De Bach R. (Rome, Italy)

In Rome, most shops seem to stock either designer items or retail brands that can basically be found anywhere else in the world. But amidst all of this (actually on my way to the TAD store), I came across a small shoe shop that was packed with people. What first grabbed my attention though weren't the shoes themselves - though they are worth looking at - but the way they were displayed.

I'm not sure if someone out there had the same idea as Mr. Louboutin, when it came to being inspired by birds. In this case the footwear isn't laid out in individual cots, but can be found sitting along an entire wall of interwoven white branches where they are perched randomly, just like the feathered creatures they are supposed to represent. And if you visit the store when it's darker outside, you'll get the full effect of a halogen lit back wall that illuminates all the shoes in a white glow. To add a little extra to this ambiance, loudspeakers reproduce the sound of chirping birds, making you feel like you're actually in an aviary!

Now on to the actual shoes. The brand with the full name on the label reading "Herzel de Bach" might sound more Germanic (with some French thrown in) than Italian, but does in fact hail from Rome. When I did a web search on the name, I came up with hardly anything, so there's not much I can say about the company other than it seems these shoes probably aren't available elsewhere. Which is just the best excuse to pick up a souvenir if you're ever in town, as few people will be likely to have these items in their closet.

The first things that caught my eye were the various gladiator inspired sandals and heels in numerous colors - still very on-trend this Summer. The flat sandals were my favorites (especially the patent black versions), although I found a very nice selection of colorful and metallic heels, as well as a gold strappy number that looked like it was inspired by the YSL cage boot. Towards the back I sighted some Givenchy shoes, so I'm guessing they also occasionally stock other brands.

Prices ranged from 130 - 280 EUR, so they're not all that cheap, but they seemed good quality enough. These shoes can also be found in another flagship a few minutes away on Via di Propaganda, but if you want to see a more unique shelf display, this boutique is where I'd go to first.

Address: Via del Babuino 123, 00187 Rome
Opening Hrs: Mon: 15.30-19.30, Tue-Sat 10.30-19.30