A-Z of Shoes, Part 4

S is for stilettos. 
So named because they resemble Italian hunting knives, these shoes, with their towering, spindly heels, make quite a statement.  Bold, sexy, confident, brazen – whatever you’re trying to say, these are definitely the shoes to say it in!

S is also for sandals. 
These open, strappy shoes have been around since almost the beginning of recorded history – they were the footwear of choice for the ancient Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Babylonians.  As time progressed, variations on the theme became part of the national wardrobes of many Asian, African, and European nations.  The sandals of today are a diverse mix of everything from traditional style, functional shoes, to sexy, strappy, glamour footwear.

T is for thongs. 
The great Aussie thong has experienced something of a facelift over the last few years, with stylishly summery misses owning pairs in a range of shades, patterns and styles.  The new thong is all about femininity, comfort, and even a hint of glamour.  But beware!  Even though the thong may have found a whole new incarnation, it is still frowned upon to where them in certain situations (not all offices, for example, are flip-flop friendly, and in some workplaces, thongs contravene OHS guidelines), so save your flip-flopping fancies for occasions when you can do them justice!  (See ‘flip-flops’).

Though we think of the thong as the quintessential Australian footwear and cultural icon (Kylie Minogue was even carried into the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony riding a giant thong), cultures the world over wear them either in the same informal way that we do, or as an integral part of their national dress. And a bit of thong trivia – New Zealanders call them ‘jandals’.

T is also for T-bars. 
The quintessential flapper shoe, T-bars were in vogue again in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.  Today they are most often found on the feet of ballroom or flamenco dancers, though many tap dancers own high heeled T-bar tappers, also known as ‘character shoes’. Somehow demure and sexy all at one, no shoe says retro glamour like a high-heeled T-bar.

U is for underthings. 
That is, stockings, tights and socks.  As a general rule, your footwear will last longer, and stay cleaner if you wear hosiery with it.  Obviously, not every outfit or shoe will look right with a pair of stockings or socks, but wherever you can, do wear some thing between your footwear and your feet, and your shoes will reward you with years more wear.

U is also for Ugg boots. 
These sheepskin boots were originally manufactured in Australia and New Zealand, and their name is derived form the word ‘ugly’. For many years these toasty warm and comfortable footwear items had a pretty miserable reputation, and then suddenly they became a hot fashion item, with TV and film stars as diverse as Pamela Anderson and Kate Hudson embracing the ‘Ugg’ look.

V is for vintage. 
If I could ever step back in time to do a bit of wardrobe shopping, I would definitely be snapping up pair after pair of shoes.  Buttons, bows, beads, buckles, embroidery – I love it all. Unfortunately, as any vintage aficionado can tell you, shoes are the hardest  items to buy successfully.  They can be difficult to restore, are generally narrower fitting than contemporary shoes, and cannot be resized.  But if you do happen to stumble across some fabulous footwear fancies from yesteryear that actually fit, snap them up!  And once you have, treat them with love and respect.  Suede and velvet need to be gently brushed after each wearing and keep leather buffed with paste (not liquid) polish.  Leave any repairs of fabric cleaning to an expert.

W is for wedges. 
Similar to platforms, wedges rose to popularity during the 30’s and 40’s, and experienced a resurgence in the 70’s.  Now, in the naughties, we’re loving shoes with an all-in-one heel and sole again.  Like platforms, practice makes perfect, so make sure you spend a bit of time getting to know your wedges at home!

X is for X-Rated! 
Just as every girl needs one pair of red shoes, we also need a pair of shoes that make us feel drop-dead sexy.  Whether it be blood red patent spike heels, utra-high leopard print sandals, a pair of long, lace up boots, or even a pair of demure but flirty pale pink stilettos with ankle straps, we all need a little flirty footwear now and then to keep the sparkle in our eye (and the swing in our hips!).

Z is for zzzzzzz. 
Like us, shoes need rest.  We’ve all had a pair of shoes that are so comfortable that we marvel at our ability to wear them day in, day out.  While our feet may thank us for our consideration, our shoes will not!  Shoes need to rest and breathe, and overnight is simply not long enough for them to do it.  Shoes that get at least one day’s rest between wearings will last at least twice as long, so try to let your shoes grab a few zzzzz’s as often as you can!

Whats your favorite type of shoe?  Why not tell us in this week's AskBronny poll.