Who Elsa?

Elsa Shoes might be unknown to most men's shoe aficionados, but that may not be for long. A collaboration between Belgian designer Els Proost and ex-industry shoe producer Angelo Penazzato - whom I assume are the 'els' and 'a' in the combined namesake brand name - began in Fall Winter 2007-2008 and have been making their own way into the fashion consciousness one stylish step at a time. Proost's pedigree includes time designing accessories for prestigious labels like the always-chic Dries Van Noten and Maison Martin Margiela, while Penazzato's production acumen had been seen in brands like Costume National and Hussein Chalayan. So while you might not have heard of them before, if you follow fashion beyond the common Guccis and Dolce & Gabbanas of the world, it's likely you've admired their work in the past.




I first noticed Elsa because of the uniquely off-beat 10th Anniversary men's shoe designs they did for District in Japan, a country that's always a hotbed of emerging style. While contrast cap toes aren't new, what Elsa got right is the more rounded, almost utilitarian last combined with a quirky sensibility boldly displayed in their painted leather. I was especially taken by the flourescent blue and pink versions, unique to their District collaboration, and a precursor to all the bright colors that pervade such Spring 2011 collections as Jil Sander (The eagle-eyed among you might have noticed the bold toe boxes glowing in my Svpply list from a post in November last year). The leopard print linings of the Fall 2010 soles and insoles add a fun secret design element, and lawd knows I love me some leopard spots nowadays. I have since ordered one of these Japan-only beauties, and amusingly, my Japanese proxy - upon seeing my request to purchase the shoes - exclaimed how Elsa is one of his favorite brands. A good sign.


Elsa continue on with the fun quirkiness in their Spring Summer 2011 collections, using with what appear to be dyes and paints (my suspicion, since they travel from the body of the shoe into the soles and heels) to explore novel spectator effects in fashion colors. For spring 2011, I particularly like the black cap toe brogue detail on a bone body, as well as the more forward flouro-lime details and seams, all done on the very rounded Elsa last, a more fashionable choice over the long and pointed toes that have had their heyday over the past decade.


Elsa is sadly only available in a few stores at present, notably in Antwerp via Elsa's brick and mortar shop (they don't sell online just yet), as well as the aforementioned District in Japan. Gimme Shoes in San Francisco is the only retailer in North America that I know of, and at this writing they have some of the Elsa glitter shoes on clearance, and are awaiting a few select styles for Spring. But if they continue designing and producing such collections such as these, the limited availability of these fabulous shoes may soon be a thing of the past.

UPDATE: I just learned via District's website that Elsa will no longer continue as a brand after this Spring 2011. Sadly, this almost promotional article on this short-lived brand will now be a tribute. Hopefully we will see the Elsa creativity in the future, in one form or another.

For more on Elsa, visit their website at www.elsa-antwerp.be.