The Great Shoe Roundup – Part I

One of the most fantastic shoe tales of all-time must be the one involving Imelda Marcus, a former beauty queen and First Lady of the Philippines, from 1965 to 1986. After being forced to flee her home during a political coup, it was revealed that she left 3,000 pairs of shoes behind. Females worldwide gasped in awe and disbelief.

It seems that, universally, women love to shop for – and own – lots of shoes. I am not one of them. As far as I’m concerned, shopping for shoes is more painful than a trip to the dentist. Now, let’s take a look at all the options currently on the market for the average female in 2015.

• The Pump, in its most classic form, is a lightweight, strapless shoe with a closed back, low-cut front and a rounded or pointed toe. Females have worn pumps for centuries. However, in the 1500s they were also worn by men and called “pompes.” Low-key pumps signify taste and elegance.

• The Slingback is a pump (or sandal) that features a strap at the heel of the foot. Elastic may be used to keep the slingback on one’s foot. The slingback became popular in the 1930s and features a pump front toe box or an open toe (peep toe pumps).

• The Platform makes one feel taller and adds a funky edge to any outfit. The modern platform has its roots in the 1970s disco era, but it can be traced back to the 15th century when females wore wood or cork ones that reached 20 inches high. And today? Super model, Naomi Campbell fell on a catwalk wearing 5-inch platforms with 9-inch heels.

• The Bootie is a cross between a shoe and a boot. It generally covers the top front of the foot. This type of footwear has been around for over 10 years and is also called a shootie. The bootie is shorter than an ankle boot, but the two terms are often used interchangeably.

• The Loafer is one of my favorites because it’s a no-hassle shoe that’s perfect for whipping around Manhattan. The loafer originated in the 1930s and was made by a company inspired by a shoe worn by Norwegian dairy farmers. Later, a coin was inserted into the penny loafer so one could make a call on a payphone. Today, the penny loafer is a classic, understated shoe with long-term fashion value.

NOW, LET’S LOOK AT HEELS

• Stiletto heels are long and thin (two-to-nine inches) and make the wearer’s legs look toned and sculpted.

• Kitten heels (1.5-to-two inches) are most common on sandals and are often preferred by tall females.

• Cone heels are round and broad at the top – then become narrower as they go down.

• Spool heels are broad at the top – curve gracefully inward at the middle and become wider at the bottom.

• Wedge heels are part of the sole and work well with jeans. This is a medium heel that falls between stilettos and kittens.  

PART II OF OUR “GREAT SHOE ROUNDUP” COMES NEXT WEEK

Shaun Nelson-Henrick

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