photo by Jamandfix

When Shipps began handling "J.M. Weston," the pinnacle of French trad, and "Cole Haan" was also taken by someone else, Beams took on France's "J. Fenestrier" (founded 1895) and "JEAN BADY" (founded 1889).

This "J. Fenestrier" was marketed as a traditional shoe with Parisian esprit, yet more slender, smart, and beautiful than Weston, and was featured extensively in magazines at the time.
When stylish New Yorkers started wearing Weston, a former Weston stylist was involved, and I discovered it at a Paris exhibition and jumped at it. The range of designs, like suede monk straps, was also extensive, and we sold them extensively at International Gallery, but I apologize to our customers at the time, it was a buyer's mistake (bitter laugh). It was a bit too early.

It's made of a glossy aniline calfskin, and the product itself is by no means bad, but the comfort is not great. It's a McKay construction, and the impact on concrete is painful. But I wore them often. These were the first pair I bought myself.
At the time, for stylish people's dress styles, brown, light tan, and mid-tan were mainstream.
(1982 / ¥48,000 or ¥58,000)

#24: I Never Thought I'd Wear Them Again...

Yves Saint-Laurent / 2003

photo by Jamandfix

After "ROSSETTI" introduced in #7, I thought I would never wear heeled shoes again, but these Yves Saint-Laurent boots with the distinctive "Y" stitching changed my mind. In that sense, they are an epoch-making pair. It feels like I've come full circle after 30 years (laughs).

I bought two pairs of these in 2003 at the Yves Saint-Laurent store in New York, one in brown and one in black. I wore them with wide-lapel jackets and semi-flare pants. I like heels, and I also like buckles. However, these boots are an awkward length, hitting my shins and being incredibly painful. So I don't wear them very often.
I still respect Saint Laurent as a designer. These shoes are from the collection designed by Tom Ford.
(2003 / ¥80,000)