Gnossem.com is a really interesting online store here in Singapore that I came across via my lovely friend JY, aka the Bon Bon Girl. It’s home to lots of fledgling, independent designers from around the world, but in terms of navigating the site and finding gems on there that I want to buy, I just can’t make it work for me; nothing online looks even a patch on what it does when I see the same clothes worn by J or one of the team.

Aside from their very kind invitation to the F1 Podium Lounge this Saturday – where Gnossem founder Lisa rocked the house wearing this bespoke dress by Zardoze who she represents out here…

I also went to the preview of their new shoe collection that happened last month and which I’ve only now got round to writing up; but it’s gold dust.

Italian and beautiful, Ele (pronounced Elly) is a fitting part of the Gnossem family.

Her uncle – very conveniently – has contacts in the Italian shoe industry that are second to none and has connected her and the team with various manufacturers in bella Italia who make their own label shoes (names rarely heard outside of Italy) as well as – between them – shoes for most of the big Italian fashion houses.

The difference? The price. In terms of workmanship and quality of leather – really not that much.

The launch was held at the huge Roche Bobois furniture showroom on Alexandra Road and I loved the juxtaposition of books, sofas and cushions with shoes, scattered in all sorts of unlikely places from coffee tables to bookshelves.

What I loved most though was the price and the quality. For less than what you’d normally pay in Singapore for pleather (eeugh) shoes, you can walk away in a pair of proper leather, made-in-Italy ones. What’s not to like?

My edit included these, immediately above (the sky-high yet amazingly stable Giancarlo Paoli Margheritas at $219/£108).

The red boys (Planisphere Florence Heels priced at $149/£73…a STEAL!) I am wearing in the main picture at the top of this post were sadly a shade too tight for me; frustratingly the size up was way too big.

Sizing on these Italian beauties tended to be pretty generous, I’m normally a solid EU38 but 37 fitted me more-or-less perfectly so bear that in mind if you’re ordering any.

The black strappys below (Formentini Rachel Heels $149) were the most comfortable and I could have worn them to bed but they were too similar to a pair of Charlotte Olympia’s I bought recently in the NetAPorter half price sale (there is never a better time to buy Charlotte Olympia).

What can I say, I’m a Gemini. My personalities personified by shoes.

So I ended up with the flats (Scolaro Diana Loafers $179/£88) which are seriously comfy, look great with skinny jeans and which I know I’ll get way more use out of; I’m delusional about how often I actually don a pair of heels.

These bootie heels came a very close second ($149/£73) but again, sadly, the fit was wrong for me. Luck you though if they work for you:

All shoes are available at Gnossem.com where there is free shipping worldwide.

Images of Lisa & Ele are courtesy of Bon Bon Girl