RetailA specialist shoe shop with a personal touch is a perfect fit on fashion conscious Drury Street. Georgina O'Halloran reports

The opening of Cherche Midi, a stylish little shoe shop at 23 Drury Street, has already generated considerable interest.

It represents a new type of shopping experience, far removed from the frenzy of the high streets. Shopping in this area is different because it is personal. Specialist shops offer a personal touch and the shopper receives individual attention.

Frances O'Gorman and Patti O'Reilly, joint owners of the store, have ensured that Cherche Midi is no exception.

The store is eye-catching, with its exotic pink and black exterior; a delectable sample of shoes displayed elegantly in the window tempts the shoe lover to come inside.

Frances or Patti is always at hand to offer assistance while you look at their shoes, as the bewitching melodies of Edith Piaf play in the background.

They duo sells an exciting range of interesting, sexy and elegant shoes. Their target customer is that most discerning of all shoppers, the shoe lover, looking to purchase that special pair of shoes that are a little different from those commonly found on the high street.

Their shoes range from classic looks, which offer a combination of comfort and style, to hot heels which are purely for the fashion conscious and are sourced at shows in Milan, Paris, Dusseldorf and London.

Cherche Midi has a wide range of labels including Les Tropeziennes, Barachini, Laura Camino, Emma Hope, Medani, Farraux and Beatrix Ong. Variety plays a key role in this store, with shoes by Pucci, Christian Lacroix and Jane Brown set to make appearances next season.

The shop does not cater only for the upper end of the market, with prices starting at €120 and ranging up to €400 and above.

According to Frances, in the not too distant past, the Irish consumer had a tendency to see shoes in terms of functionality; nowadays however, people are becoming "passionate about shoes and are opening up to how fabulous they can make an outfit". O'Gorman believes that shoes today might be considered the equivalent of yesterday's fur coat. "Today, shoes are acceptable glamour. It's considered okay to spend money on shoes."

The maze of streets which lead the curious shopper off Grafton Street towards the Powerscourt Centre and on to the Market Arcade on Drury Street has become a buzzing hive of activity over the past two years.

It is, according to Frances, an area on its way to becoming the Soho of Dublin.

Popular clothes shops in the area include Jenny Vander and Costume while La Maison des Gourmets infuses the area with the delectable aroma of French cuisine.

The narrow cobble streets, peppered with shops and cafés, tempt the shopper away from the frenetic activity of Grafton Street and offer a shopping experience with a difference. Cherche Midi fits right in.