You can't go wrong with the classics - Manolo Blahnik (my first), Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, Ferragamo, Stuart Weitzman, etc. But, it's fun discovering newer brands that should someday be considered classics as well.
Last spring, my Italian friend Annette told me that her son's friend had started a shoe company, M. Gemi. The goal was to create handcrafted fine leather shoes made entirely in Italy which would be sold directly, cutting costs. My first pair was during the opening sale.
This is the Farfalla, with a neutral snakeskin print and black patent straps. The craftsmanship is pretty clear and they are made entirely of leather, including sole. The styles are introduced weekly, and tend to be classic with a trendy twist, like a textured vibrato-type leather or a bold color. Most should continue to be fashionable for a long time. Sadly, since they are constantly introducing new ones, when they are gone, they're gone.
My latest came from their recent sale. I didn't need any more shoes (I never need more shoes) since I had just bought a pair of heels and new Pumas. I could not resist this color though.
Look! They match my toes. These are the Cammeo in coral.
One of the sweet touches is the handwritten card with your name. There is a slot in the lid of the box to preserve the card.
The main negative is not being able to try them on. It seems like the sizes vary more given the handcutting and handstitching. I'm usually a 38 - on their recommendation, I got a 38.5 in the Farfalle which fit well, maybe even the teensiest bit snug in the toe. The Cammeo was recommended for upsizing, but the 38.5 for these is really loose. They offer free returns, but had sold out of this one and I was too impatient to wait, anyway! By the end of the day, I was scrunching my toes to stay in them, but small sacrifice - with some insoles, they should be fine.
