s George Cleverly is considered by many who know to be the best bespoke men’s shoemaker in the world. There is only one place in the continental US (in fact all of North America) where you can be measured for their shoes—or buy a quite nice ready-to-wear pair as well. That’s Leather Soul in Beverly Hills.
Leather Soul is located at 9513 Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, 310.248.2399