If you know anything about me, you’ll know that I’m, first and foremost, a sneaker guy. I can ID a pair from across the street just by the shape of the tongue or the panel layout or the way the sole’s cut. My lovely editor Mahalia Chang calls my talent “scary,” which I choose to take as a compliment. But as much as I’m into trainers, I can also appreciate a good non-sneaker shoe. And one of the best non-sneaker shoes out there is the Paraboot Michael—the same one that Robert Pattinson happens to wear in The Drama.

In the A24 movie, Pattinson’s character, Charlie, isn’t exactly what you’d call a high-fashion guy. He’s a museum director who clearly prioritizes comfort over anything else. He’s in Patagonia raincoats most of the time, worn over washed-out checkered shirts or open-collar button-ups with the tails hanging out. His glasses look like they’ve been worn down over years of actual use. Even his sneakers—a pair of Asics GT-2160s—are more about cushioning than clout. And his go-to backpack? An Osprey situation with more straps and buckles than you’ll ever need in your entire life. The film’s costume designer, Katina Danabassis, told me he wears the stuff he does “specifically because of his line of work and his academic background.”

Then you glance down and you realize he’s actually wearing one of menswear’s biggest grails.

The Michael doesn’t look flashy at first, but it’s the kind of shoe that people who really care about clothes can clock instantly. No big logos, no StockX hype—just a very specific, very knowing choice that lands if you know what you’re looking at.

First introduced in the 1940s, the model was named after Michel Richard, the son of Paraboot’s founder, Rémy-Alexis Richard. It’s been in continuous production ever since, which already tells you a lot. Most shoes don’t last five years, let alone 80-plus. And it nearly didn’t. By the late ’80s, Paraboot was struggling. The brand had leaned heavily into technical outdoor footwear, but tastes were shifting, and things weren’t looking that great. The Michael, which had been ticking along in the background, suddenly found a new audience in Japan. It got picked up by a wave of menswearheads who were deep into heritage and craft and slightly odd proportions. Sales picked up, it became a cult favorite—and that’s why GQ‘s very own Jake Woolf once called it “the most important shoe in menswear.” Not only did it pull the company out of literal insolvency, it’s also a pair that sits quietly at the center of a lot of very good fits.

So what makes it so good? A few things. The shape, for starters. It’s got that chunky, rounded toe that shouldn’t work but really does, especially with wider trousers. It balances things out. Then there’s the build: Norwegian welt construction, which basically means it’s tough as hell and water-resistant, paired with Paraboot’s own natural rubber sole that’s grippy without looking like a hiking boot. It’s also made in France, fully leather-lined, and built to last.