The toe shoe

Science educato,r Bill Nye is the host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, and the invented of the "Toe shoe" The ballet slipper has been designed to give better support to dancers during en pointe dancing. The toe shoe includes a toe box which encases the toes and gives greater support along the sole.

Foot Patrol

TJ Wade (lead singer and keyboard player) of Foot Patrol has a foot fetish and embraces it fully through the music of his band. The Austin band are about to release, Pussyfootin'.

Foot Patrol - Pussyfooting by pressjunkiepr

Duchess of Cambridge steps out in the tradition

The Duchess of Cambridge followed the Royal tradition and wore ivory duchesse satin shoes with lacing. The wedding shoes were hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen. The hand-embroidered lacing was done by the Royal School of Needlework. The Queen wore similar shoes at her wedding. Apparently there were four pairs of shoes commissioned for the big day, each with varying heel height. Seems there was no choice in design however as etiquette dictates, “a bride who is married in a Cathedral has to wear a closed shoe.”

Bridesmaid, Pippa Middleton was wearing a pair of Aruna Seth shoes for the post-wedding festivities.

Trevor Prior and bespoke soccer boots

Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health: foot pain and body mass index

Women aged 70 to 75 years who participated in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health completed a postal questionnaire incorporating questions relating to demographics, major medical conditions and health status in 1999 (n=8,059) and 2005 (n=4,745). Key variables explored included self-reported foot problems, major medical conditions and body mass index (BMI). It appears 26% of the sample reported foot problems. At follow-up, 37% remained free of foot problems but 36% had developed a new foot problem. 13% experienced resolution of their foot problems and 14% experienced persistent foot problems. Over the six year follow-up period increase in BMI was significantly associated with the development of new foot problems and the persistence of existing foot problems. Researchers concluded foot problems were common in older women and appeared associated with increased BMI. Maintaining a healthy bodyweight may play a role in the prevention of foot disorders in older women.

Ovulating women at greater risk of sports injuries

Reported at the Australian Podiatry Conference, new research has found that women are more likely to injure their knees, feet and ankles during ovulation. According to Simon Bartold from the University of Melbourne, the risk of woman injuring themself is significantly heightened at the beginning and the middle of their cycle. Apparently levels of oestrogen and relaxin vary through the cycle and ligaments such as the anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) contain receptors for these hormones. The risk of injury in females in the middle of the cycle is due to compromised mechanical properties of the ligament which fluctuates according to the increased volume of circulating oestrogen. Bartold’s research indicates the risk of injury is reduced if female athletes take oral contraceptives. Injury rate, performance and muscle activity are all positively influenced by the monocyclic contraceptive pill.

Corns -What to do : Cut them off and what?

Corns and callus have been around since the beginning of civilisation. Foot physicians have been known to exist since Egyptian times and the Greeks are credited with inventing the corn scrapper which evolved into the surgical scalpel. To the ancient Greeks the only way to reduce discomfort from hyperkeratosis was to remove it by scraping away the excess keratin when it built up. Corn cutters continued in the same manner throughout the Middle Ages; and the clinical approach is still to the fore in modern podiatry. Seems however according to Dr Karl B Landorf scalpel debridement of painful plantar calluses has minimal effect on its own. In a paper delivered at the Australian Podiatry Conference he described a study with eighty participants (80) aged 65 years and older with painful forefoot plantar calluses. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups: (i) normal (experimental) scalpel debridement or (ii) sham (control) scalpel debridement. Participants were followed for six weeks after their initial intervention appointment. Both participants and assessors were blinded to the intervention. The primary outcomes measured were the difference between groups in pain (measured on a 100 mm visual analogue scale) and barefoot peak plantar pressure (measured using a MatScan® System). Secondary outcome measures included tests of balance and functional ability. The sample size was pre-specified using an appropriate sample size/statistical power calculation. Statistical comparison between the groups was made using a linear regression approach to Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and analysis was by intention to treat. Both groups experienced large decreases in pain following intervention (up to a 41.9 mm decrease in pain on a Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS). A systematic, but small beneficial effect on pain was noted in favour of the normal scalpel debridement group immediately post-debridement to 4 weeks post debridement (from 6.0 to 7.2 mm ANCOVA adjusted mean difference between groups). There was no difference in peak plantar pressure or balance and functional ability between the two groups at any time-points. There were no adverse events of note. In conclusion Landorf described a systematic effect favouring scalpel debridement but according to the researchers the benefits were small and not statistically significant. They believe scalpel debridement in conjunction with padding may provide greater benefits to patients with hyperkeratosis.

Causes of foot and ankle pain and why people prefer to go untreated

According to Ed Roddy, a researcher at Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, at Keele University foot and ankle pain is very common in older people. From his studies 25% of older people complain of foot pain and 15% from ankle pain. Women are more prone to foot and ankle pains. Pain within the foot most commonly occurs at the toes or forefoot, followed by the arch or ball, with the heel and hind foot least frequently affected. Foot pain is commonly associated with locomotor disability. Almost two-thirds of adults aged 50 years and over with foot pain report problems related to physical function. Eight percent of older adults without disabling foot pain experience its onset over a three-year period whereas resolution appears to be uncommon, with 70% of those with disabling symptoms still having them three years later.

Roddy’s findings indicate onset of physical impairment associated with foot pain most commonly relates to increased reliance on vehicular transport, and difficulty walking and standing. Furthermore, foot pain is also associated with poor balance and risk of falling. Although musculoskeletal foot problems account for a substantial number of consultations in primary care, it appears that only a minority of people with foot problems consult health professionals. Eight percent of primary care musculoskeletal consultations (290 primary care consultations per 10,000 registered patients per year) involve musculoskeletal foot problems. However, only 20% of people with musculoskeletal foot problems see their family doctor over a three-year period and a similar proportion of those with foot pain see a podiatrist over twelve months. Primary care consultation with a musculoskeletal foot problem is more likely in those with foot pain, those who consult frequently about other problems, and those who believe effective treatments are available. Most primary care consultations for musculoskeletal foot problems are categorized by family doctors using non-specific terms describing pain location, e.g. foot pain or ankle pain, with specific diagnostic codes, e.g. plantar fasciitis, used less frequently.

At the Australian Podiatry Conference in Melbourne recently Roddy told the audience further studies are needed to explore why people choose to consult a particular health care professional about their foot problem, how the decision to consult can be influenced, and how foot pain and problems are managed in different healthcare settings.

Barefoot running

Shoe Revolt

Bad, bad shoes: Dr Irene Davis says so?

According to Dr Irene Davis of Harvard Medical School running barefoot can be more beneficial than running in heavily cushioned running shoes. At the 2011, Australasian Podiatry Conference in Melbourne she reported her latest research findings and according to the expert avoiding heel contact during running helps reduce shock injuries. Davis has been studying both barefoot running and minimal footwear running, which uses a type of running shoe almost like a glove for the foot, but with a thin layer of rubber on the bottom. These shoes give the foot its full range of natural movement, but protect the sole from stones or extreme surface temperatures. In the first study of its kind, published in Nature.com in 2010, Davis and co-authors tested their theories people who had never worn running shoes before. When they the runners in Kenya, they found unshod runners landed on the ball of their feet (not the heel). Davis believes heel strike running in shoes is detrimental because of the high impact stresses during heel strike; running on the ball of the foot helps reduce impact stresses. Unfortunately these studies are as yet incomplete and the jury remains out with strong counter claims from research sponsored by the sport shoe industry.

(sic According to Human Walking Inman, Ralston and Todd – normal gait would start with heel strike but that pattern changes with middle distance running when heel strike is obviated.) Davis and co., may be comparing middle distance runners with joggers in which case that would be two completely different models. Joggers and particularly slow joggers may need the protection cushioned shoes provide, whereas those running closer to middle distance speeds might benefit from heel less sports shoes. More research is required.

Phoblographer tells it how it is

the phobloblographer

Walk tall and safe in Ralph Young Shoes

French shoe designer, Raphael Young has made 'the most comfortable high heel ever,' according to himself, anyway. The new steels are as flexible as a ‘ballerina’ flat because of special technology which prevents prevents twisting and injury by reducing foot inflection.

Young spent years working on an idea and after trials and tests in the factory found the technical solution to make shoes as flexible and comfy as a ballerina. He promptly patented the design. Ralph Young shoes come in a variety of colours and two heights, but are only available in peep-toe or court shoes. Cost are from £350 for a pair of plain courts.

Shoe Collectors: Caroline Cox says "They are still out there"

Caroline Cox is a fashion historian, and author of Vintage Shoes and Stiletto. She began collecting vintage shoes as a punk teenager. Unfortunately not quite realizing the value then, of the easy pickup able collectables, she wore them until they fell apart. Now wiser she has greater respect for vintage shoes. According to the fashion expert she rates Salvatore Ferragamo’s experimental designs of the 1940s and Roger Vivier designs for Dior in the 1950s as blue chip investments. Vivienne Westwood 80s shoes are imminently collectable and Terry de Havilland’s seventies wedges are a must have for the serious collector. Caroline Cox believes there are plenty of bargains still to be had in second hand shoes. She recommends lots of research and swears by eBay as a great source for finding shoe advertisements and magazines and other images. The author highly rates Louboutin, Chanel and Manolo Blahnik for their great re-sale value and personally values shoes designed by Tokio Kumagai.

Men in black ball

Men in black ball Saturday 18th June 2001, Hyatt Rgency Perth WA.

Happy Easter

Pale Blue Dot - Animation from Ehdubya on Vimeo.

Resurrection Shuffle

Top secret messages written on the toenails

Six of the oldest files held by the CIA were declassified recently. The documents predate the organisation by several decades. Prior to the establishment of the CIA in 1947, the organisation was known as the Office of Strategic Services and before that the Office of Naval Intelligence. One paper from 1918, lists the chemicals and techniques used to create "secret writing". Another from 1914 and written in French gives the formula the Germans were believed to have used for their invisible ink. These formulae for invisible ink were used by spies during the First World War (1914-18) and espionage techniques included placing writings under postage stamps, wrapping messages in medicine capsules and engraving messages on toenails. There were warnings to agents that the ink might be toxic enough to corrode a steel pen and all were advised to avoid inhalation and use a quill instead. Invisible ink was rendered obsolete by the introduction of digital encryption.

Sales of quality shoes are on the up

Allen Edmonds produces 500,000 pairs of handcrafted shoes each year and the manufacture involves a 220-step process from leather to lace-ups. The shoes cost a mere $325 (US). The craft of shoemaking in the US is experiencing something of a renaissance. Over the last few years, heritage brands like Allen Edmonds have been rediscovered by a new generation of young customers. Labels which perhaps once were regarded as relics of American work wear are now cool. Quality footwear has long been a favorite of politicians and the generally well-heeled. Before his inauguration, President Bill Clinton reportedly placed an order for two pairs of 13-Ds, including a black calfskin plain-toe model and black patent-leather lace-ups. Former President George W. Bush and Rahm Emanuel, the new mayor of Chicago, reportedly own pairs of the company’s footwear. Founded in 1922, the Allen Edmonds company became famous for providing shoes for the Army and Navy during World War II. From April 21 to May 11, the shop will donate 10 percent of sales to various local charities, including the Louisiana Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area and New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.

Foot washing: ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’

There is more reference to feet in the Holy Scriptures than any other part of the body and throughout the New Testament heavy emphasis is placed on the strength of feet to spread the gospel. So it is no surprise foot washing is seen as important. However foot washing is a religious rite observed by several faiths including, Islam (Wudu), Buddhism and Sikhism. The ancient Greeks also considered it ablasphemy to enter a temple without the feet being washed.

Both nncient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern culture were ostensibly agricultural and shoes and sandals presumably worn to protect feet from sand, muck and mire. Shoes were made from animal skins which were difficult to clean. This may explain why, in the Old Testament, shoes came to represent all that was unclean and feet needed to be decontaminated. For most, walking was the most likely transport and shoes were rarely worn inside the home, so removing footwear and washing feet was both practical and signified the end of the working day, or end of a journey. Unlike today (although that is arguable with water rates what they are) clean drinking water was a rare commodity but it was used for foot washing. Oils and creams were also involved but tended to be more for the privileged.
Baring feet signified the status of an honored guest and washing feet put guests at ease not to mention kept floors and bedding clean. Foot washing usually fell to the lowest house servant and was generally viewed as an honor or service. A common Mediterranean custom at banquets was to wash the feet either on arrival or before the feast.

The Christian practice of foot washing on Maundy (Holy) Thursday, the day before Good Friday, is a connection to the Last Supper (Feast of the Passover). Jesus dramatically subverted the symbolism by washing his disciple's feet and explained his action as a measure of humility and brotherhood. For Christians service rather than status represented greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The term Maundy is an old English term, derived through Middle English, and Old French mandé, from the Latin mandatum, the first word of the phrase "Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos" ("A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you"). John 13:34

Symbolic foot washing or Pedilavium (ped ‘foot’ and lavo ‘I wash’) and was practiced from the early centuries of Christianity. By the late 12th century, the Pope washed the feet of twelve sub-deacons after his Mass and of thirteen poor men after his dinner. By the thirteenth century special corridors were built in many churches for the sole (excuse the pun) purpose of foot washing. The same custom was also followed by most European monarchs and involved the King washing and drying the feet of 12 poor parishioners.

Maundy Money
In the UK, from the 13 century until 1689, during the reign of William & Mary, the reigning monarchs personally washed the feet of a selected group of poor people. However it was replaced in 1822 by specially minted coins, or Maundy Money. The custom is still celebrated on the day before Good Friday, when the reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, distributes Maundy money to a selected group of men and woman, chosen to represent each year of the monarch's life. The specially minted coinage is worth much more than the coin's face value.

My big toe hursts: It must be Easter

Easter has become a holiday filled with good food and wine and way too much chocolate. Seems the medical fraternity would have us believe, Easter is also associated with attacks of gout and people should be careful not to overindulge. Gout describes an upset in purine (protein) metabolism which can result in deposits of small crystals in the joints which leaves them exquisitely painful. The resulting damage may painful osteoarthritis. Gout appears to affect men between the ages of 40 and 50, women too can suffer from gouty attacks and is caused by a build-up of uric acid, which crystallise. In women the incidence increases after menopause and it is very rare in children and young adults. The incidence of gout increases when alcohol and certain foods, including processed meats, organs such as kidney and liver, yeast, anchovies, sardines and some vegetables are consumed in quantity. Gout specialist Dr Edward Roddy said the painful condition can be avoided if people are careful about their consumption. A common site for crystal deposits is in the big toe joint which renders the main pivot point of the foot inoperable due to the tremendous pain experienced.
Many people who develop gout have a family history but other diseases may increase the risk. These include diabetes mellitus, obesity, kidney disease, and sickle cell anemia. Alcohol adversely interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body as can other factors including, a purine rich diet (e.g., cream sauces, red meat, sardines, liver, scallops), medications which interfere with remove of uric acid from the body and exposure to lead in the environment. Demographic surveys indicate a significant rise in reported cases of gout. Painful symptoms are often sudden and come on, overnight. The effected parts such as the great toe is swollen and tender with touching or moving the big toe intensely painful. Frequently gout sufferers will report extreme discomfort even from a bed sheet. If left untreated, gout can damage joints and cause osteoarthisis. People with gout have elevated blood levels of uric acid, but this condition may not always be present during an acute attack. A simple set of tests and physical examination will confirm diagnosis. Treament involves reducing the levels of uric acid in the joints and the physician may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to treat the pain. Until recently treatment for acute gout consisted of colchicine which was effective early in the attack. However, colchicine can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and other side effects and now most physicians prefer to use anti-inflammatories. However they too have side effects for some. Pharmaceutical care also depends on co-morbidities and polypharmacy. Small doses of NSAIDs, colchicine, or allopurinol may prevent continued accumulation of uric acid in the joints and further attacks. Avoiding alcohol and rich foods that are high in purine are also recommended to normalise blood uric acid levels. What works well for one person may not work as well for another, so decisions about when to start treatment and what drugs to use have to be tailored by the physician, and depend on kidney function and other factors. According to experts it is possible in almost all cases to successfully treat gout.

Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease) is a type of arthritis where calcium crystals accumulate in joints capsules causing severe localised pain and swelling, similar to gout. Pseudogout is a condition which is often mistaken for gout and diagnosis is important if treatment is to be effective. The incidence of pseudo gout increases with age and diagnosis depends on analysis of the crystal found in affected joint. Treatment usually involves prescribed anti-inflammatory medications. Unlike gout which tends to affect the feet and ankle pseudogout affects the knees, wrists, shoulders, ankles, elbows or attacks can last for days or weeks. The cause of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease remains unknown. The condition sometimes runs in families and hence genetic factors are suspected of contributing to the disorder. According to medical text severely underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), excess iron storage (hemochromatosis), an overactive parathyroid gland, and other causes of excessive calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) may contribute to the development of pseudogout. In some people, attacks of pseudogout may develop following joint surgery or other surgery. Because many older people have calcium crystal deposits in their joints, any kind of insult to the joint can trigger the release of the calcium crystals, which then induce a painful inflammatory response. Unfortunately there is no treatment to dissolve the crystal deposits but symptoms may be relieved and the progress of the condition slowed down by small doses of prescribed anti-inflammatories.

Top 80 Sneaker Afficionado Sites

Most grateful to Careers in fashion who have compiled a list of the Top 80 Sneaker Afficionado Sites, and foot talk is there. Woo woo.

Tyra Banks Chews a Shoe, Explains Stiletto ‘Math’

The Stiletto -- powered by TYPEF.COM

Portuguese Shoes - The sexiest industry in europe

"La Decollette.": What to do with old socks

Rachel de Boer has had a secret which she kept from her best friends for years. Rachel wanted to avoid cleavage wrinkles and in the absence of a suitable product experimented with a homemade bras or sleeping. For seven years she slept with stuffed socks sewn between the cups of an old bra to prevent cleavage wrinkles and smooth out her neckline. Her success brought sceptical friends curious to discover if the sock bras would smooth out their cleavage wrinkles. De Boer made five more versions of what is now called "La Decollette." Her friends were so delighted with the results, they encouraged her to design an anti-wrinkle night bra that women would want to wear to bed. Three years later, a professionally designed and manufactured version of that same contraption is sold in 150 lingerie shops across the Netherlands and Belgium. La Decollette is a soft, padded rectangular piece of material between the collar bone and the sternum and sits between the breasts. The cupless bra is worn at night and keeps the breasts "in place" to prevent vertical wrinkles as the breasts are compressed together. Researchers at the Institute CERCO (Center d'Etudes et de Recherches Cosmetologique) have put the "La Decollette," to the test on women between 35 and 60 years old and been very positive about the results. Seems cleavage wrinkles reduced significantly after 24 hours. It is anticipated over a quarter of a million one-size fits all, anti-wrinkle bras will sell this year in Europe and already there are plans to ship the cupless wonders to the US and Canada.

Dont stand in my blue soled flatforms

Flatforms are a cross between flats and platforms i.e. the sole of the shoe is all one piece. Prada has created its own version of the flatform and it is a men's leather dress shoe with a blue platform. Flatforms are a comfortable wardrobe addition to the height challenged and the Prada flatforms are reportedly sold out. The flatform was all over the spring runways as retro ‘70s has become vogue 2011. In women’s fashion the sole of the shoe can be a main factor in how and when to wear each pair. Wooden or cork soles are better for day, while leather or satin is definitely for evening.

Look out for the new shoe design app

The Oliver Sweeney Shoe app is an iOS app for the Apple iPad , designed by Mobikats and fashion designer, Oliver Sweeney. The Oliver Sweeney Shoe app for the Apple iPad allows users to select a shoe design, the colour and type of skin at the point of sale. It also lets the user see what the final shoe looks like. The Oliver Sweeney Shoe iOS app key features are 6 different shoe designs, 5 different luxury skins from stingray to leather in varying colours, simple touch interface, different views of the finished design, plus the ability to email the designed shoe to others. The app took 3 months to develop. The Oliver Sweeney Shoe app is not yet available on iTunes.

Wudu (الوضوء )

A growing numbers of Muslims living in the United States are seeking to wash their feet in the sinks of public rest rooms. Many public areas, such as airports and universities are installing footbaths to accommodate the demand. To followers of the Muslin Faith footwashing or Wudhu is an integral part of worship. The process involves washing parts of the body with water in preparation for ritual prayers and for handling and reading the Qur'an. According to Sunni Muslims (orthodox) and Shia Muslims (Shi'ites), the custom originates from the sixth ayat of Surah 5 (Al-Ma'ida) in the Qur’an. The Islamic faith lays extreme stress on cleanliness and according to the Muslim religion there are five senses i.e. the eyes, ears, nose mouth, hands and feet. The act of partial ablution (wudu) is thought to dull the senses in order to heighten all thoughts for the worship of the All-Mighty. Feet washing is one of four fard (obligatory) duties which must all be completed prior to prayer. In accordance the feet including the ankles are washed three to five times per day prior to prayer. Custom dictates the right foot is washed first from the toes to the ankles. There are variations but a common process is to use the little finger of the left hand and pass between the toes of both the feet beginning from the little toe of the right foot and ending with the little toe of the left foot. If socks are worn after Wudhu is made, the custom is to pass wet fingers over them instead of a full washing. This is acceptable for 24 hours provided the socks have not been removed. For practical reasons, during a journey travelers can make masah up to three days. When water is not readily available clean soil, rock, or sand is used to perform a ‘dry abution’ (tayammum).

Drunken chavs and stilettos: exercise prevention

According to experts sky-high footwear has led to a disturbing rise in injuries. According to a spokesman for NSW Paramedics (Australia) women are more likely to become injured while wearing high heels than while playing sports. Calls to attend the fallen with knee and head injuries, chest injuries, broken or fractured wrists, and busted fingers are on the increase as they  go down unexpectedly on concrete, stairs, or fall against a table while out to dinner. Invariably some level of intoxication is involved. Across the globe YouTube videos depict intoxicated chavs precariously tottering on sky-high stilettos. The same experts believe ladettes should seriouslypartake in the growing array of stiletto workouts, which guide participants through strength exercises as they balance on high heels. Proponents believe that performing these exercises in heels targets the calf muscles, quads and posterior in a new, more intense way. By spending more time in stilettos, participants also strengthen their ankles, which could help prevent the wobbles while wearing particularly tall heels. Many believe stiletto workout classes should be a prerequisite for young women wanting to mix boozing with wearing sky-high heels.

High Heel Workout at Crunch Gym: MyFoxLA.com

LeBron8 PS ready for the playoffs

LeBron James (Miami Heat)  unveiled his new signature shoe under the Air Jordan brand  - the new LeBron 8 PS. The shoe weighs 2.4 ounces less than the first version and is the lightest shoe in the Jordan range and was designed by Jason Petrie.

Diabetic neuropathy: New treatment guidelines

Diabetic nerve pain, or neuropathy, is caused by nerve damage due to high blood glucose levels. The precise pathology is unknown but it is estimated that diabetic nerve pain affects 16 percent of the more than 25 million people living with diabetes in the United States. The condition is often unreported and more often untreated, with an estimated two out of five cases not receiving care. The American Academy of Neurology has issued a new guideline on the most effective treatments for diabetic nerve pain, the burning or tingling pain in the hands and feet that affects millions of people with diabetes. The guideline is published in this month’s online issue of  Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and was presented  at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in Honolulu. This guideline was developed in collaboration with the  American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The recommendations of this guideline will serve as the foundation for a new set of tools the AAN is creating for doctors to measure the quality of care they provide people with nerve pain. The measures will be released in 2012.
 

High heels: Say cheese!

Fashion student Lisa Dillon, from Bath Spa University designed a quirky pair of high heel mules as part of a competition to promote the region's main agricultural industry i.e. dairy. She crafted (no pun intended) the 4-inch heels from stale bread and Cheddar cheese. To complete the creation she used melted West Country Cheddar to embellishment the top of her cheese sandwich platforms. The shoes and other exhibits will be on show at the Royal Bath and West Show, as part of a launch for a national "cheese couture" campaign, sponsored by the English brand Pilgrim's Choice.

The Power of Words

Redfoot: the Bacup marvel

Redfoot is a new range of fold-up pumps for  party-goers who want to kick off their high heels after a night out and walk home in comfort. The Redfoot range has a split sole which allows them to be folded away and stored in a small bag. Inspired by the royal wedding the Princess shoes are white satin pumps available in a range of sizes. Added comfort is assured, according to the manufacturer with the incorporation of onAir technology (tiny concealed wedge of foam which provides extra cushioning for the heel). Already the shoes are a big hit with  Suzanne Shaw (Emmerdale), and Kym Ryder (Coronation Street) photographed wearing them.

Kirstie’s footwear malfunction.

In front of Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) 30million viewers, Kirstie Alley sluded across the floor during a waltz and her left size 12-DDD red high heel shoe came off. Bravely she scrambled to put it back on and amazingly did not really lose the dance move. The offending shoe got hooked on her ankle during the spin which meant she could neither kick it off or put it back on. Ms Alley had borrowed a pair of dancing shoes for the occasion from Wendy Williams, one of last week’s eliminated dancers. She had been warned about ‘bad luck’ regarding discarded dancing shoes but lightly dismissed the superstition. Kirstie and her partner Maksim "The Ukrainian Kid" Chmerkovskiy have already had their share of bad luck when the couple fell during a previous outing.

Bone in a shoe: Guesome find

A worker recently found a bone inside a woman’s shoe along the Merrimack River, West Newbury, Massachuesetts. The bone has been sent to the medical examiner’s office to determine whether it is human. Despite no recent reports of missing persons in the area the discovery prompted a police search along the riverbank. The worker was picking up some of the estimated 4 to 8 million wastewater plastic disks accidentally discharged from a Hooksett, N.H., sewage treatment plant last month when he found the shoe.

Kirstie Alley looses a shoe

Matt McGinn Skinny Ma Linky Longlegs

Red Shoes Elvis Costello

Crocs are on the way up again

John McCarvel is the new boss of Crocs who are now building their own global store network. Other changes involve a reduction in the  workforce by more than 2,000, with factories shutting  in Canada and Brazil. Crocs' latest products include a kids' translucent range that change colour in the sun, as well as Croc Tone shoes, which claim to exercise the muscles. Crocs boffins are also working on the next generation of shoes, due later this year, made from "Croslite 2™". Claims are this new foam resin will be even more hard-wearing.

Style your sole Celebrity Auction

As part of WT's "21 Days of Change", the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum is hosting an eBay auction of 21 pairs of TOMS shoes decorated by a mix of local celebrities, regional artists, mayors and more. Because there were so many shoes, museum officials decided to break up the Style Your Sole Celebrity Auction into groups of seven per week. Bidding on all of the shoes starts at $50, with $20 for shipping in the U.S., but if you live in the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle, you have the option of picking up your winnings from the museum on April 24. Money raised in the auctions will go to 1 of 3 local non-profit agencies: the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum,  Amarillo Downtown Women's Center, and Meals on Wheels in Canyon.

Now we know why Louboutin's soles are red

Lady Gaga proved she is prepared to suffer for her art when she danced until her feet bled on the set of one of her music videos. The pop star wore a pair of sky-high Christian Louboutin shoes to film her LoveGame promo and considered stopping the shoot when she realised her strenuous routine was leaving her with deep cuts on her toes. But after some words of encouragement from her creative director Laurieann Gibson, Gaga resolved to keep dancing despite her bleeding feet.

Giant Chocolate Sandal in KL

At the International Shoe Festival 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, to be held in the Putra World Trade Centre there was a giant chocolate sandal made from 130kg of chocolate. The 3.06 meter long chocolate shoe is a scale model of an actual Nyonya-beaded shoe. Traditionally these are wedding shoes and this mouth-watering creation was made by YTL Hotel chief artist Frankie Lee using black chocolate, marzipan and cocoa.

Other attractions at this year’s exhibition include a Shoe History Gallery and an exclusive showcase of Malaysian shoe designer Datuk Jimmy Choo's couture footwear. On display are 10 pairs of rare old shoes signifying the history of shoe making in the region. The International Shoe Festival has 166 booths featuring local designers such as Zang Toi, Nose, Dr Cardin, Carlo Rino and Fiorucci.

Leg - Go Shoes: Whatever next?

Last month, British artist, Finn Stone unveiled one seriously funky fashion accessory at the Affortable Art Fair  in London: a pair of stilettos covered in hundreds of colorful little Lego blocks. The idea for his "LEG-GO Stilettos" came about after rummaging through a drawer filled with random junk at his house. The artist used a pair of cheap, plain, black high heels as the base for his project and piled on the Legos using a "top-secret" adhesive mixture from his supply of art glues. He used a lot of very small pieces because they were better for going around the corners of the shoe and filling in odd spots. Although he likes straight lines, the small blocks give the shoes a pixelated and multidimensional feel. According to the artist the art piece is completely wearable. The shoes are not available commercially. At their recent art debut the size 5 LEG-GO Stilettos were priced at about $2,600. If anyone is really interested in a pair, they should contact the artist.

If you wear red tonight - make sure its Louboutin's

The Red Sole has become synonymous with Christian Louboutin and high fashion but now Louboutin is suing fashion rival Yves Saint Laurent over the use of the colour red on shoe soles. According to Louboutin, he is the first designer to develop the idea of having red soles on women's shoes and has previously asked the company Yves Saint Laurent America, a subsidiary of the Gucci Group, to stop selling red-soled shoes in the same select Manhattan stores as he does. The suit asks for a U.S. judge to impose $1 million in damages and order YSL to stop manufacturing similar designs. Shortly after Louboutin founded his first boutique in 1991 in Paris, all his shoes have had red-lacquered soles. They can fetch more than $1,000 a pair. Christian Louboutin filed a trademark application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to protect his signature red-soled shoes.
In antiquity shoes carried many meanings and were not just symbols of social position they were also considered good luck charms. Appropriate footwear could invoke the favour of gods and avert evil so by the time of the Romans the colour of footwear had really taken on significant meaning. The art of dyeing was age old and people of substance had worn special colours usually with the more rare or expensive reserved for the well heeled. Julius Caesar (101-44 BC) liked gold trimmed, red boots with high heels. Red was the colour worn by the young at the time and it was generally considered incongruous for a man of his advancing years to wear red shoes. The height challenged Caesar defied criticism and continued to wear his favourite shoe with lifts for extra height.
Cardinals selecting the new pope behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel sported red leather shoes. No one appears to know the exact origins of red papal shoes although but they became very popular in the 17th & 18th Century. The red shoes are thought to be based upon imperial red/purple shoes. Excusive rights to wear imperial "purple" belonged to the emperors long before the origins of Christianity but as the Christian faith grew, emperors did bestow many privileges upon the Popes including the right to wear imperial insignia and colours about their dress. (Donation of Constantine 750-800). At first all popes wore black sandals then circa 1290, they took to wearing socks with their thongs. Some socks were violet (Hyacinth colour), the trendy liturgical colour of the time but as the years passed red socks became common. The red socks were not symbolic but instead a natural consequence of rich imported luxury of all kind. By the time of Nicolas V (15th century), shoes had replaced sandals and the only difference between the Pope and his bishops was the former had the right to have a cross on their shoes. This relates to kissing the Pope’s feet as a mark of respect and refers to foot washing. According to early renaissance paintings the elite feet of the Vatican were encased in beautiful red shoes. High ecclesiastics distanced themselves from the common masses by conspicuous refinement and extravagant ornamentation. When a Pope dies, the Pontiff’s body lies in state dressed in his funeral garments, which consist of a white cassock, scarlet chasuble (long sleeveless liturgical vestment) and red silk shoes.

TOMS - Thank you!

TOMS One Day Without Shoes 2011 - Will You Join Us? - Song "One Day" by ...

The freedom to walk again

National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is  National Sexual Assault Awareness Month, there will be a display at the Farley Library, Wilkes University. The case contains shoes belonging to a diverse array of people who have been victims of sexual assault and violence. Each shoe has a display card containing the story of the victim it represents.

Westwood and her Australian Jelly Shoes

On the catwalk Vivian Westwood has again used Australia’s Melissa shoes to complement her Spring collection. The extremely wearable and comfy jelly shoes come in a range of colours to complement theseason. In bubblegum scented rubber the rainbow colourways breathe life into the classy stilettos, wedges and ballet pumps of fashion staples. Westwood’s Anglomania shoes are decorated with the signature ribbons, skulls along with other Punked-up details. This makes them a definite must for all  born again punkettes at any age.

Bobby Robson's boots miss the goal

Recently an old pair of  Bobby Robson’s football boots  failed to sell when they went under the hammer. The unworn pair of size two boots, believed to have been owned by the England, Barcelona and Newcastle United manager when he was a schoolcboy, did not reach the reserve price of £300 during the auction at Thomas Watson’s in Darlington.  The boots were put up for sale by Sir Bobby’s childhood friend, Thomas Robson.

Footnote
Sir Bobby Robson’s boots have now been sold to a family of Toon fans. An anonymous collector paid £350 for the prized footwear. Mr Robson’s family have pledged to donate the money to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, a cancer-fighting charity set up in memory of the former Magpies and England boss.

Who bought Justin Bieber’s right shoe?

Jim Mitchell (52) of Kitchener, Ont., paid $1,425 for the purple Nike sneaker, which Justin Bieber autographed and donated to help raise money for his former high school’s broadcasting studio project. Mitchell motivation for bidding on eBay for the shoe was to honour his grandfather, who owned a broadcasting studio in Kitchener back in the 1930s. When he died in 1951, Mitchell’s family had to sell the studio because nobody knew how to properly run it. Mitchell says he wants future generations to be educated in broadcast communications. Mitchell is working out a deal with Stratford Northwestern Secondary School this week to figure out the best way to transport the shoe. The school still has the left shoe, also autographed, whose fate is yet to be determined. Mitchell says he would consider bidding on the left shoe if the school puts it on eBay. Only this time under an anonymous identity.

Soles4Souls face alleged irregularities

Millions of used shoes donated to a Tennessee-based charity, Soles4Souls allegedly end up being sold for profit, an investigation finds. Soles4Souls sends most of the shoes to for-profit wholesalers in return for a handling fee. The wholesalers ship the shoes abroad, where vendors sell them. The microenterprise program, as the group calls it, yielded Soles4Souls about $2.89 million in 2009, its tax returns show. According to a spokesperson the handling fees defray operating costs and the arrangement has approval of lawyers and outside auditors. The problem arises after Soles4Souls told the IRS the donated shoes were sent to charities to be given away. According to investigators Soles4Souls collected over 5.4 million pairs of new shoes in 2010, mostly excess inventory from manufacturers that get tax write-offs for the donations. These were sent to other charities to give away. However the group also took in 3.7 million pairs of used shoes last year and claimed $14.8 million in donations for them. It is alleged these used shoes went to for-profit wholesalers.

Goody two shoes: Virgin introduce the Dotty

Sir Richard Branson's VirginAtlantic Airways have announced the arrival of a new red shoe for female flight attendants on Virgin Atlantic. The new patent shoes called, "Dorothy" and Dotty," will make its debut on Virgin Atlantic's first flight of its new A330 from Manchester to Orlando next week. After listening to staffs' comments Virgin commisioned glamourous patent leather red shoes to be worn at the launch of their new Airbus A330 at Manchester Airport. By this summer, the shoes will be worn by female flight attendants on all planes.

Just a nibble: Something fishy?

Fish pedicures started in Asia but their popularity spread to most other countries. More recently health authorities have been concerned at fish foot therapy and the potential to spread infections between people through open wounds. In the UK the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has started to look more closely at the new phenomenon and already some US states have banned them. To date HPA has not received any reports of infections but intend to complete exhaustive investigation before publishing guidelines for the use of fish pedicures in the UK. Garra Rufa is a type of toothless carp used in beauty salons to nibble dead skin off. The fish are kept in baths and when the feet are submerged they eat the dead keratin flakes from the outer skin. The fish pedicures were popular in Asia but have spread to most countries. Salons are recommended to use UV-lit tanks which are constantly filtered to keep them clear of disease. However not all salons are registered and policing standards presents a major challenge.

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