It All Started….

At a ballroom dance practice on a Friday night…With a competition the next day, the sickening crack of a heel breaking during practice held the promise of disaster.

Rather than succumb to panic, I dug out an old pair of practice shoes, found my paints, and painted the old pair to match my dress.

The competition went brilliantly. The painted shoes were gorgeous, and a new passion was born.

Then, in 2019, right before the COVID shutdowns, I had a designer brand interested in partnering with me to manufacture my shoes…and the shutdowns put everything on pause.

In 2023, I started painting again. Not to sell shoes, but because I love the process and art of creating Bespoke hand-painted shoes. Rather than looking for manufacturers, I decided to focus on exclusive hand-painted shoes. I create artisanal shoes that are inspired by life, a color scheme from a sunset, a texture from a castle in Portugal, a unique event. And V. Long Haute Couture Shoes was born.

Creating in themes, from stories to sunsets, I design and build premium quality luxury. I also love to create irreplaceable items to elevate an event, a role, or just for the beauty of the work.

I love hearing from customers and designing exclusive shoes, shoes that you will never see anywhere on anyone else’s feet. Exceptionally beautiful, exceptionally rare, exceptionally sensational feet.

 FAQs

  • Well. I love this question. Because it can vary...But the consistent theme is inspiration.

    I am always happy to sell a pair of shoes that spoke to me, that is ready to be nestled into a box and be sent. However, my favorite way to work, because it gets each client an incredible, well-matched result, is with my client.

    My preference is to have a conversation with you about what you are considering, whether it be something to add sparkle to an existing outfit, create a special shoe for your wedding, for a new outfit, or because you are going through something and want an extra way to cheer up.

    First: I like to know that the shoes I send you will fit, feel amazing, and give your feet and body as much happiness as the design will. So the absolute best thing is if you send me a pair of shoes you have tried on, or if I know your top brands and your specific size in those shoes.

    Once I have those, I consider your outfit style, preferences, and when the design appears, it is an image in my mind. I start painting, the concept develops, and the shoes are born.

  • The inspiration can take a millisecond.

    But creation, the precision art, takes, typically, 2-8 weeks. When I am working with semi-precious stones, additional materials, or something truly experimental, it may take longer.

    It also can be shorter. The styling, painting, design itself can be very fast. I am meticulous about drying time, curing, conditioning the leather, so you are getting a shoe that is at, most often above, industry standard for length of use and durability.

  • Necessity and love.

    That simple. I needed a pair of ballroom competition shoes, and I had from 10pm-2pm to paint my first pair. That's the necessity.

    And in that, I found something I deeply love to do, a product I absolutely love to create.

  • I focus on shoes. That can be heels, sandals, flats, boots, roller skates. I work almost exclusively in leather and would need to be convinced on a case-by-case basis to work in different materials. I am -always- open to new ideas and product requests.

    I have had requests for purses, belts, and I take those on a case-by-case-basis.

  • The best way to know that the shoes will fit is for you to have tried that pair on, and send them to me. That way, there is no question whatsoever.

    The second best way is for us to discuss brand: We each have brands, toe boxes, heel heights, widths, that fit our feet best. So if it is current inventory I have, or you are considering a shoe you haven't tried, approximating off of what you know your feet love, is the second best way to know.