shoeshop can be so damn inviting. & when u have a instore polishing station with the store manager diligently doing his thing, it just goes from cute to charming. this is MAISON CORTHAY everyone. the french brand started back in 1990 near place vendom, when pierre corthay acquired the establishment of a shoemaker who's retiring. before that went through the hardcore training of compagnons du devoir which young craftsmen are taught for a period of 6 to 7 years by different masters. he has also worked for the big guns like john lobb & berluti. apart from the ready-to-wear collection that whispers design like the shape of a car bonnet, the bespoke part of the business is what makes the brand stand out. the folks at corthay values the dialogue & interaction between the craftsman & the customer since bespoke is all about understanding the motivation & the style of the customer: it is simply transforming his aspiration into a pair of 100% hand made awesome shoes. with shops in london, paris, tokyo, & hong kong, corthay is a fun house filled with decadent shoes of delightful quirks & exquisite colors. the ribbon shoelaces & olive patine coloring excite me especially. a special thanks to benoit the manager for his hospitality & crash course on the history of the house