{NM Daily}

NM shoe buyers pick color combinations for Resort at Hadleigh's atelier.

As you know, this Fall we are all about a certain chic flat – the smoking slipper.  And the newcomer that has stolen the spotlight this season is Hadleigh’s Bespoke. You might have noticed the preppy slippers (you’ll never see a black pair from Hadleigh’s) in the NM shoe department. The Italian-made loafers were conceptualized by Ed and Gable Shaikh, the husband-and-wife team behind a burgeoning boutique atelier in Dallas.

Ed and Gable outside their storefront.

We followed the NM shoe buyers to Hadleigh’s sunlight soaked space tucked in Dallas’ historic Highland Park Village. The purpose of the trip was to select custom color combinations for Resort 2013, so a rainbow of shoes were lined up on the table, most with Hadleigh’s embroidered English men emblem and others with tassels and bows.

Italian fabric swatches for Hadleigh's Resort designs.

“For Resort we picked up this new linen, it’s medium weight,” Gable said. “I actually prefer this medium linen. It’s durable.”

Gable’s knowledge of retail comes from years working, like her husband, at Ralph Lauren.

The doorstep to Hadleigh's.

In 2009 the couple decided it was time to pursue something they had been dreaming about for a long time – opening a custom atelier for men and women. ”It was something we had in ourselves; we were excited about product,” Ed said. The business came into fruition after the birth of their first child, the brand’s namesake.

Resort samples.

“From the stitch of the fabric’s thread, to the button hole, to the pattern matching, to the story board it is all very intricately detailed by myself and Gable.” Ed said.

Custom tailoring is the basis of the brand that began with men’s made-to-measure suits and women’s blouses.

“The niche that we created for our slipper revolved around the textiles being used,” Ed said. “Everyone else does a velvet smoking slipper, but we use amazing fabric that is backed with leather and is double shanked at the arch. The heel has a rubber backing so it has a great support and is really durable. It is not just a slipper for the house.”

“We don’t compromise anything,” Gable adds. “It’s our daughter’s name we have to uphold.”

NM-exclusive smoking slipper for men.

A wall of smoking slippers at Hadleigh's.

Resort styles will arrive from Italy at Neiman Marcus stores in November.

NM shoe buyers flag pairs of interest with Post-it notes.