It took me a while to feel comfortable in Belgium. And by “in Belgium” I mean wearing their famous export, the Belgian Shoe. And by “famous'“ I mean famous to a small group of obsessive men. And by “obsessive” I mean nearly insane. I think about fifty men in New York own almost all the Belgians in the city. Glenn O’Brien wore them and insisted they were fierce not foppish. His friend, the artist Duncan Hannah, still wears them and looks terrific. So does designer Aaron Levine. These men provided my Belgian initiation. Now I wear Belgians every so often, but Belgian-style shoes very often indeed. We’ll consider a variety of different Belgian relations in the future, here we’re looking at the beloved designer Massimo Alba to the game. Benvenuto, brother Massimo!

Massimo is as Italian as can be, but he loves Belgians too. He has an old pair in his showroom (“I have a hard time throwing away shoes,” he told me). The version he’s introduced are a little wider than the original Belgians (which are more slipper-like). These have a thin leather sole and are slightly sturdier, instantly comfortable. Incidentally, they fit true to size and don't stretch much, so don’t size down. They are usually released in two colors each season, and sell out quickly. The fact that they’re hard to acquire in America will either heighten their appeal or cool your desire. If you’re like me and enjoy the hunt then visit the Massimo Alba site, Barneys and start stalking Yoox. These are desperate tactics, but it takes opportunism, insight and stealth to make it back to Belgium.

THE BELGIAN DIARIES is a periodic look at the famous shoe and its relations.