A new branch of Villa Rouge has cropped up in The Village South and it seems determined to educate its customers. Inside, pictures and bios of sparkly foreign designers, including Jean-Michel Cazabat, Patrick Ithier of Ash, and Rem and Galahad of United Nude, form a curious display. At the centre of the store stands a cabinet, complete with flashing red lights and a rotating shoe display. Every seven minutes or so, this miraculous contraption sets off on another dazzling spin, leaving you confused as to whether you’ve stepped into the twilight zone or a local ‘massage’ parlour.
So what about the shoes, we hear you cry? Well, they range from the good and the bad to the very, very ugly. UGG styles are ubiquitous, and a pair of United Nude puffa heeled boots (1,890RMB) are so wrong they could be right. Having said that, it’s certainly a step in the right direction to see shoes available for those over a size 38.
Leather brogues will set you back about 2,000RMB, while chunky ankle boots come in at around 1,200RMB. However, only approach the shoes adorned with sparkles, feathers and faux fur at your peril, as they venture into territory where even most drag queens fear to tread. Alice McInerney