Parisian shoe fever dream
My favourite local shoe store carries brands which include Taryn Rose, Joy Chen (fabulous) Mephisto (unfab), Donald Pliner, and... Thierry Rabotin, dream cobbler of shoes that I can stand in all day. And discovered the divine Rabotin Gisele.
Technically a ballet flat, the shoe has an arch so one's foot doesn't sag like a four day old fish. The slightly high-cut vamp is covered in a fine chenille-type fabric on which are sewn hundreds and hundreds of irridescent miniature dark grey and black sequins (like half-grains of rice), using specially reinforced elastic thread so they don't rip off with movement, or catch.
See the leather rim near the sole? I could dance through puddles. Really, they thought of everything.
Trying them on, I felt like a Dorothy who'd swapped her red maryjanes, had a few shots of anejo tequila, and lit the hell out from Kansas in an Alfa Romeo.
The price is $695 (Canadian dollars), plus tax, which here is a hefty 12%. Gulp, fan self, leave store.
I asked Le Duc to call TR in Paris (where I will be one month from today) and inquire about price; he reported that the shoes are half the freight on rue du Dragon. They have a size that might fit me, but will they be there in a month? "Zees size ees verrry larrjh" (I am translating for you), "ees 'ard to find", the vendeuse told him.
I'm annoyed. 100% markup over European price seems like gouging. OK, Manolos cost this much...but I don't buy Manolos.
If I charge to my Visa and have them held for me, I could exchange but last year they did not have one pair of anything I liked in my breadbox size, 41.
Le sigh. Will just go to Paris and take my oversized chances.
Comments
If you are leaving the country and your passport is US... get a sales tax receipt and show it at customs and get a partial refund.
Or see if the store can ship to your hotel in Paris which will eliminate the sales tax. Though not sure then what the shipping costs would be.
www.thierryrabotin.com
Contact above and let them know your size and style number and have them locate or send to your hotel.
Or I would just buy them locally if you love them. Maybe less trouble all round?
You deserve them.
Anjela: Yes, I always make sure I get the VAT refund. Since we rent an apt, not hotel, I will go to store- it's not far. Also downloaded all Rabotin vendors in central Paris.
It's now in the hands of the Goddess of Exquisite Shoes: Paris or nothing.
I got put up in a $700.00 suite in the Planter's Inn in Charlotte when I mentioned to the concierge about a book I was writing. He was impressed enough by my oral skills. By the way the room was haunted but still it was lovely.
Anjela: Would never have thought to do this, wow!