I stumbled upon this pretty store one day after a visit to the Picasso Museum in the Marais. It evokes a classic design with a modern flair that drew me in with a window full of unusually beautiful shoes. After a conversation with the charming owner/designer herself, I found out that each piece was handcrafted in Italy. It certainly shows in details and styling. And like the shop itself, each shoe is classically beautiful, yet thoroughly modern and original. How talented is this designer? I have stopped buying shoes anywhere else. No more trips to Nordstrom. No more Arche. If you already invest in fine footwear, Zoe Lee's shoes will become your favorites. They deliver: 1) quality - I wear them a lot. Like, almost every day. They show no sign of losing their beauty. No wear or scuffs or dulling. With a little care (I don't wear them in salt and snow) they look like new after several months and dozens of wearings 2) stunning aesthetics: I have NEVER spent a day in a pair of Zoe Lee shoes without receiving a compliment. People (men and women) actually stop me in downtown Chicago and ask me where I bought my shoes. Women in airports stare at them. I once heard a woman exclaim to her friend as I passed, "did you see her shoes?" Last week, I was on an elevator. As a woman got off on her floor, she turned and said, "nice shoes there." No one will have shoes like yours; they always look special and you will feel special wearing them. These are absolutely chic show stoppers at the office or for casual occasions 3) comfort - I walk everywhere, including 3/4 mile from the train to my office. No blisters. No aching feet. It's about time a designer acknowledged that beautiful shoes and wearable shoes do not have to be mutually exclusive. The only challenge that Zoe Lee shoes presents is which pair will be my next. The new line is on her expansive website and is making the decision a bit difficult...I think I've narrowed it down to three, or four (or five) choices. I will be wearing these beauties for years to come. read more