Men’s shoes - Andy Warhol’s Ferragamos

You can’t buy these shoes without knowing the story behind them. Sure, they’re elegant, in an Old World, spaghetti Bolognese, “Where’s Michael?” kind of way. “But what’s with those specks of paint?” someone might ask you. “What kind of an animal would paint while wearing full-grain Italian calfskin shoes?” Although there are many expensive men’s shoes that now bear his name, Salvatore Ferragamo (1898-1960) designed only one style for men in his lifetime, and you’re looking at it.


Andy Warhol owned a pair and, naturally, he painted in them. And then Warhol died. And then, in 2006, the Ferragamo family bought those paint-specked Warhol shoes at an auction. And now, authorized copies are available for $990 at the Ferragamo flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York.

Rubber Soles - Dr. Martens celebrate 50th anniversary

By the time Britain’s skinheads completed their devolution from hard-edged dandies to racist hooligans, their cherished Dr. Martens boots had gone viral. Before long, the list of D.M. devotees would span the length of the screw-up spectrum: “Mods, glams, punks, ska, psycho-hillbillies, grebos, Goths, industrialists, nu-metal, hardcore, straight-edge, grunge, Britpop” and on and on, says Martin Roach, D.M.’s de facto historian. Now, Dr. Martens is marking its 50th anniversary. To celebrate, the company has commissioned covers of 10 “cult” songs from acts like the Human League, Buzzcocks, the Pogues and even the Cold War Kids. (Full details here.) The songs and music videos drop on Thursday at drmartens.com. For an exclusive-to-T taste, watch profiles of three of the cutting-edge acts involved in the project.

Veronique Branquinho for Camper - Men’s derby shoes

Veronique Branquinho’s announcement that she was closing up shop because of the recession was one of the ones that had fashion insiders bemoaning the most. But the queen of Antwerp cool seems to be enjoying a new chapter of her career.

Since shuttering her label, Branquinho has taken on the artistic director post at Delvaux, releasing a collection of classic women’s bags, and she has also entered a long-term collaboration with the Spanish shoemaker Camper. “Of course it’s a new situation, but it’s not necessarily a bad one,” Branquinho said. “Working for other companies is actually quite liberating in the sense that you can focus 100 percent on creativity.”

In Camper’s case, this translated into very pure and modern lines. Her men’s derby shoes, which go from $390 to $425, play up subtle textures and color combinations while offering functional alternatives — wearers can sport one style with the heel up, or tamped down like a slide. As for fashion in general, the forward-thinking Belgian still has faith in the talented underdog. “Today it’s very hard for a young or independent designer to compete with the big groups,” she said. “But I believe that there will be always a place for creativity and quality.”