London Sole

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This venue is closed.

Forget sky-high stilettos; the only thing sky-high at this midtown women’s shoe showroom is its 25th floor view of Bryant Park. The brainchild of London-based designer Jane Winkworth, London Sole trades exclusively in flats of all textures, fabrics, and shades. When it originally opened across the pond more than two decades ago, London Sole focused solely on ballet flats—long before they were deemed trendy. But as the boutique branched out, first to California and then to New York in 2006, so did its selection which now includes flat boots, buttery driving moccasins, and espadrille-esque sandals. Ballet flats, however, are still the store's bread and butter. Black-sequined styles, leopard print stunners, ruby red leather varieties, and metallic numbers sit atop a white linen-clothed table, encircling a tall vase of long-stemmed white roses. Various cuts with monikers like "Harriet," "Henrietta" and "Madonna" have thoughtful details like lower cuts (for added toe cleavage), rubber soles, and elasticized backs. An even wider selection can be found on the store’s web site. — Amy Wilkinson