Shopping in the Rue de Grenelle

In medieval days, Paris had entire streets devoted to particular trades and professions — tanners, butchers and the like. The contemporary city has its mini-shopping enclaves, too, if you know where to look.

Shoe by Christian Louboutin

Hédiard

The Bernardaud boutique

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Walk on the wild side in the 7th.

Ever fantasized about indulging all your designer shoe cravings within one block? Then slip on a pair of your highest heels and stroll down the opening stretch of Rue de Grenelle, near the intersection with the Rue de Sèvres and the Rue du Four, where you'll find the cult red-soled souliers of Christian Louboutin (no. 38). The flamboyant Parisian shoemaker, credited with bringing the stiletto back into fashion, has created red carpet footwear for celebrities including Catherine Deneuve, Princess Caroline, Angelina Jolie and Madonna, who sports Louboutin's slinky thigh-high leather cuissardes in her latest video. Bruno Frisoni (no. 34), another designer whose shop windows present his fantasy creations as objets d'art, works like a couturier, adorning his ultra-glamorous — and ultra-expensive — shoes with plumes, crystals, ribbons and hand-sewn pearls. Across the street, L.K. Bennett (no. 31), a quintessential London brand, strikes a perfect balance between footwear that's bang-on-trend, like low-cut ankle boots, yet sensible enough to wear to the office, like ballerina pumps in patent leather. Iris (no. 28), one of my favorites, boasts the best multi-brand selection in town, with hot-off-the-runway heels by designers including John Galliano, Marc Jacobs, Véronique Branquinho and maverick Dutch duo Viktor & Rolf. For men, veteran Italian designer Sergio Rossi (no. 22) offers a range of classic brogues and tasseled leather moccasins complete with elegant wallets and travel bags to match. Male dandies looking to make a louder fashion statement head for Jean-Baptiste Rautureau (no. 24) where wilder styles include python loafers and cowboy boots emblazoned with the Stars and Stripes. After splurging on shoes, fashionistas drop in on Carine Gilson for luxurious couture lingerie (no. 18), Renaud Pellegrino for exquisite clutch bags (no. 42) and Grenoble-born fashion designer Catherine Malandrino (no. 10) for cutting-edge womenswear channeling Manhattan energy and Paris style.

Originally published in the October 2009 issue of France Today

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