Some Belgian Shoes loyalists—such as Bernie Madoff—fanatically collect every color and upper material possible.

The Belgian Shoes Boom

A new generation of shoemakers—and customers—is bringing fresh meaning to an old status symbol

By Emilie Hawtin

On a recent Monday afternoon, a few silver-haired women, corduroy-clad men, and a movie star stopped into a tiny, unremarkable shop on East 55th Street to buy house slippers with little bows on them, for which they paid about $700. With the exception of perhaps the actor, they all seemed to be return customers at Belgian Shoes, which has been selling the prim, handsewn style in New York for nearly 70 years.

The shoes have long been a cult favorite among Fifth Avenue doyennes and uptown gentlemen, but lately they have gained wider appeal. Now Belgians—as they’re known among enthusiasts—are embraced by the self-assured from Savile Row to Dimes Square and, yes, Hollywood.