• Pierre Hardy

  30 Jane St., nr. W. 4th St.; 646-449-0070

  Manolo is known for his sculptural silhouettes, Louboutin for his red soles, and West Village newcomer Pierre Hardy is fast earning a rep for combining quality construction with dramatic shapes and surprising shades. The Parisian brand opened its first U.S. store in December, offering multistriped platforms, five-inch peep-toe pumps, color-block espadrilles, and watersnake heels on puzzle-piece displays. The investment is steep—from $600 for a wood-heeled wedge to $1,540 for a sandal modeled after the Manhattan skyline—but the impact is, too.

From the 2011 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine