Ildiko Gal

When debating between elbow grease and bleeding-edge technology, it's logical to think of Rocky IV, where one man dragged a plow through the icy Russian tundra while the other plowed a Russian ice queen. But what if you want shoes that are both old school and that bang Brigitte Nielsen? Well then check out Ildiko Gal.

A ballers-only bespoke footwear operation situated in an office-like second floor nook (w/ complimentary mini bar), Ildiko is taking generations-old Hungarian craftsmanship and merging it with crazy high-tech precision measurement, as it's extremely confusing to measure feet in "hands". The glorious process starts by donning specially marked yellow & green checkered socks which're meticulously aligned by a sales clerk, who'll then have you step on a pressure pad that's part of a wildly state-of-the-art scanning machine; once all 360 degrees of foot're registered, the info's shot to their server for an almost instant 3D digital model, showing your exact size and pressure points, which everyone knows are the key to shoe-atsu. Next up's selecting materials -- which run from the basic (calf, buffalo, etc) to exotic (ostrich, shark suede, stingray, python...) -- and one of over 40 styles, ranging from the Chisel Toe Penny (with contrasting materials at the tongue insert and stitching), to lace up styles like the Londonderry, a semi-brogue wingtip decoratively punched along the laces and collar, which sounds just like how those dandy Brits fight.

All the info for your personalized kicks is then shot over to the workshop in Hungary, where old-school artisans meticulously hand craft your design and ship it you in 6 weeks time, though realistically dude, Brigitte may be dead by then.