As any member of the fab five will tell you, spiffing up your look is not only a great way to feel good about yourself, it is also increasingly necessary in this day and age of pan-global image one-upmanship. Enter the latest trend in customized shoes for men. Manhattan-based, Ron Donovan delivers hexagonal wingtips made-to-order, for the same price as an off-the-shelf John Lobb. He’ll even help you host a shoe party at your house to get all your friends in on the game as well. Trinidadian-born and trained at renowned Ars Arpel in Milan, Eustace Robinson creates both wild and sedate designs from dress up to sneaker, in colors that will set you apart from the first glance. Brother Sebastian at the Franciscan monestary on 29th street has long serviced in-the-know hipsters craving a master lass-ed comfort shoe. You’ve read about Rome-based Lincoln Brown’s customized gladiator sandals and rustic loafers on these pages (see JC Report, issue 1). Legendary bespoke cobbler Berluti is seeing better business than ever, dazzling international males with a vast selection of custom styles and colorful patinas to choose from. Shoes are definitely catching up with the made-to-measure shirt-making trend for men seeking pieces that are truly one of a kind.

- Meghan Cleary
Photo: Ron Donovan custom collection