A Guide to the Best of Southern California : HANDMADE : Friendly Footing

Feet so sore a tickle hurts? Limp on down to the Hollywood studio of avant-garde shoemaker Lyn Shelton, who promises you a pair of the most comfortable custom-made shoes on the planet.

As you relax in a hand-painted wooden chair with shoes on its legs, she wraps your tootsies and soles in lukewarm plaster bandages, molding them around your corns and other podiatric idiosyncrasies. After you sit awhile, she gingerly removes the molds, washes and powders your feet, then lets you choose your style: anything from side-laced leather to strappy printed cotton sandals to shock-absorbing athletic styles.

“People’s feet are basically weird,” says Shelton, “but these shoes mold perfectly to your feet, giving you space where needed.” Such comfort requires patience and a healthy bank balance. A pair takes two weeks or more to design and finish, and prices start at $415.

Lyn Shelton, by appointment only; (213) 852-0070.