eae bed (or Off of Saint Germain, in one of the poshest shopping districts in Paris, lies tiny Rue de Grenello, a three block field of dreams for shoes lovers, especially for the high-heel inclined. A few powerhouse brands anchor the street, high- lighting their shoe collections above the rest of their wares, and these stores are followed by two blocks of smaller shoe emporiums full of equally enticing goods. First, there is the Prada shoe store, separated from the next-door store for the rest of the Prada line, but very much first is the shoe store, with full length glass windows to expose all of the Prada and Miu Miu treasures for the feet that could (conceivably) be purchased within. After the severe patent leather spike pumps of Prada and the fairy fantasies of Miu Miu comes the Yves Saint Laurent store, full of high high heel delights, and the Ferragamo store, with its beautiful classic shoes and more patent leather heels. Even Catherine Malandrino, a designer known much more for her darling dresses than for shoes, has only one dress in the window and some very exciting pairs of shoes prominently displayed. After so much expensive yearning, itis a delight to come upon the beautifully designed and well-priced shoes at Charles Kimmer. This Portuguese line features an array of classics, trends, and some very lovely platform and high heel shoes in gold, red, patent leather, and pastel-shaded snakeskin. The shoes are well-made and the designs have a timeless feeling, even the more daring styles. Next on the shoe lover's agenda are a couple of multi-brand stores carrying an assortment of high-end designer shoes. There's Moss, with indistinct flats but very distinct dress-up heels from Valentino, Michael Kors, and Gian- batista Vall. Then a few doors down is Iris, a mecca of heel-seekers, with inventive looks from Victor & Rolf, John Galliano, Veronique Branquino, and Marc Jacobs. Here, there was more of a flavor of experimentation than at Moss, with some bright colors, greens and yellows and blues of the eighties, and daring details like cutouts be- tween the heel and the sole of the shoe from V & R. We've only gone a block and a half so far on the Rue de Grenelle, and the best is yet to come. Next up is Bruno Frissoni, whose supersexy, futuristic high heels come in yellow and purple and other “look at me, I'm hot” colors, all while maintaining a classiness that makes one just drool with purchase envy. Pulling ourselves away, we find only a few steps away the large Sergio Rossi store, full of more super high heels in bright and brighter colors, some- times covered in cat's eye stones, metal studs, or glimmering crystals. Finally, when you thought there could be no more gorgeous shoes left to tempt you, there is, in fact, the temple of shoe temptation- the tiny Christian Louboutin boutique, with pairs of ultra high, ultra sexy shoes, sitting pair by pair in small red arched windows, as if in private box seats at the opera. Louboutin classics, like the stunning sik high heels with a bow draped across the toe, beckon in the window, along with daring sequin-covered heels, snakeskin high heel sandals, and incongruent Repetto-like jazz dance flats. The flats don't matter, they barely register even though they come in bright blue and pink- all that matters on rue de Grenelle are those curvy high heels. by Laura Rysman