A bow here, a few sequins there, supple leather, endless colors... At Simple Rainbow, ballet flats shed their sensible-shoe image and have fun with materials, patterns and playful details. Still, you have to keep your eyes peeled to spot this shop at 21 rue Pastourelle, in Paris’s 3rd arrondissement. A white storefront, a small fabric sign, and that’s about it. But step through the door and the scene changes.
Inside, hundreds of pairs of shoes fill the floor-to-ceiling shelves, a veritable cascade of colors and textures. The red velvet-covered floor invites visitors to take off their shoes and try on new ones, while a large mirror hanging on a stone wall lets them see how they look. The atmosphere feels more like the dressing room of a passionate collector than a conventional shoe store.
At the heart of this universe is Cici Lin, a Chinese designer who launched her brand in Shanghai before settling in Paris. Passionate about shoes and shoemaking techniques, she developed a collection inspired in particular by dance shoes, but designed for everyday wear.
Ballet flats take center stage alongside Mary Janes with straps, loafers and low-heeled styles. Some pairs keep things understated with plain leather, while others go all out with gingham checks, bows, embroidery, lace, sequins or pom-poms. Textures matter just as much as colors, and some collections even use materials sourced from vintage clothing.
One of Simple Rainbow’s little extras? The option to order certain styles or colors from past collections, provided they can still be made. Good news for anyone who fell for a pair they spotted on social media and thought they’d missed out on for good. The brand also takes special orders, which require some advance planning.
In this little gem in the Haut-Marais, trying on ballet flats quickly becomes a matter of nuances, textures and details. Lovers of shoes with character may find themselves spending quite some time here. And the hardest part may not be finding the perfect fit, but choosing which pair to take home!
Location
Simple Rainbow
21 Rue Pastourelle
75003 Paris 3
Route planner
Access
Metro lines 3 or 11, Arts et Métiers
Official website
simplerainbow.com
