From there, I saw his work everywhere, including HarpersBazaar.com and Style.com.
While each of the articles stated that Raphael Young would be opening up a signature store in Paris that week, the Style.com article claimed that Raphael Young was designing for comfort and architectural aesthetic. As a former PR girl and avid high heel-walker, my 5’1” self was elated to read that Raphael was interested in tackling the oxymoron of comfortable heels and that he would be unveiling “a patented technology that makes 110-mm shoes feel like your Nikes” in the months to come (high heel-a-thon, anyone?).
With a trip to Paris already in the works, I took it as my sole responsibility (I really need to stop with the bad puns) to hunt down Raphael’s boutique on rue Jean Jacques Rousseau. Despite being tucked within a little alleyway off of the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, this street boasts the best shoe shopping in all of Paris. Positioned right next to one of the Louboutin stores, it’s never been easier to slip into the red—and I do not mean those iconic, red-lacquered soles.
Rebelling against my affinity for Louboutins, I saved my pennies for Raphael Young. Not only did I buy three pairs on the spot, including the ones featured in The New York Times, but I met the designer himself, as he was casually walking around the boutique when I popped by. I told Raphael how big of a fan I had become since seeing his mega-placements (congratulations, Robyn Berkley @peoplesrev), and suddenly the adorable, Korean-born genius of a shoe designer and I were Facebook friends.
To my delight, not only will Raphael be in New York this week, but his Spring/Summer ’11 collection is also up online. Check out the rest of his collection at RaphaelYoung.com:
…Now go brag to your friends that you’ve “discovered” the next Louboutin. I know I did.
