A-Z of Shoes, Part 2

G is for getting a pair of shoes made for you, personally. 
Now I know that this idea sounds like an unimaginably expensive luxury, but it doesn’t need to be. If you find the right shoemaker at the right price, there is nothing quite like having a pair of shoes made to your specifications, to fit your feet. Shoemakers are like dressmakers – there is one who fits in with your budget and shares your vision, somewhere.  So get hunting, and soon, your dream footwear will be a reality.

G is also for Gucci. 
This world famous prestigious company was started as a luggage manufacturer by Guccio Gucci in the 1920’s. Since then, it has grown and expanded to produce some of the most beautiful shoes and handbags in the world.  Today, the Gucci label is synonymous with elegant, classic shoes with a funky twist, and often featuring the Gucci logo. The most famous item in the Gucci shoe line is the loafer, which comes in a staggering array of colours and features a distinctive silver Gucci snaffle.  Take a peep at www.gucci.com

H is for heels.
One of the great charms of high heels is that they give your calves the appearance of greater length and definition. The downside is, though, that while they may make your legs look good, they are not terribly good for your feet. For this reason, it’s best to save your high (anything over 4cm) heels for special occasion treats.  And remember, very high heels need to be cared for – keep an eye out for scuffing or tears on the actual heels, and get them remedied as soon as you see them.

I is for Imelda Marcos. 
No article about shoes would be complete without mention of the former First Lady of the Phillipines, who was known as much for her collection of shoes as much as she was for her political position. Nicknamed “The Steel Butterfly”, her collection of 1060 pairs of shoes even included a pair of 3” stiletto disco sandals with battery operated heels that flashed when she danced!

J is for Jimmy Choo. 
The Malaysian born, London based shoe designer is famous for his ultra-stylish footwear creations.  Jimmy Choo boots, shoes and sandals are all of the highest quality, and designed is such a way that they are simultaneously alluring and stylish.  To see some of this footwear fancies, visit www.jimmychoo.com

J is also for Japanese geisha style shoes, also known as geta.
The thong style shoes with high wooden platform bases were originally designed to ensure that a geisha’s kimono never dragged on the ground, and traditionally worn with special ‘tabi’ socks that are shaped between the big and second toes to accommodate the thong. Today, variations on the geta theme are available in many Japanese specialty stores, and often feature such quirky additions as a tiny bells suspended inside a hollow area in the soles.

K is for kitten heels. 
Kitten heels are the glamourpusses of the footwear world.  At approximately 4cm tall and wineglass shaped, these relatively low heels are the last word in feminine style. Popular in the late 19th century (on button-up boots), in the Victorian era (on lace-up boots), and again in the 50’s and 60’s on court and pump style shoes, these fabulously feminine heels are enjoying a resurgence.

L is for looking after your shoes. 
Shoes need to be kept as clean and dry as possible, so polish them regularly, or spray any fabric shoes (including suede) with a protectant, and brush them off between wearings. Try to keep shoes in the boxes you bought them in (smart girls either write a note or paste a polaroid on the front of the box, for easy identification).  Invest in shoe trees to keep shoes in shape, and if they get wet, stuff your shoe with newspaper while they dry, to ensure that they retain their shape.

L is also for leather and limping. 
That is, if you don’t gently break in the leather of your shoes, you’re going to end up limping!  Even shoes that fit tend to pain or pinch for the first few wearings, and the best way to avoid the ‘nearly crying by the end of the day’ or ‘wondering if anybody will notice if you’re barefoot in the office (which they will)’ scenario is to buy some Tuxan Leather Stretcher. 

This stuff is like liquid bliss – it maintains the outer shape and appearance of your shoes, while magically making the inside feel like a second skin. Some common wisdom (and I promise that I am not making this up) is that if you urinate on a pair of slightly too tight leather shoes, and then allow them to dry (and wash them off), they’ll never pinch again.  The logic is that the acid in the urine breaks down the natural animal protein in the leather. I personally have never tried this, though a friend of mine (who has a collection of Italian shoes that would make Imelda Marcos jealous) swears by it.

Watchout for Part 3 of the A-Z of shoes coming soon.