Oh, how I love these shoes. Not for the name but for the look. Each pair was hand-painted so no two are alike. They are, without a doubt, the most unique shoes I own. I have only seen one other person wearing them.

Graffiti Ballerines. The name alone conjures up the abandoned and neglected places I visit. They were perfect.

Not to mention out of my budget. I was an almost-17-year-old just back from Eastern Europe with 55 euros in my wallet. But mom came to the rescue and I got one very special birthday present that year.

Over time, the paint wore away in just the right places. I got a card in the mail that said Christian Louboutin would be making an appearance in San Francisco. I showed up that day, speeding to the city after the PSAT test, with a head full of shocking pink hair and the flats on my feet. When it came time for me to get my shoes signed he said "Ah, this is the kind of wearer I had in mind." I told him of my adventures photographing street art, old buildings, anything with fine details. He said he loved the graffiti collection for its uniqueness. The best compliment, he told me, was to see someone wear his shoes like this.

They've been in retirement for a few months, coming out only to make a grand entrance to the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit in San Francisco, but when I finally do get them resoled (in nothing less than red rubber, of course) they'll be ready to dazzle again.