They are all famous actors who wore or still wear shoes from the exclusive Viennese shop "Tricker's Macho Style" located on “Seilerstätte 18” in the city centre.
Florian Macho (61), who runs the family business, which was founded in 1979 together with his brother Michael, can still remember when Frank Sinatra suddenly appeared in their shop: "At first I thought this gentleman looked like Frank Sinatra, then I realised that it actually was Frank Sinatra". The famous singer and actor from America was suddenly a customer - and what a customer! Sinatra had bought shoes that day made of giant turtle leather, size nine and a half. Florian Macho remembers this well, and he also recalls that Sinatra wanted the same shoes - only in one size bigger - for his personal doctor who accompanied him. At the time, Frank Sinatra had to spend a small fortune to get this merchandise. Nevertheless, he was generous with the tip and gave Florian Macho two tickets for his concert in the Vienna Stadthalle.
That was 30 years ago, and turtle leather shoes are now strictly forbidden. Nevertheless, the shoes found in Vienna's Seilerstätte haven’t lost any of their prestige or quality. The High-quality men’s shoes are now made with boxcalf (Calf leather), which is the leather obtained from the calf. The models are designed here in Vienna, whereas the final product is produced at Tricker's in Northampton, about one hundred kilometres north of London.
Boxcalf leather feels supple and at the same time retains its firmness. The leather's reverse side is characterised by a pattern of extraordinarily fine grains, which gives it a beautiful pattern. Boxcalf is tanned, dyed through or merely primed.
The shoes are completely waterproof, double or even triple soled, a joint provides stability and there are three different instep, toe and heel sizes. The absolute stand-out feature of the Macho-style shoes are the two crests on the inside of the shoes. The Prince of Wales crest inlaid on one, and the Macho family crest on the other. "Only we are authorised to use the Prince of Wales coat of arms," says Florian Macho, rather proudly. As you might have guessed, the prices are equally impressive. For these quality English shoes, you will pay an average of 539 to 650 euros, and if you want the decadence of ostrich or antelope leather, you will need to be prepared to come with a budget of already 7,700 euros.
In exchange, the shoes last a lifetime, and the shopping experience is unforgettable because these exclusive goods, when the order amount totals more than 2,000 euros, are delivered in an equally impeccable style with a premium luxury vehicle - either a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. Macho recalls that on some occasions he has been welcomed by an entire group of guests with champagne glasses in their hands during such "shoe deliveries" and that the handover itself took place in the form of a small celebration.
Those who can't afford such expensive shoes but still don't want to miss out on a Rolls-Royce delivery can also have themselves fitted out with "Harris Tweet" jackets or suits at "Tricker's Macho Style”. One can select the desired fabric, lining, undercollar, buttons, and even the buttonholes, and in five to six weeks the finished product will be ready. If the whole purchase amounts to a total of more than 10,000 euros, it can even be brought directly to you in the Aston Martin from the James Bond films.
WHAT DO FRANK SINATRA, JOHN MALKOVICH, MICHEL PICCOLI AND ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER HAVE IN COMMON? HANDMADE
