Sources: Belgian Shoes

Strictly speaking, the Belgian Shoes web site does not offer online ordering and, for that, we apologize. In our defense, the web site is more convenient than the Manhattan store, which still maintains genteel hours of 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for its one of a kind merchandise. It's worth the inconvenience, for Belgian Shoes are great house shoes and probably the best thing you can have on your feet for air travel.

Designed by Henri Bendel in the 1940's, Belgian Shoes are typically canvas affairs that you could pound to destruction in a few months of outdoor wear. But that is not their calling, for they are chic, comfortable and don't set off alarms at the gate. Mine accommodate the usual in-flight foot swelling with ease because there's no reason to remove them even during a sixteen hour marathon to the Far East.

Five different styles in various colors range from black velvet evening shoes to fuzzy faux leopard slippers. $325 a pair and worth every penny.