Sensible Shoes

Grey Courts

According to a recent article in The Times, the time to wear sensible court shoes is now! Classic courts are dependable and grown up, so how do you make sure you don’t look too sensible?

Well try buying court shoes in a colour instead of black. My daughter Natalie has a pair of Small Measures Grey Courts which I think look great as an alternative to black for work.

Should tights be worn with open-toe shoes?

It used to be taboo to wear coloured tights with open-toe shoes, but now everyone is doing it from designers to celebrities. This article poses the question and recommends that if you are going to follow the trend you wear your coloured tights with shoes that have thick heels, platform soles or wide straps. You can also match your tights to your shoe colour to help elongate your legs.

It’s nice to be able to bring some colour to our winter wardrobes in this way and I think our leather peep toes with snakeskin would look great worn like this!

Can you have too many shoes?

A recent article in The Sun told the story of a mum with a £50,000 shoe collection! This lady owns around 400 pairs of shoes, which has led to the decision to buy a larger house to accommodate them all. So the question is, is there such a thing as having too many shoes? And how many is too many?

I used to have a tiny collection of shoes as I found it so difficult to find shoes that fit me but, since starting Small Measures, I’m sure you can imagine I have a huge choice and my collection is getting bigger and bigger! We are constantly looking for new styles to add to our collection and each time we find more, my own shoe collection seems to expand!

Peekaboo

Peep Toe Boot Shoe

What do you think of wearing peep toe shoes and boots in winter? I am writing this with the snow falling outside, which is perhaps not the most obvious time to be wearing shoes with a toe cut out. However peep toe shoes are still very fashionable, even in these colder months. Read this article for more information on current shoe trends.

Extreme shoes

Shoe designs are now wackier than ever with heels getting higher and higher, so that shoes with a 4″ (10cm) heel are actually quite low compared to some shoes which now have 6″ heels (15cm)! However, this article in The Independent questions whether heels have peaked and the next trend will be flats, but concludes that the extreme shoe trend still has a way to go…

Shoefiti – What is it?

Have you ever seen shoes hanging by their laces over utility lines? – apparently this is called “Shoefiti” and was particularly popular in the 1980s. Explanations for the phenomenon are almost unlimited but possible meanings in America include: a way of marking gang territory, advertising the availability of drugs, commemorating a milestone (e.g. graduation/coming-of-age event), a form of artistic expression, or simply something to do for fun. However it’s not just a harmless prank, the practice leads to concerns for possible power outages and safety. Click here to read more about Shoefiti.

What do his shoes tell you?

A book has been published called “Never Trust A Man in Alligator Loafers: What His Shoes Really Say About His True Love Potential”. It looks at how the shoes a man wears on a date can indicate his romantic personality and how he will treat a woman! For example, a man who wears hiking boots is said to be a loyal partner (as long as you don’t make him feel tied down), whereas a man wearing designer shoes is looking for a trophy woman. To find out more read the full article.

Nude Shoes

Apparently “Nude” is the next big colour for shoes, referring to a pink-beige-coffee colour. They make your legs look longer (good for any petite ladies with shorter legs!) and look great for spring and summer. If you have darker skin then you can get the look by choosing shoes to match your skin tone. See more by clicking here. Here are some of the nude styles at Small Measures:

  

 

Shoe Fashions in 2009

The following information on current shoe trends has been written for Small Measures by Secretsales.com:

The earliest known shoes date from 8000BC and were found in the USA in 1938, they were merely designed to protect the feet. Today in 2009, the range of shoes available is massive and you don’t have to spend a fortune for a designer look.When it comes to heels, skyscraper is the key. Victoria Beckham, Christina Aguilera and Gwyneth Paltrow are never on the red carpet without heels that elongate the leg. A subtle platform is now also fashionable, as seen in such styles as the much-imitated YSL Tribute shoe. A classy pair of sky-high black peep toe stilettos is a must for any fashion-savvy girl in 2009 as they can be worn with skinny jeans, LBDs and even city shorts. If you love being half a foot taller but don’t fancy teetering on skinny stiletto heels then try the still very much on-trend wedge style. Wedge-sandals are the only style to be seen in with your retro flared jeans a la Cheryl Cole.

If you are tall enough to not need heels or just don’t want that pain in your feet, flats are still very much acceptable in the trends of 2009. Flat delicate ballet pumps are certainly still in style and look great with your black office trousers or cute floral tea dresses. If you have short or chunkier legs then take care when wearing pumps as they aren’t as flattering for legs that aren’t long and slim, but a good tip is to wear neutral coloured pumps. Shoes close to your skin tone will elongate anyone’s legs and look subtle and elegant. This is a look favoured by Lindsey Lohan. For a really cute look, try wearing neutral pumps with little denim shorts this summer.

Though great replicas of designer styles can be found on the high street today, Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik are still on every fashionista’s wish list and can be found in a select few stores in the fashion capitals of the world such as London or New York. They are also available online and will eventually become vintage collectables.

Even the cheap ‘throwaway’ shoes available for pocket money in some high street shops should be cared for carefully to prolong their life. Leather shoes can be cleaned and polished to keep them looking like new. Satin-style shoes can have the dirt brushed off them and patent leather shoes can be wiped clean with soap and water.

Vintage Shoes

A new book called “Vintage Shoes – Collecting and wearing twentieth-century designer footwear” has been published. It looks at collecting and wearing vintage shoes, with chapters on the important periods between 1900 and today. This article on the subject also mentions how “The female foot of 50 years ago was much smaller than today’s. Those who collect from the turn of the century are astonished that an adult shoe from 1900 could be worn by anyone over the age of nine.”