Pretty in pink boots

Under Armour have released a limited edition pink (magenta) version of the Dominate Pro for women, in order to raise awareness towards breast cancer research. Moreover, 100 % of the proceeds from the sales of the boot will go to the 'Kicks Against Breast Cancer’ programme Imprinted along the sole of the boot is the slogan ‘Power in pink’, and the boot also has ‘She’s a fighter’ printed along the heel. The latter is a tribute to all women who struggle each day with the disease.

High heeled shoes: Who will tell the girls?

Apparently men have a condition-dependent adaptive proclivity to prioritize facial cues in long-term mating contexts, but shift their priorities toward bodily cues in short-term mating contexts. That is according to research from the University of Texas. Seems however men are not so sensitive to notice if woman are wearing high heels. Researchers at the UK's Northumbria University studied men's reactions to women in heels versus women in flats and found no difference. Seems all the hype about higher heels, longer legs, with accentuated rear and tilted torso give no visual clue to men. All this comes at a time when this years catwalks are being decorated with sky-high heels. Wedges of towering proportions were the order of the day at the Fashion Weeks, of New York, London and Milan. Once more there were reported a number of runway tumbles.

Smelly feet and back flips should be alcohol free

Teenager, Dallas Amber Smith, had a secret, she has smelly feet. Something she was happy to keep to herself but when she removed her shoes to do a back flip the smell wafted to the olifactory organ of her fellow drinking companions. Under the influence of alcohol, one of her male companions ill advisedly was less than complementary and for his troubles recived a steak knife in his back. Ms Smith is facing charges of assault.

Lakme Fashion Week

If you are in Mumbai catch the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) . The offical sponsor Tresmode unveiled a seven-foot tall giant stiletto at the the Grand Hyatt to launch their Fall-Winter 2010 collection. The shoe has been hand crafted by Paul B who used 60 kilos of fragile aluminium wire mesh to make it. It took him 10 days to complete it.

VB shoes and watch to match

Victoria Beckham got a designer to make her a pair of roe gold shoes so they would match her gold Rolex watch. Crafted by Brian Atwood time piece and shoes now match.. The acessories were on show at New York as diva unveiled her new handbag collection. Former Spice Girl has teamed up with accessories designer Katie Hillier to create her own line.

Desert boots the new desert storm

Desert boots seem to be the boot of choice for the fashionista this coming season.The new desert storm footwear come in sleek and feminine styles including wedges and stack heels.

BMW, the "Silver Tsunami" and increased productivity: Positive Ageism

Thanks to Ed Canter for bringing this story to my attention.

BMW in Dingolfing, Germany employ 18,000 workers and due to the "Silver Tsunami" (aging babyboomers) many are getting older. More than a fifth of Germany (21.6%) will be over 65 by the year 2020. Older workers however have more patience and skill but according to research less flexibility, strength and vision. All these characteristics are required of a semi skilled workforce and rather than replace the aging workers BMW have decided to improve working conditions to accommodate. One of the main complaints of the people working on the assembly line was sore feet so the company put in a wooden floor, issued the workers modified the assembly line to allow more workers to sit on rolling stools. Other changes among the 70 made included bigger computer screens in an endeavour to reduce the chance of errors and obviate physical strain. Since the new assembly line has been in operation productivity has risen seven percent, absenteeism fell below the plant's average and the assembly line's defect rate dropped to zero.

Do toning shoes work?: Today Show Feature

What ever happened to the espadrille?

Espadrilles (or jute soled shoes) are traditional canvas topped shoes made with the soles made originally from esparto grass, then hemp and later jute. The insolating properties of the cheap casual sneakers protected the feet from cold, humidity and heat . These could be worn all year round and were made as a form of cottage industry in Catalonia and the French and Spanish Basque regions. In the 14th century each town gave their espadrilles a unique signature. This might be a wider ribbon her, a thicker sole ; or extra crisscross at the back of the ankle, these regional varieties are still recognised worn at town festivals. Whilst mainly a peasant shoe the Espadrilles enjoyed a great vogue in the glamorous 30s and 40s when artisans such as Salvator Dali were seen wearing their white canvas shoes. In 1930, a good pair of espadrilles would cost two Spanish pesetas, (approx one cent US). During the Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939), Republican soldiers were supplied with several pairs of espadrilles because they were cheap and serviceable. The sandals were considered so important to the army, factories were nationalised in 1938. When changes in local economy saw farm labourers move form the country to the factories in the towns and cities the demand for espadrilles fell and by the end of the fifties many of the local factories closed. The surviving factories continued to use the same jute braiding machines they had always done and by the 60s the once peasant shoe was seeling well again this time to holiday makers to the Spain. When Yves Saint Laurent was asked to design a red satin pair of espadrilles with gold satin ribbons in a 2-inch wedge for a fashion show once again the shoes caught the attention of the fashionista. More designers such as Christian Dior, Armani and Louis Vuitton took interest and there was a brief renaissance during the 80s when fashionable espadrilles enjoyed a short vogue. The Castañer factory has been in operation since 1927 and now creates luxury, high-heeled espadrilles for 15 designer labels, including Lanvin, Hermès and Christian Louboutin. Currently there are 17 Castañer boutiques in Spain, France and Japan. Their best seller “the peasant,” has sold eight million pairs alone. Castañer is held as a leading example of how a family-run Spanish shoemaking business can capitalize on traditional craftsmanship to carve an international niche.

The highs and lows of mens' shoe fashion

Now it seems both high heels and ballet flats (a slip on shoe with a small thin heel or no heel at all) are back in fashion for men. Height challenged males might revel at the prospect of the former but not perhaps at the latter. Ballet flats represent the antithesis of the four wheel drive shoes. That is shoes you could climb the Eiger with, but are more likely seen perambulating through the shopping mall. Real men prefer espadrilles and sneakers, i.e. chic and comfortable footwear. What has added interest (for me), as a shoe watcher, is both high and low styles share the limelight at the same time – a rare event in fashion. Zeitgeist (or sign of the times) necessitates we look at current events for an explanation. Alpha males appear to want to move adeptly as well as present themselves as trim and toned. Ballet flats resemble the dancing pumps or “pompes” of the 16th and 17th centuries when dancing became all the range and no self respecting crown head was without their ballroom. Then as now best finery was the order of the day and dandy noblemen wore special ballroom slippers. Emporer Napoleon's legacy to cultured Europe was dress balls and as the popularity of dancing swept through the civilized world. When new dance steps got faster women started to wear dance slippers every bit as delicate as modern ballet shoes. Men of the 18th century wore the latest fashion high boots and male dancing shoes were confined to the bedroom along with their pipe and became. They became bedroom slippers. The latest fashion phenomenon is likely to mirror the renewed interest in dancing and the immensely popular TV programs lik Strictly Dancing (ABC) and . Strictly Come Dancing (BBC).

Kumfs to Ziera: What’s a foot?

The New Zealand based company Kumfs are rebranding to Ziera to better engage a younger audience and increase overseas sales. The New Zealand and Australian stores will be renamed and branded Ziera. The name was chosen to appeal to multiple markets from Asia to Europe and North America. Kumfs had become more associated wth the older demographic but more recently the target audience has become younger. Ziera are working to enhance and develop the current range to include new and more innovative designs. The expectation is by expanding into the US and China the company will triple their global sales to over $200 million over the next five years. The company plans to expand its Kumfs owned and franchised stores from 43 to 125 over the same period and produce 1.5 million shoes by 2015.

Akamal in lime green

Recent match fixing controversy regarding Pakistan Cricket Team has taken its toll with many of the professional watching where they tred. Umar Akmal has taken it a step further and sports lime green football boots on the Green.

Quote of the week “Beso los pies”

The quote of the week for me came from the AustralianThe X Factor (Channel 7) judge , Guy Sebastian in praise of a fellow artist and contestant on the popular program. He said, “ I kiss your feet,” not sure whether Guy knows the origin of the phrase but it is Spanish “Beso los pies” (I kiss your feet) and cam form a time when the syphilis epidemics of the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries caused great consternation across Europe and beyond. At this time feet became sexualised and were used as sex toys in intimate frottage in both Occidental and Oriental Societies). History reveals as the STD epidemic moved from Spain to Italy before engulfing the whole of Europe painters specialised in the female foot with toe cleavage an artistic interpretation for seduction. Partially covered feet became a common theme representing a voyeuristic mark of the times. In contemporary literature the foot was idealised and wandering troubadour sang of the beauty of the female foot. Apparently the long second toe was popular (aka the Greek Foot) and clothed prostitutes paraded before customers unshod. Preference for the small foot in the French and Italian courts meant foot binding European style was openly practised. Occidental foot binding was less severe and usually restricted to young adults wearing ballet type pumps. Great interest in the erotic works of the East was also evidenced during the Syphilis Epidemics and the fetish for feet remained popular until the discovery of mercury as a primitive cure for syphilis was found. During the 18th century a genteel common practice at the time was to give small ornament gifts in the shape of feet or shoes and leather boots. In the nineteenth century a second epidemic of syphilis reappeared this again mirrored a flurry of interest in foot sex. Brothels began to specialise in foot eroticism on a large scale. This may partly be because the use of the foot was seen as a safe sex alternative to genital intercourse. Victorian schools of painting included the idealised female foot. The French painter Édouard Manet in 1886 presented a scandalous painting of a reclining nude entitled Olympia. He depicted the shoe as an erogenous zone and this brave metaphor was acknowledged by many art historians as pivotal to the development of modern art. These reviewed sexual awakenings were also witnessed with the introduction of censorship where the female foot was excluded from respectable photographic tintypes. While contemporary portrayals showed men with their boots exposed, women's feet were covered by dresses or lap shawls or were mechanically cropped from the plate. The Cinderella fairy tale was revived with fetishistic overtones. George du Maurier's "Trilby" became a best selling novel (1894) and spurned the fashion for foot shaped objects from ice creams to sausages. At a time when the works of Freud were eagerly read by the same readership that would devour Trilby the swallowing of offal could not be divorced from the symbolism to fallatio. Foot shaped jewellery became the fashion with men's tobacco pouches and hip flasks all the rage. Isadora Duncan revolutionised ballet by dancing in her bare feet. At this time the idea of a good girl was one which did not become involved in intercourse and the concept of a bad girl was one who did. Either way self abuse in youth would be a common experience albeit never spoken of in polite society. Here the foot and toes could be used to good purpose.

I love Crocs: Welcome back

Crocs are back from the brink of business oblivion. The once fashionable but not so popular plastic clogs racked up huge losses in 2008 and 2009. However their fortunes have had an abrupt turnaround with stocks leaping by 130% in eight months. The company recently delivered a $32m (£21m) quarterly profit following a 31% jump in sales to $228m. After the initial and meteoric rise of Crocs many were critical of the company and felt they had become too heavily dependent on one style of shoe. Fortunes did dwindle assisted ably by the downturn of the global economy and poor management control. The firm changed its management, slashed its workforce, shut down factories in Canada and Brazil, and eliminated acres of warehousing space. Crocs became more discerning about distributors and created different product ranges for varying retailers. The change worked and good fortune returned. Now they offer 230 different styles, all based on comfort with a range of variations from sandals to walking shoes, boots and even high heels. The original moulded clog accounted for almost a third of revenue in 2007, now they generate just 16% of Crocs' sales.

Interesting Site
,Little Rubber Shoes.com offers badges declaring "I love my Crocs".

New Shoe Exhibitions: Albany Institute of History & Art, NY

The Albany Institute of History & Art , Albuny, New York will host two new exhibitions: “The Perfect Fit: Shoes Tell Stories” and “Old Soles: Three Centuries of Shoes from the Albany Institute’s Collection.” The exhibitions open on October 16, 2010, and close on January 2, 2011. “The Perfect Fit” features more than 100 examples of fanciful footwear created by contemporary American artists between 2004 and 2008. The shoes are made of materials ranging from clay, metal, fabric, wood, glass, and paper, and transcend everyday style and function to illustrate various themes pertaining to issues of gender, history, sexuality, class, race, and culture. An illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibition and will be on sale in the Albany Institute’s Museum Shop for $10.00. Accompanying “The Perfect Fit” will be a complementary exhibition entitled “Old Soles: Three Centuries of Shoes from the Albany Institute’s Collection.” The selection includes a variety of shoes ranging from a pair of brocaded silk women’s wedding shoes from the early 18th century to modern men’s and women’s footwear from the 20th century. The collection also includes protective over-shoes, pattens, slippers, jewelled buckles, work shoes, boots, and more. The Old Soles exhibition will be located in the museum’s Lansing Gallery.

Neat kicks from Nike: POW!

foot undeez®

In Australia thongs are sandals which might be known as flip flops elsewhere or jandals in New Zealand. Just to complicate matters the minimalist foot boards with the tantalising toe loops (thongs) are frequently referred to as the “G string of the foot.” Elsewhere ‘thongs describe G string underwear, confused , you may well be and all the more so when I tell you can now buy underwear for your feet. Capezio have produced foot undeez® or sexy footwear designed to support the feet. The novelty foot lingerie is available with Rhinestone accents as well as a wide variety of styles and provides added comfort with padding for the balls of your feet. Well it would , would it not?

The range is for men and women.

Che Shoes: Indian communists see red

The practice started in antiquity when images of first enemies then lovers were carefully printed on footwear. The former could be symbolically crushed with each step and the later would ensure the image of a loved one followed your very footsteps. The recent fad to include popular figures in shoe designs has proved popular but then shoes with the image of Che Guevara appeared in an Indian shop recently they nearly caused a riot. Kannur (Cannanore) is a city in the the heartland of communism in India and communists have never been too happy at the idea of incorporating one of their heroes into fashionable clothing. When the ‘Che “ shoes went on sale recently members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) vigorously protested at the shop. The public affray attracted the attention of the police. Now the shoes have been removed the authorities are left scratching their heads as to which law has actually been broken.

Send shoes. See smiles. Save souls: The "SoleChain" project

A Baptist Church in Huston, Texas has collected shoes for over ten years for the Buckner International Shoes for Orphan Souls. In that time they have amassed over 70,000 pairs of children’s shoes. To attract further donations the church set up the "SoleChain" project which involved creating the longest line of shoes in the world. In the middle the message: "Send shoes. See smiles. Save souls," was written in shoes.