Both fashionable men and women want the comfort and extravagance found in a pair of high quality designer shoes.

In fact, in the 21st century, high quality footwear has surpassed suits, accessories and coats as signature items that best express the wearer’s personal style and sartorial sophistication.

From bespoke footwear to vegan-friendly designer shoes, here’s a quick primer on how to buy, wear and love high quality shoes.

Creating a high quality shoe involves many steps.

An illustration of the shoe is drawn, followed by the creation of a pattern. When making a handmade shoe, a design assistant will gather detailed measurements of the client’s feet to make a custom form of each foot.

A pattern, or replica of the high quality shoe, is then made of raw material to make sure that the original design of the shoe is executed perfectly.

After the high quality shoe replica is tested for comfort, durability and aesthetics, the shoe is either mass-produced or created in the fabrics preferred by the client.

Identify high quality shoe designers before making a purchase.

Shoe designers are the most technically trained of all clothing and accessory designers. These craftsmen invest many hours of imagination, research and design skills into each pair of shoes.

Designer footwear created by famous artisans like Salvatore Ferragamo, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Roger Vivier, Giuseppe Zanotti, A. Testoni, Berlutia and John Lobb belong exclusively in the high-quality shoe category.

Because animal rights activists and strict vegetarians refuse to wear designer footwear made from animal skins or animal products, fashion designer Stella McCartney and actress Natalie Portman have designed vegan-approved high-quality shoes.

Buy high-quality shoes to ensure comfort, style and durability.

Constructed from the finest leathers and exotic skins or hand-stitched by skilled shoe artisans, high quality shoes are an important investment in the well-dressed woman’s wardrobe.

Because of the high-level of comfort and style associated with high quality footwear, people who stand on their feet for long periods prefer these shoes for their durability.

In fact, blushing brides and corporate executives both routinely choose high quality dress shoes for special occasions.

For example, in the 2009 United States Inauguration of President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a pair of green, high quality, Jimmy Choo “Glacier” kitten heel footwear during the entire ceremony and while walking down the Presidential parade route.

Identify the types of high quality shoes and how much money you want to spend.

There are two types of high quality shoes: handmade and ready-made. Before the development of the sewing machine and shoe lasting machine in the early 19th century most shoes were created by hand.

Women shoes are created in these same materials but also embellished with Swarovski crystals, hand beading, sequins, fur and precious jewels.

High quality shoe categories for women include: bridal, stilettos, athletic, prom, special events, evening, dress, and pumps.

While handmade or bespoke high quality shoes are more costly than ready-made footwear, skilled European artisans charge $100 an hour or more to create both types of shoes.

In comparison, machines manned by factory workers create low-quality footwear in Chinese and Indian factories.

Whether you buy a pair of handmade pumps with double lasts made by Ferragamo or favor red-soled sandals by Christian Louboutin, you deserve a pair of decadent and expensive pumps or designer shoes that make you feel like a movie star the moment you slide your feet into their handmade goodness.