Style & Fashion

Very Well Heeled: Caroline Groves

It takes time to craft a truly exceptional pair of heels. But for couture shoemaker Caroline Groves, it’s worth the wait for that Cinderella feeling

Bespoke couture shoemaker Caroline Groves has studied her craft for more than 25 years and is a Freeman with the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers (a rare privilege, on a par with being invited to take tea with the Queen). Women, and an increasing number of men, know that the transformative power of shoes is unrivaled, as the tale of Cinderella proved. Each pair of Caroline Groves shoes is infused with this transformative magic.

Every pair of heels that Caroline makes is specifically tailored to her client's style. Photograph: Robin Mellor
Every pair of heels that Caroline makes is specifically tailored to her client's style. Photograph: Robin Mellor

“My favorite part of the process,” says Groves, “is the end. Each shoe is wrapped in the finest tissue, placed in its box, a ribbon tied around it, and put in a gorgeous bag. I love watching my clients’ faces when they unwrap them. It’s a very intimate moment,” she says.

No two pairs of Groves’s shoes are the same. Creating them is a collaboration that takes a minimum of three months from start to finish (including three fittings) and costs upwards of £2,500 ($4,100). Each element of the shoe is given equal attention – even the tiniest, spiderweb-fine stitch, invisible to the naked eye, is perfect.

A pair of unique bespoke heels created by Caroline Groves. Photograph: Robin Mellor
A pair of unique bespoke heels created by Caroline Groves. Photograph: Robin Mellor

“I can’t finish a pair of shoes until everything feels right,” says Groves. “My clients get as inspired as I do and I will work with bookbinders, lace makers, jewelers, and taxidermists to create unique elements to incorporate into each bespoke pair.”