Michael Satterfield
Slippers have been making a bit of a comeback lately, just walking around the lawns at the Pebble Beach Concours or any fashionable district of a major city and you will quickly notice that stylish men everywhere are wearing velvet slippers in place of more traditional leather dress shoes.
‘The Albert Slipper’, as it is commonly referred to, dates back to the British-Victorian Era when Prince Albert married Queen Victoria in 1840. His velvet slippers, with the Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Coat of Arms embroidered in gold thread, were used to welcome guests inside the Royal Palace.
Later, during the 1950-1960’s, velvet slippers were used by American ‘Old Money’ aristocrats, politicians, and celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, David Niven, and John F. Kennedy. Nowadays, they are common among trendsetters in Paris, The Hamptons, Milan, London, Monaco, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Today’s Jet-Set has once again embraced the velvet slipper, but instead of being emblazoned with a royal coat of arms, they feature everything from checkered flags, to skulls and crossbones, some are classic others cheeky, but all inspired by royalty, sailing and the Ivy League.
Romero+McPaul is best known for their iconic velvet slippers, just opened its first U.S.-based location on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood in July, following five successful boutiques in Mexico and Colombia. Their signature slippers come in a range of colors and playful embroideries that can be customized to reflect the owner’s personality.
For visit Romero+McPaul’s official website HERE.
