Francesco da Firenze

My husband had the most beautiful pair of handmade shoes. Wonderful and gloriously styled, my husband cannot wait to order another pair! Please do yourself a favor and have a pair of shoes made just for your feet. You will not regret it.

I visited Francesco’s workshop in Florence in April 2012 and can’t say enough about the service, quality of workmanship, and high quality shoes. This is a completely family run business that still makes top quality shoes the same way they have been making them for decades. I asked Francesco to make some shoes custom for me since my feet are a little wider than normal and I wanted them to fit perfectly. He was more than happy to oblige me and charged me the same as for a pair off the shelf. I received the shoes back in NYC in about 5 weeks and they were perfect! If you are in Florence and want some high quality handmade shoes, don’t hesitate to visit Francesco. For more info on my experience here check out this blog —

so maybe i got ripped off at francesco da firenze? i have no idea really. for a girl growing up in an ebay era of bargain shopping it is sadly difficult for me to tell when paying a bit more for something might actually be worth it. the leather sandals i bought here were around 60 euro a pair and while that is a bit more than my paltry budget normally allows for sandals i was ready to pay up for these. the shop makes them to order, you choose the style and the leather and they size you and you come back the next day and there are your gorgeous leather sandals. i figured that i was paying for something that would last. except here i am only two months later and one of the pairs i bought has popped a little metal button that holds it together. i am sure if i brought it back to the shop they would fix it up no questions asked — but paris is not exactly next door.
i also ended up buying a pair of 150 euro work shoes that look something between german combat boots and jane austen– esque lace ups. they are splendid — i have no regrets. these babies will certainly last me several lifetimes. after a month working on a farm and getting slogged through mud and grass and grime they are holding up beautifully — my do they smell fragrant, but i guess that’s not the shoes’ fault