Since 1895, the Berluti family has dedicated its existence to the making of shoes with incomparable comfort and elegance. Each creation is inspired by the dreams, demands and cultures of the exceptional men who once opened our doors. Expensive? Just a little bit. The started shoe for this high-end brand based out of Paris is $1500USD, but that’s not the kicker. Olga Berluti, the sole creative director for this exclusive collection, commissions a yearly conference of types, held at their Global Headquarters in Paris, dubbed the Berluti Swann Club. Often at Maison Berluti relationships are formed around the language of shoes. While examining shoes, they entertain one another with their plans, fantasies and dreams, and always with a constant glimmer of amusement in their eyes. Oh and they clean their shoes. With champagne none-the-less. The first soiree was held at the Hotel Crillon in 1992. Olga was joined by twenty friends; the subject – the aesthetics of shoes – was discussed from the standpoint of pure reason. Then the guests went to work – removing tablecloths, taking polishes out of containers, and rolling small squares of fine Venetian linen around their fingers. Now in stocking feet, they placed their shoes on the table and began to massage the leather. A little water for the polish? HELL NAW! Nothing but Dom Perignon would do, baby! Thus, a very un-traditional tradition was established. Luxury is well known, and is nurtured every now and then with excesses.
