Bruno Magli

08/14/03

Goes well with a Vespa, a Montepulciano Abruzzo and a toothsome Florentine.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
Although Bruno Magli originally made only women's shoes, it's the men's line that captures the verve and full-throatedness we expect from Italian shoes (with none of that butt-pinching and well-oiled shine). Salespeople know the styles and are happy to accommodate browsers.

The Goods
The women's line, which can't decide what it wants to be, is best left alone until it does some soul-searching. The men's line, on the other hand, has multiple personalities, most of them appealing. Classic leather lace-ups and loafers have a Marcello Mastroianni sophistication, the recently unveiled casual line with nylon or leather uppers gives off a distinctly urban vibe and, for confident men, the fancy-dress slide-ons in crushed velvet or brocade give a tux a final "Ciao, bella!" Just steer clear of off-the-mark styles that try to be hybrids but look like inbreds (is it a shoe ... or a boot?).