San Francisco - July 14, 2006

On Your Toes

La Voleuse Custom Ballet Shoes

Monday. First period. Your heart belongs to Vince. Tuesday. Study hall. You’re mad about Jimmy. Friday. Pep rally. Mikey 4ever.

If your high school dating record is any indication of your personality, you, fickle Frances, were not meant for permanent ink.

For a lesser commitment, tattoo your shoes. Like a grown-up version of your doodled-on Chucks, La Voleuse’s satin ballet slippers make a perfect canvas for your latest infatuation.

The hand-dyed, hand-painted kicks come in twelve colors with flash tattoo motifs and a banner for cheeky sayings like “Sweetness, I was only joking” and lyrical statements from your fave rock-and-rollers like “If you say run, I’ll run with you.”

If you don’t see a pair that expresses the real you, customize your own. Choose from six designs, then pick some catchy text to go inside. (Just keep it under 30 characters.)

At $96 a pop, you could be a “Daydream Believer and a Homecoming Queen” on Wednesday and a “Tiny Dancer” on Saturday.

Which is a lot less painful than laser removal.

Available at In Lieu, 528 Green Street, at Grant Street (415-362-0202). For custom styles, go to lavoleuse.com.