What do Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin and the Bolshoi Ballet have in common? They are all unflinching devotees of the famous French shoe company, Repetto.
They cost a pretty penny, are hard to find, and it’s all so very hush hush. Like the Herm’s Birkin, the shoes have a cult following because of their impeccable craftsmanship.
You can do plie and jetes or run across busy Parisian streets with these chic ballet flats that adorn the feet of the famous.
Founded in 1947, the company was primarily known as a dance shoe supplier but that quickly changed when Brigitte Bardot asked Rose Repetto to make her a pair of ballet shoes with a heel for her role in the film, “And God Created Woman.” That style of shoe became known as “The Bardot.”
At the small factory in France, only 2000 pairs of these coveted shoes are produced daily, with the same loving attention to detail reserved for The Bolshoi Ballet.
Nowadays, Miss Moss, Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker follow in the hip footsteps of the Rive Gauche gals from the 60′s…
So how can you get your hands on a pair of these signature flats? Here are some sources:
New York: An Earnest Cut & Sew
821 Washington Street
Tel: 212 242 3414
Online at www.dandelionfeet.com
London: Toast at Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street
3rd Floor, London W1A 1AB
Tel: 0207 318 3564
Online at www.aime.co.uk
Paris: 22, Rue de la Paix
75002, Paris.
www.repetto.com
- Tips on wearing flats – show a bit of ankle! Wear them with slimming 3/4 pants. Alternatively, turn up your favorite pair of jeans.
- These cuties are worthwhile saving up for (price tags are $170 and up). Whenever you feel the urge to buy another pair of $20 shoes, think of the damage they may cause to your feet and posture.
- If the price tag is too daunting, gift a pair for very special occasions (to bridesmaids, to your favorite girlfriend etc.) and win serious brownie points (i.e. they owe you big time).
Repetto, now in its 61st year and under the ownership of Jean Marc Gaucher, has instigated partnerships with Comme Des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake and is working with UNESCO in raising funds to support development through dance.