Parlez-Vous Luxe?

By Steve Deitsch

In case you hadn’t noticed, a grande French icon has taken up residence in the Design District in Miami.  I am talking about Berluti, the LVMH-owned, ultra-exclusive luxury leather goods and men’s fashion house. This is no ordinary men’s store. The moment you walk in, you know this place is special.

The gorgeous handmade shoes seem to call out to you. They can be bought as ready-to-wear or made bespoke from a variety of shapes, patinas and leathers, including alligator, ostrich, shark and lizard. These babies can set you back between $650 and $14,000 for the ready-to-wear shoes, and from $5,000 to $30,000 for the bespoke shoes.

Although known for its shoes, accessories and leather goods, Berluti has more recently ventured into men’s fashion, after purchasing the haute men’s fashion brand Arny’s Paris in 2012. They offer an elegant, yet slightly offbeat and classical selection of European-styled suits, jackets, pants, sweaters, etc. that exude a distinctive blend of luxury and nonchalance, e.g.  a reversible leather and silk jacket in two colors or a corduroy suede cardigan with cashmere sleeves.

The Berluti secret is already out, though, and several celebrities have been seen wearing the sought-after shoes, e.g. Robert deNiro, Bryan Ferry, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gerard Depardieu.

Berluti Miami store was the first store to open in the U.S., and they later followed it with stores in New York and Los Angeles. It has only taken the company 120 years to get to the U.S. – it was founded in 1895 – and it is interesting to see where they have placed their bets:  7 stores in Europe, 6 stores in the Middle East and 25 stores in Asia (mostly China).

If you can afford anything at Berluti, you will treasure it like a work of art.  The Berluti shoes I have at home rest in a special shrine.

Berluti Miami
161 NE 40th St
Miami, FL 33137
305-573-4170
official website http://www.berluti.com/en/stores/united-states/miami/miami-design-d/1619

Editor’s Note:  Miamicurated is pleased to welcome Steve Deitsch as a new contributing blogger.  He’ll  be writing about men’s fashion, wine and his other passions.  An oenophile and style icon, he is a new resident of Miami, having moved here from New York City. He divides his time between Miami and Napa Valley.