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Wardrobe Staple – Shoes

By on March 29, 2012 in Shoes

 Great shoes are like great wine – utterly fabulous, decidedly tasty and ohhh … so many to choose from! As a shoe retailer, I can attest to the wonderful varieties (of shoes) that move through any one footwear store.

From wedges to sandals, peep-toes to boot, shoes are a staple of any wardrobe – however much the wearer is or isn’t a follower of fashion. It doesn’t matter if you’re a trend freak or a hill walker, you’re going to need a pair of shoes on your feet!

Of course there’s a vast disparity between a walking shoe and a fabulous stiletto but you get what I mean. Life without shoes is a life full of pain!

Due to the fact that I am a shoe retail merchant, I like to think that I’ve got my finger on the footwear fashion pulse. I’m not interested in spurious gossip, I’m not interested in a free shipping coupon for the flex belt (woooo go informercials go!) or even which celebrity did what and with whom. For me it’s all about trends.

What’s hot, what’s not. My store stocks high-end footwear, the kind of shoes that the rich and famous wear:

  • Thakoon
  • Emilio Pucci
  • Tory Burch
  • Christian Louboutin
  • Jimmy Choo

You get the picture. Part of what I do includes attending fashion shows, and a whole lot more involves striking a balance between what’s out there on the market (or coming in) and what my clientèle are more likely to buy.

Have I convince you (yet) that shoes absolutely are the best thing since the wheel was invented? I certainly hope so because I’m right. Forget my own personal interest, which is obviously not entirely altruistic.

Shoes really are an essential, an everyday product that none of us can live without. Shoes are fun, shoes are fabulous and thank God that shoes are everywhere!

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If the Shoe Fits…

By on March 20, 2012 in Shoes
  • Until the 20th century, the Chinese looked at small feet as being more desirable. To ensure their feet stayed as small as possible, Chinese women practiced the art of foot binding. Starting at age four or five, they would bind their feet tightly with bandages to prevent them from growing.

Chinese lotus shoes used for foot binding

  • The now-famous LL Bean boot, also known as the “duck boot,” was created by Leon Leonwood Bean after a particularly wet hunting trip.
  • Klaus Maerten, a German army physician, created the first air-cushioned Doc Martens shoe after injuring his ankle in a skiing accident. He eventually sold the patent rights to a British company who opted to anglicize his name for marketing purposes.
  • Designer shoe guru Salvatore Ferragamo owes his success to his sister. The first pair of shoes he created were for her to wear for her first communion. Ferragamo was also the genius behind the popular wedge heel.
  • It’s the bright red sole that makes Christian Louboutin’s shoes so instantly recognizable. Louboutin had his “aha” moment when he saw his assistant painting her nails with a bright red nail polish. The rest is history.

Double amputee Aimee Mullins wearing prosthetic legs carved out of ash made to look like boots

  • Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos’ widow, Imelda Marcos, was said to own more than 2,700 pairs of shoes, although she only admitted to owning 1,060 pairs. The Associated Press quoted her as saying, “What’s wrong with shoes? I collected them because it was like a symbol of thanksgiving and love.”
  • Mary Jane shoes have been transformed over the years from plain, little-girl shoes into haute couture designer creations for all ages. The inspiration behind the style was comic strip character Buster Brown’s little sister, Mary Jane.
  • Rumor has it that the UGG in UGG boots stands for “ugly.” Before they became wildly popular in the United States, UGG boots were a utilitarian boot worn by Australian outdoorsmen who didn’t care about fashion.
  • Shoes are not immune to superstitions. Many people believe that if you wear an old pair of shoes on any Friday the 13th, you will ward off bad luck, and that if your shoelaces ever come apart accidentally, you should look around you. The love of your life is somewhere nearby.
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