Ranking Shoes: New Theatre

In antiquity the higher the sandal strapping worn on the leg represented the higher rank of the soldier. In modern times this distinction has been replaced with coded insignia. However if you visit the theatre staff at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA you might see something similar. Staffs feel when kitted out head to toe in surgical scrubs it is difficult to tell at a glance who’s who. Keen to express their personalities individuals have taken to wear colourful hats and shoes such as Crocs, Dunlop Volleys and Birkenstocks. Now provided the choice of footwear meets occupational health and safety guidelines, doctors and nurses can shod to choice. Shoes must be non slip washable and within infection protocols. Colour however is a matter of personal choice.

Crocs : Night of the long knives

Seems everyone on Wall Street is anticipating the demise of Crocs. Despite it meteoric rise in sales the innovative plastic clog has never met with approval of the savvy fashionista (the fools!). Apparently comfort and ease does not cut it when awkward looks and gawdy colours offend. According to recent reports Crocs may become a victim of the recession as too much inventory and not enough sales to cover the expenses of keeping the business open may take its toll. The company has until the end of September to clear its debt. I for one hope Crocs do survive but just in case I have put a couple of pairs aside. One, to replace my current pair if and when they ever wear out; and the second pair as an investment. Collectable Crocs could be blue chip in the future.

Delcam CRISPIN: New shoe design software

3 D cinema may be all the rage at your local cinema but now thanks to clever software shoes designers can use the same approach to create their new ranges. New shoe design software is available from Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Assited Manufacture (CAM) software specialists, Delcam CRISPIN. The company have just released version 2.8 of its ShoeDesign software for upper design. The main change is a revised user interface, which makes the software easier to learn, and simpler and more intuitive to use. ShoeDesign uses photo-realistic images instead of physical samples. The free Delcam CRISPIN 3D viewer, allows 3D designs to be communicated to clients worldwide for their comments. Adjustments to the design can be made within minutes then. According to the manufacturers when physical samples are required ShoeDesign can also produce prototypes for design and marketing reviews. The cost saving ShoeDesign minimizes the possibility of problems arising at the manufacturing stage. The software allows the user to draw style lines directly on the last; apply colours, textures, padding and material thicknesses to the various elements; and then add features like stitching, eyelets and laces, or accessories such as buckles and trims. The wide range of material textures, accessories and features supplied within ShoeDesign allows different design concepts to be created and evaluated quickly. ShoeDesign is fully integrated with other software within the Delcam CRISPIN range.

The Heights of Fashion: Platform Shoes Then and Now

“The Heights of Fashion: Platform Shoes Then and Now” is an exhibition which highlights examples of platform shoes, sandals and boots from the 1930s till present time. The exhibition is currently at the Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. On view are high fashion platform shoes by couture designers like Vivienne Westwood, Jimmy Choo, Ruthie Davis and Roger Vivier, whose innovative designs incorporated modern engineering with vintage inspiration. Salvatore Ferragamo, who elevated the platform shoes from casual beachwear to high fashion in the 1930s was the first to introduce the wedge heel. Fetish platform shoes with thick soles and very high heels appeared as early as 1920s and continue to hold an important place in the fashion market. Also at the Mint Museum of Art is the “The Art of Affluence: Haute Couture and Luxury Fashions 1947 – 2007” an ode to classic designers such as Chanel, De la Renta, Dior, Givenchy, Saint Lauren and Valentino. The cherry on the cake is Elton John’s haute couture ensemble by Versace.

Famous Footwear:Big Push

Brown Shoe Co. Inc. has launched the first nationwide branding, advertising and social media campaign for its Famous Footwear retail stores. The campaign includes the first-ever national cable television advertising campaign and radio spots in 47 major cities. The campaign’s social and digital media component includes a new Web site, online banner ads, a Facebook page, YouTube channel, Twitter handle (@Famous_Footwear) and viral video. New videos are planned, including a soon-to-be released (August 3rd) digital short, and will be available at www.MakeTodayUnexpected.com. St. Louis-based Brown Shoe Co. Inc. owns and markets shoes under the Naturalizer, LifeStride, Connie, Buster Brown and other brands; and operates the Famous Footwear and Naturalizer retail stores. The company operates a design studio and showroom in Manhattan, N.Y., and global offices in China, Italy and Brazil. The company has about 13,000 employees worldwide.

Watch out there's a shoobie about

A shoobie is a term used in South Jersey and Santa Monica, California to describe a tourist who visits the seashore for a brief period of time, primarily to use the beach during the summer months. Shoobie is used in resort towns along the southern Jersey Shore, between the areas of Long Beach Island and Cape May. The term "shoobie" originated in the 1920s and it allegedly derives from the habit among tourists of bringing everything they needed in a shoe box. Items can include a towel, suntan lotion, and food. The term "shoobie" may also derive from the fact that tourists are more likely to wear their shoes on the beach. Homeowners (whether year-round or seasonal) often walk to the beach barefoot or remove their shoes immediately upon reaching the sand. A similar term is "Benny," which is mostly used in the resort towns of the northern Jersey Shore.

Vegan Shoes:Faux Fatal ?

The market for vegan and animal friendly footwear is growing. Advances in synthetic production in recent years make it almost impossible to tell faux from real. Synthetic shoes no longer look, cheap and nasty and are available in all popular styles. Time was synthetic shoes were blamed for causing sweaty feet and skin irritations. Now all that has changed and the shoe conscious welcome the faux alternative. Perhaps the penny has yet to drop but the biproducts of the synthetic industries does cause environmental challenges which may somewhat ironically destroy the planet and all living organisms.

All Day MJs comfort or what?

The new All Day basketball model by Jordan Brand (to be released early in 2010) will break from the classic Nike Air Jordan design. Still a feature will be the air bubble but positioned instead near the ball of the foot rather than in the heel. The All Day shoe sports a sleek silhouette with a high cut and includes an extended ankle strap and an eyelet ring. Pressure cannot pass through gas and the function of the air bubble is to reduce peak pressure over the ball of the foot. Its repositioning may be more indicative of the demographic likely to wear the new shoes – none sporty types.

The horrors of cracked skin, skinny toes and Oprah’s bunions

Summer is a time to cringe if you find the sight of cracked skin, misshapen toes, mangled nails and bunions a turn off. Skimpy shoes, flats and gladiator sandals ensure feet au naturel are on view. Not only are the feet of ordinary folks exposed so too are the feet of the fashionista. Victoria Beckham has a well-known bunion problem; Sarah Jessica Parker's feet feature regularly in tabloid gossip columns because they are misshapen with protruding veins; Paris Hilton's toes look like they could do with a good meal, and there is no shortage of comment threads in internet chatrooms dedicated to the most pressing question of our time: 'What is up with Oprah's feet?'

Travelling Shoe Exhibition in Thailand

"Portraits of Shoes - Stories of Feet" is on the move again and at the Thailand Creative and Design Centre (TCDC) at the Emporium. It features more than 100 pairs of the world's finest footwear from the last four centuries. On loan from the International Museum of Shoes in Romans the exhibition examines the role of shoes as art objects, functional tools, commercial products and cultural artefacts.

iMade for Skate

"Made for Skate" is about to be released as an iPhone application. The iMade for Skate allows viewers a drill-down look at skate shoes.The application costs $1.99 (US).

Foot Fungus: Laser my toes

Apparently an estimated 35 million people in the U.S. suffer from toenail fungus, which causes embarrassing deformation and discoloration of the nails. Onychomycosis (nail fungus) is a contagious infection and spreads easily with the slightest contact. A new laser treatment purports to be is safe, painless and is done in a single 30-40 minute office visit. There are no side effects and patients can expect to see healthy nails within 8 - 10 months. Clinicians anticipate between 80-88% effective treatment which compares well with alternatives. Oral medications (65 percent effective) require three months of treatment and carry a serious risk of liver damage. More traditional topical care modes have a 25 % success rate. Fungus has no resistance to laser light and the PinPointe FootLaser beam harmlessly passes through the nail and skin on the toe but kills the fungus embedded within the nail.

Cankles and muscle toning

According to those in the know "cankles," is a disproportionate amount of weight between the lower leg and the ankle. Used to be called ankle oedema and is routinely caused by fluid retention. Gentle and regular exercise can help distribute the fluids and people are being encouraged as part of a ‘health life change’ to exercise more. Finding time to go to the gym and work out can be difficult and expensive so many companies are attempting to solve the problem with new products including Fitness U Wear weighted wristbands and ankle bands to build up strength. Reebok have also developed a new sneaker which according to the manufacturer promises up to 28 percent more toning in the legs of its wearers. The shoe's technology involves air pockets strategically built into the back of the shoe to cause mild instability. Conscious balancing with each step helps actively exercise and tone up the leg musculature according to the experts.

The King is dead, long live his shoes

Definitely the unseen surprise of the season but looks like patent leather loafers will become the shoe style to be seen around in. The reason is obvious with the demise of the King of Pop everyone wants to pay homage. Kate Moss was seen with a pair in recent days, and the Repetto shop in Paris says their Jackson jazz shoe has been flying off the shelves. Jackson jazz shoe is a pared-down patent leather loafer that comes in ebony or ivory. White socks are optional.