Shoes and online shopping

Online shopping has been accused of turning retail stores into ghost-lands and contributing to the financial loss that large department stores have been experiencing.

News.com.au recently reported that retailers have become frustrated with the amount of customers opting for the ‘try-before-you-buy’ method, trying on products in store and then purchasing them online for a lower price. Retailers are considering charging customers a ‘try-on’ fee in the hope of reaping some rewards.

Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn told News.com.au that, ”the idea of paying a fee which you would forfeit if you didn’t buy the thing would be right up there with the most unpalatable of ideas.”

“Retailers worth their salt know full well if you start charging people the equivalent of admission to try on products it’s going to turn people away.”

But the ‘try-before-you-buy’ method is the least of their worries, with retail’s number one priority being how to complete with online shopping.

PricewaterhouseCoopers recently released a report stating that,

online shopping expenditure will reach $13.6 billion this calendar year, up 13 per cent from $12bn last year.

With international stores such as ASOS, Urban Outfitters, Sax Fifth Avenue and more offering Australian consumers cheaper prices on quality products and a reasonable delivery fee, it’s easy to see where PwC is getting its figures.

However, Clare Maclean, Fashion Editor of Grazia Australia, believes that there’s more to it than cheaper prices,”People are saying that retail is in a slump, but it’s my personal belief that Australian shoppers are getting increasingly online-savvy and are looking for and getting great value online and that’s left a huge hole in the local market.”

So how does this relate to shoes? Of course they too are sold online, but not all consumers are happy to simply purchase clothing and accessories off the internet, and with shoes being a product not easily altered, how does the consumer feel about purchasing them online?

Eleanor Reader, 21, believes there’s no issue in purchasing shoes online and sees the benefits of online shopping on a larger scale.

“The main reason I buy shoes online is because they are so much cheaper than in Australian stores. Also, Australia doesn’t even have a great variety of brands and styles either, so instead of walking around hoping to spot something you like, you can jump online in the comfort of your own home and look at three times as many that are also much cheaper.”

Miss Reader purchased her latest pair of shoes from Free People, an American online store that ships to Australia for only $8.00 standard delivery.

And while that seems like a reasonable price, if not a bargain, ASOS ships to Australia for exactly $0.00 standard delivery and offers 10% off your next purchase if the delivery arrives later than originally stated.
Mel.

Melbourne Cup Day fashions

It’s no secret that Melbourne Cup Day is no longer just about which horse wins the big race. With each year that passes, the fashion on the field edges its way further onto centre stage with the media not far behind. A large focus is put on the outfits and fascinators that adorn the heads of celebrities and lay people alike.

One of the biggest highlights for the fashion-loving ladies at the races is the Myer Fashions on the Field competition where race day attendees strut their stuff on stage and watchers are able to vote on the best outfit for the day.

Myer Fashions on the Field are held at various race courses throughout the spring racing season during various carnivals.

However this interest in fashion at the races hasn’t been a recent discovery. According to the Melbourne Cup official website, the history of fashion at the races goes back to the 1960s at the Flemington races.

The VRC’s Fashions on the Field was instigated in 1962, following initiatives implemented by a VRC sub-committee set up in 1960 to promote the Centenary Cup. The contest formed part of the ‘Fashions, Flowers and Favourites’ celebration and was an attempt to ‘woo more women to the races’.

It was not until the 1970s that brands such as Schweppes, Fletcher Jones and Myer stepped in to sponsor the event and give the carnival a makeover.

Now prizes are given to the best dressed ladies and gents and special invitation-only competitions are held for Design and Millinery.

But let’s talk about t the shoes that graced the racecourse for a moment.

It seemed to be a year of nude coloured heels with personalities and celebrities such as Sonia Kruger, Rachael Finch, singer Ricki-Lee Coulter and model Ashley Hart opting for neutral tones in tans, beiges and creams.

Brights also made their mark on the toes of Brynne Edelsten, Rebecca Judd, Kate Twigley and Sass&Bide designers Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton.

And as for the girl who won Fashion on the Field? It was won buy 24-year-old Sarah Schofield from Geelong.

Watch the slideshow below for images from the day, take note of the shoes!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Mel.

The shoe debate: fashion VS comfort

A survey conducted in America last year found that 48% of American women attempt to balance fashion and comfort when it comes to purchasing shoes. The survey was conducted by Kiwi Shoe Care and surveyed  507 American women aged 18 years and older.

Kiwi Shoe Care offers this advice to shoe buyers looking for style and comfort:

• Break ‘em in. Women should wear their heels around the house for an afternoon  - especially if they are brand new. This allows women to notice problems, like blister areas, before they become painful – and helps women take the necessary steps to correct any issues before wearing the shoes in public.
• Don’t feel the burn. Women don’t have to experience that horrible burning sensation in the balls of their feet and heels. KIWI recommends women pick up some insoles for their shoes to provide extra cushioning and enhanced comfort to those sensitive pain points in the feet.
• Fill the gap. If one’s foot is constantly sliding down her shoe, jamming her toes in the point, and creating a gap between the back of her shoe and her heel, her shoes don’t fit. Women can place heal liners in the backs of their shoes to help fill the gap between the heel and the back of the shoe – keeping her foot in place and minimizing toe pain.
• Always have backup. Women should keep a pair of trusty sneakers or flats handy in the event that they truly can’t make it through the rest of the day in heels. Her feet will appreciate the break!

But what do Australian women [and men] look for when purchasing shoes?

Charlotte Beniuk, 23, said that for her it, depends on the occasion.

“If I’m looking for a work shoe, then I obviously want something comfortable that I can stand in all day. Unfortunately that also tends to mean it’s a little ugly. If I’m looking for something to go out in on the weekend, then I wan’t something pretty, high-heeled  but something I can still walk in.”

However, Haroula Kioroglou, 45, feels that beauty is indeed worth the pain, “I choose style, even in a sneaker, then if it looks good you check for comfort. At [my son's] christening I wore a pair of shoes that made my toes numb for a week, but man they were hot.”

I kept a look out for what was trending in my local shopping centre on the weekend:

So what are some brands that attempt to combine fashion and comfort?

Diana Ferrari

Diana Ferrari is an Australian brand that carries two lines, Diana Ferrari and Supersoft by Diana Ferrari. The latter is specifically targeted at customers who are looking for shoes with built in comfort and support.

Hush Puppies

Hush Puppies is another brand that focuses on comfort and attempts to build in style but aims at an older target market.

Naturalizer

Naturalizer falls somewhere between Diana Ferrari and Hush Puppies, filling the gap and offering shoes that go from office chic to evening glamour without pinching your toes.

For ideas on how to make painful shoes are little more comfortable, read my post Surviving hell in high heels.

Mel.

Shoe sellers feel the economic crunch

Interior of Taylor's Shoes Maroubra

With the GFC and the current retail slump affecting stores left, right and centre, small shoe stores can’t escape the strain of the economic crisis.

Taylor’s Shoes is a small, family owned chain of shoe stores which was first opened over 70 years ago. The company expanded from one to almost ten stores all over Sydney and in 2007 relocated its Bondi Junction store to Maroubra.

In 2007, the company had five stores open, four in the western suburbs of Sydney and one is the east. This year, two of those six stores have closed down with the third store to close at the end of October.

With 20% off the more expensive brands such as Diana Ferrari, RMK, Bon Bons, Hush Puppies and Naturalizers, Taylor’s Shoes is struggling on by. With the Maroubra stores initial budgets in 2007 ranging between $15,000-$20,000 a week, they’re now scraping in between $5,000-$10,000 Sunday-Saturday.

Despite this, employee Janice Farrelly says the store is not as worse off as it could be:

With only four employees, the small shoe store is barely hanging in, with an imminent close-down scheduled for August 2012. However, financial crisis aside, customers are still trickling in, looking for that perfect pair of shoes. I asked Janice about what younger women look for in a shoe:

Mel.

Fashion Week recap: shoe trends

With fashion week all wrapped up in Paris, New York, Milan and more, it’s time for the fashion savvy to be on the look out for what’s new in the world of shoes.

The Spring/Summer Ready To Wear collections for 2012 brought us garments in vibrant colours, graphic prints and modern cuts. It was no different in the shoe department either, with sky-high heels, eye-catching patterns and bone breaking designs.

New York:

New York Spring/Summer Fashion Week 2012 brought us designers such as Donna Karan, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Zero + Maria Cornejo and a whirl wind more. Ankle straps were a common trend across many designers and shoes came in pastels, metalics and vibrant blues.

Betsey Johnson

Betsey Johnson was one such designer that brought out the blue shoe in the form of a boot with crystals spread along them like sand.

Preen

Preen strayed away from the winter boot but brought out a shoe that covered all but the heel and toe and crept up the ankle.

Carolina Herrera

Caroline Herrera painted the perfect picture of pain in her high-heeled wedge with a dash of green and transparent straps. Another big trend on the runway this season.

Vera Wang

Vera Wang leant towards the space age with her ultra strappy stiletto, lending her colour palette to greys and whites and following in Herrera’s foot steps with straps in strange places.

Paris:

Paris Fashion Week saw artists such as Sonia Rykiel, Balmain, Jean-Paul Gaultier and more send their newest designs down the runway. Following in New York’s footsteps with bright colours and strappy stilettos, Paris also made their own mark on this season’s collections with a focus on the boot, extra embellishments and the dash of neutral colours such as white, tan and black.

Jean-Paul Gaultier

Jean-Paul Gaultier created an ankle boot with a twist. A neutral beige covered in an intricate blue print, this boot has everything bar a sturdy heel. A design not uncommon among the artistic shoe designers, Gaultier’s boot conveniently places the heel under the ball of the foot, tapping into the wedge trend seen in New York.

Balenciaga

Balenciaga also borrowed from the boot this season, presenting a cut out shoe with ankle flaps. Colour contrasts were created, mixing black straps with neutral and vibrant colours.

Balmain

Balmain brought out embellished boots in black. The designers opted for a thick, sturdy heel with an eye-catching zip crawling up the back of the ankle.

Viktor & Rolf

Victor & Rolf was one of many designers who opted for bright colours. The designers also played around with the design of the shoe, pushing the heels further back and lengthening them for height.

Milan:

This fashion capital showcased the likes of Bottega Veneta, Versace, Missoni and many more. It is in Milan that perhaps the brightest of colours were brought out and the designs were at the most extreme.

Acne

Acne brought out a lower heel but followed the strappy trend and through in a neutral palette. It also went for an upsize on embellishment with giant tassles on the ankle strap.

Blumarine

Blumarine brought spring in with the common throw towards floral designs, however the concept was brought into 3D with floral arrangements decorating the shoe.

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Venetta brought out the wedge and mixed it with a metallic ankle strap. The designers also leant themselves to a basic heel and kept their footwear simple and wearable.

Versace

Versace opted for the transparent platform with strappy detailing and studded embellishments. Height was a must in this collection and colours remained neutral.

Accessories designer Sergio Rossi showcased his latest collection in Milan and gives us some insight into his inspiration for the collection.

It’s time to be on the look out for all these trends in the coming seasons and stock up for the year to come!

Mel.

Shoes for him

While many women feel a strange excitement at the discovery of a new, ‘gorgeous’ shoe, it can also be possible for men to get a little excited over that new, ‘awesome’ shoe too.

But with women having so many different styles to choose from, such as the stiletto, court, kitten heel or flat, what do men have to choose from? Below is a list of shoes for men to seek out.

I spoke to Alexander a 24-year-old student, and George a 59-year-old trade worker, and asked them which shoes they would or wouldn’t purchase and why.

The Sandal

Alexander: “No, They look like something my dad would wear.”
George: “Yes, these are good for everyday.”

The Moccasin
Alexander: “Maybe, it’s like grandpa slipper meets trendy.”
George: “I have a pair of these without the laces, they are comfortable and good to wear out to dinner.”

The Dress shoes:

Laced

Alexander: “A bit too formal to wear except to a wedding.”
George: “These are too formal for everyday wear but they’re great for special occasions.”

Lace-less

Alexander: “Definitely. They’re the pair of shoes every guy should own.”
George: “These are another good pair to wear out for dinner.”

The Sneaker
Alexader: “Only for the gym, sneakers should never be worn unless running, never!”
George: “I only wear these when I go for walks, other than that they just sit in the shoe closet. I probably won’t be buying a new pair anytime soon.”

The Thong
Alexander: “Trendy thongs are a bit of a waste of money, I always seem to lose one.”
George: “Yes, good quality thongs are great to wear around the house and to the beach.”

The Boot
Alexander: “Yeah, I think I’d probably buy a pair.”
George: “Other than to work, I don’t wear boots so I probably wouldn’t invest in a pair like these.”

The making of the shoe

Mesopotamia

The first shoe is said to have been invented by the mountain people of Mesopotamia in 1600-1200BC, a simple, leather, wraparound sandal that after many centuries has been turned into the shoes we wear today.

In today’s age shoes are no longer solely built to protect the feet from harsh ground or weather. They are now built for comfort as well as style.

As we all know, shoes come in a range of materials, from leather to satin, plastic, suede and synthetic imitations of all such materials.

But how often do you wonder about how exactly shoes are made? My guess is rarely.

So your answer?

The moment this question enters your mind you may imagine an old, run down factory somewhere in Asia where small children labour over running shoes and get paid less than one Aussie buck.

The Vegan Peace website states that,

“The International Labor Organization (ILO) has estimated that 250 million children between the ages of five and fourteen work in developing countries. 61% in Asia, 32% in Africa and 7% in Latin America. Many of these children are forced to work. They are denied an education and a normal childhood. Some are confined and beaten. Some are denied the right to leave the workplace and go home to their families. Some are even abducted and forced to work.”

The website also states that many shoes are made in sweatshops, with sneakers and athletic shoes being the most popular.

Nike and Reebok are two brands that have been under fire for the working conditions of their staff in the past, and have since done their best to improve conditions and move away from the ‘sweatshop’ label.

However not all shoes are made at the expense of children in sweatshops. Vegan Peace offers a list of sweatshop-free shoe retailers that make their shoes ethically and from organic materials.

But if you want the fancy shoes without the morbid back story, search out for someone who makes shoes by hand. Or even learn to make them yourself!

Shoes of Prey is a small Australian company that hand-makes stylish shoes according to the design and colour that you want. The company has even created a Youtube clip that shows customers how their shoes are hand-made.

Mel.

Fashion as art

Fashion and art are constantly bring intertwined by designers and artists around the world to bring consumers pieces that push the boundaries and are purely for visual pleasure rather than practicality (most especially when it comes to fashion). In the last few years, designers such as Alexander McQueen and Christian Louboutin have combined fashion with art to create masterpieces that have begun to  nestle themselves in fashion history.

In 2010, designer Alexander McQueen created a shoe that pushed all the boundaries stylistically and physically. Nicknamed the ‘Armadillo’ shoe, curved with a killer heel, this shoe from the 2010 Spring Runway Show challenged expectations and stood out against other designers.

On receiving a pair, the writers behind the Vogue.co.uk blog attempted to give the artistic shoes a whirl:

“Even the most seasoned among the Vogue fashion team were quite literally staggered by the arrival of these Alexander McQueen mega shoes. Dubbed the “armadillos”, these python numbers dwarf even the most towering stilettos. Measuring an otherworldly 12

 inches tall, we couldn’t resist giving them a whirl, but miserably failed to make it further than the Vogue fashion cupboard. How those McQueen models made it down the runway is beyond us. Respect is due.”

In 2011, shoe designer Christian Louboutin launched a new collection and advertised the shoes in the style of many well known paintings, featuring footwear that blends in with the paintings surroundings.

To see the entire campaign click here.

However this does not seem to be the only way in which shoes can be involved on an artistic level. The Shoe Buff has complied 30 art works that base the shoe as their centre. Ranging from advertisements to actual artistic pieces, the shoe is brought into a different light using various materials and illusions.

Shoes have also played an important role in film. The Devil Wears Prada aside, the latest shoe to be brought to attention is the Nike sneaker. Its debut in the film Back To The Future has finally done the shoe justice as Nike has attempted to create the self-lacing shoe that also lights up. Don’t get too excited though, the shoe lacks the magical function of lacing itself but according to the advertisement featuring Christopher Walkin, there’s possibility for the future.

Mel.

Surviving hell in high heels

Men and women both experience foot pain from shoes that don’t fit right because they are too small, too tight or the shape and style of the shoe aren’t right for your feet. Add to this, a sky-high heel which places all your weight on the balls of your feet and you’re most certainly in shoe-hell.

Journalist Collette Bouchez from WebMD interviewed podiatrist Stuart Mogul, DPM, and asked him how exactly high heels and shoes that are too small can cause foot pain,

In addition to restricting the foot, you are also increasing the weight on the area that is restricted, so you’re not only crushing your toes, but you’re crushing them and then putting weight on them, and that’s a problem.

So what are some ways to improve comfort in shoes that are too tight or give you blisters?

Optimistic Lifestyle gives us a few tips on how to keep your feet feeling pain-free while wearing high heels:

• Choose the heels lower than 3 inches and the thicker ones.
• Change shoes every day or even several times a day. Put on some comfortable shoes at work to distribute the pressure on your feet.
• Don’t show bad example to your children. Now girls begin to wear high heels from the early age. The skeleton is forming up to 20 years, and if the teenager spoils it with the help of high heels, it will be practically impossible to heal it.
• Choose shoes to fit well. Too tight or, vice versa, too loose shoes can cause different diseases, even without high heels.
• If you are going to go to the disco on high heels, before dancing, walk a little in your apartment or on the pavement. To make your feet more or less accustomed to this situation and then dancing won’t be a great shock for them.

Apart from these tips, there are also products out there that can help with problem areas. Brands such as Scholl Party Feet have various products to support and protect feet from pain. Scholl’s Gel Cushions can be placed in the shoe where the ball of the foot sits to provide extra comfort in high heels. Scholl also has Blister Plasters which help relieve and heal blisters while still allowing you to wear heels and sandals without pain. You can see their whole range here.

Scholl Party Feet Gel Cushions

Scholl Party Feet Blister Plasters

For leather shoes that you’re in a hurry to stretch, you can find shoe stretch sprays. Spray the area of the shoe which you wish to stretch and place your foot in immediately. You can find sprays and tips on how to stretch your shoes at shoestretcherspray.com.

If you have issues with shoes causing you to slip and fall, the below Youtube video gives some ideas on how to prevent shoes from slipping on slippery surfaces:

 

Mel.

Shoes of all sorts

Shoes are an important part of our daily uniform, and we all know that they come in more than one style, size, colour, shape and so on. For some men perhaps they are merely a necessity while for others they are a reflection of their fashion sense. For women however, shoes can be a necessity, a fashion statement and a murder weapon.

According to a survey conducted by ShopSmart magazine in March 2011, the average woman owns 17 pairs of high-heels. ShopSmart magazine surveyed 1000 women and found that the average woman spends approximately $49 on each new pair with only 31 per cent spending over $100 on a single pair.

Perhaps for some 17 pairs of heels sounds like a whopper of a number, but for others (like myself), it sounds fairly ordinary. This number does not include flats, boots, thongs, uggs, or sneakers, that is a minimum of another 5 pairs right there.

Men on the other hand seem to vary on the amount of shoes an average male owns.

The TIME Style and Design Poll from 2006 found that:

 Nearly two-thirds (63%) of men own 10 pairs of shoes or less with the average being 12 pairs. A large majority (82%) of women on the other hand, own 11 pairs of shoes or more with the average being 27 pairs. Two-in-five (19%) women confess to having more than 50 pairs of shoes, compared to only 4% of men.

However according to the author behind Anthropology In Practice, men admit to only having between 4-5 pairs of shoes.

So with figures like these, it makes you wonder what drives men and women to buy a new pair of shoes. Perhaps it is somewhat like the below diagrams found on cracked.com?

Women:

click to enlarge

Men:

click to enlarge

How many shoes do you own and what do you consider when buying a new pair?

Fill out the poll below to find out how many shoes you own compared to your girlfriends or mates!

Mel.