Great Find: Leffot shoes
If men’s shoes were a religion, Leffot might be a temple. Actually, for a certain kind of NYC man—not necessarily a dandy, just one who appreciates the power of exquisite footwear—the West Village store already is a place of worship.
Owner Steven Taffel, who opened Leffot in 2008, displays about 60 well-curated pairs of shoes along the walls and on a sleek wooden table at the center of the shop. The guiding principle: carry just enough to fill every hole in a man’s wardrobe. The result is arguably the city’s premier men’s shoe store—among the best in the world.
The collection offers a well-balanced variety of styles from top American and European brands. Highlights include hand-embroidered velvet slippers by Edward Greene ($650) and a pair of chunky, cherry-brown wingtips by the Massachusetts-based heritage brand Alden ($645). There are whimsical accents such as Aubercy’s suede and leather button boots ($1,225), which come with a hook to help you lace them up.
Taffel shows off his shoe-world mastery with a range of special-edition footwear; some current examples are a set of camouflage wingtips ($695) and boots ($750) created with Nick Wooster, the former men’s fashion director at Neiman Marcus. Shoes aside, Leffot also carries a choice selection of cordovan leather accessories—think wallets, watch straps, and bags—and fine products to care for them, such as Saphir’s pristine mahogany shoe care box ($205).
Leffot: 10 Christopher Street, 212.989.4577
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