Wednesday 15 July 2015

Footwear is an emotional subject

Hi everyone, 

Voltan Pisa
Voltan Pisa
Why do we need to buy another pair of shoes when we have sufficient already?  Perhaps it’s because emotion and value are handled by the same part of the brain.  Apparently US researchers have discovered that this is the reason we find ourselves unable to make impartial judgements when we get the urge to splurge.

No one needs to tell me that there is an emotional engagement when it comes to shoe buying, lord knows I have to give myself a very good talking to every time the new season’s styles come via my office for photographing.  I really don’t need another pair, but then again,  I really, really do!

Unisa Nick sling-back by Macsamillion
Unisa Nick Peep-Toe
I think most people would understand when I say that shoes can have a direct affect on how we feel.  I went to a golf club cup presentation evening hosted by a close friend and newly appointed club captain (the first female to be given the job in the club’s history).  She wore a very high pair of platform sandals for the event and these added to her own height of 5’10” meant she towered above everyone in attendance.  In the short time she’d been captain she’d been challenged very unpleasantly by a few of the other failed captaincy candidates, all male. She told me the head height gain definitely gave her a sense of empowerment, a sense of “Yep! I won and Yep! I am a girl!!”. Between you and me, her sharp wit and natural authoritative air would fend off the most hostile of opponents but she simply felt stronger in a pair of heels.

Crockett and Jones Westbourne by Macsamillion
Crockett and Jones Westbourne
Women are not alone in attaching an emotion to footwear.  My colleagues in store have seen many a young man arrive to purchase their first pair of smart work shoes and hear their delight in immediately feeling more business like (even if, at the time, they are wearing underwear revealing jeans).  Fathers often introduce their sons to their favourite brand of shoes. There’s a sense of club membership for those who wear a pair of British made Goodyear Welted shoes.  So, for some men, there is a sense of prestige attached to wearing traditionally made quality shoes.

It’s long been a tradition to keep our children’s first shoe, perhaps because it represents a memory of their first steps.  So, why not their first toothbrush?  The buying process for a first pair of shoes is an

emotional moment for a parent, it can be a significant investment and represents a child’s progression from infancy to toddlerhood. So there can be nostalgia attached to a pair of shoes. I have kept my last pair of pointe ballet shoes, I’ll never wear them again but they represent an important and fond part of my childhood.

Finally, I read an article this week about a resilient Syrian refugee and his struggle with a long and traumatic separation from his family.  Running through his story is a pair of shoes he bought but would not wear until his final reunion with his mother some 12 years later.  Why shoes?  Who really knows, it could just as easily have been a suit or a hat.  Perhaps he had the idea that the shoes would take him to his mother. The article, by the BBC,  doesn’t say but he keeps the same pair of shoes safely to this day.   
Mephisto Cedric by Macsamillion
Mephisto Cedric men's walking boot

Shoes have a huge significance in our lives. They are a form of armament, adornment and lets face it, most of the time, walking without them in the modern world would be most unpleasant.

Have another great week and if you have any shoe tales to tell, do tell me. You can email me -danielle@macsamillion.co.uk

Best wishes
Danielle

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Tattoo'd shoes! Whatever next?

Hi all

Guy West seen here in the black suit
Those of you who are subjected to our facebook posts and emails will know we had a visit in store from Guy West of Jeffrey West fame at the weekend.  He bought along his chum Aasen a very fine tattoo artist who showed us how you can adorn already beautiful shoes with motifs and script.  Sadly, this is not an ongoing service in-store but it was a fun promotional exercise and one we will probably repeat.


I took my husband, Jamie, along with his new pair of Jeffrey West Gibsons.  He was delighted at the idea of becoming a little bit rock'n roll and get his very first tattoo. I'd already identified an attractive moth motif that I thought would be very nice on the heel of one shoe but I had to halt proceedings after he had a second design added to the centre front of the other - a very graphic monkey's behind! There was no telling where his enthusiasm might end if I allowed a third.  Working in the City and not in a particularly liberal environment, I can just imagine the eyebrow raising that the monkey's rear might generate at Jamie's next important meeting. If you'd asked me which of my family I would have to stop from getting a tattoo, it would have been one of my teenage kids, not my silver haired husband. Whatever next? A motorbike?  He must be suffering a bit of post midlife madness!


From left to right - Aasen, Richard our very own Dandy and shoe shine expert,
myself and Jamie


My husband's mischief did not end with his own shoes. When told that a rather striking pair of, flame healed, Chelsea Boots were being adorned for an executive from Dell Computers, he told Aasen to add a discreet Apple motif somewhere. It's a jolly good job Jamie wasn't let lose with the tattoo gun!

A very fine pair of Chelsea boots for the Dell exec






There are few opportunities for suited men to show off their individuality and flamboyance but shoes are definitely one area that can help them to stand out from the crowd.  The classic construction of Jeffery West shoes are a perfect example of taking something traditional and giving it an edge. These shoes have beautiful touches to their brogue detailing and often a humorous surprise in the lining or on the sole,
even without a tattoo they turn heads.  I am currently campaigning for us to stock the ladies styles in this brand. I want a tattoo too!







Here's a sneaky preview of some of the new men's styles on their way to us next month (wine not included).
Meyer
Novikov sole
Novikov
Doomsday

Bye for now
Danielle







Thursday 2 July 2015

Mary-Ann goes clubbing!





I learnt something last week, aside from selling the best that we can find in footwear for stylish men and women, we also sell appropriate foot apparel for club goers!
 
Ok, so maybe not the type of clubbers that first spring to mind but nonetheless a lively bunch who most definitely have, in their minds at least, a spring in their steps.
Mary-Ann, one of our Directors and our very own high priestess of foot health at the Foot Foundation store, went to visit the members of the Bampton Bush Club recently.  A happy band of senior ladies and gentlemen who meet every week in the Old School Community Centre for a chat and a spot of lunch.  Organisations and individuals with something to share are invited to visit the club and inform the clubbers on a variety of topics.  So off clubbing Mary-Ann did go!

Microphone in hand, Mary-Ann offered to give her audience a rendition of “I will survive” but they preferred to hear about what makes for a good fitting shoe and were surprised to find out their foot shape was not necessarily what they had believed it to be for many years.  Many complained that in general shoes hurt them and it was clear to Mary-Ann that had they understood their foot shape better, they could perhaps have avoided this.  However, we all know we are guilty of buying footwear we love the look of over and above the comfort they offer.

If, like me, you were raised in pair of well-fitted Clarks shoes you’ll know how ridiculous it is that all that parental care and attention was completely abandoned once fashion become a priority in ones teens.  I remember well the feeling of crippled feet after a night out at the disco!


Sensible shoes are not just for the very young or elderly but it stands to reason that the older we get the more we acquire aches and pains and therefore the need for a more sensible shoe is more commonplace.  “Sensible does not mean unattractive”, says Mary-Ann.  In fact, she has been raging a war against ugly specialist fit footwear for some time now and gets increasingly more excited each time she finds a brand with a nod to current fashion.

Back to the Bush Club, I wasn’t there, but the feedback was very interesting both from Mary-Ann’s perspective and the hosts.

Common foot conditions and complaints were raised i.e., Plantar Faciitis, fallen arches, bunions and more and it was clear that many people were not aware that there is real relief to be had by simply wearing footwear that corrects the foot placement either by being fitted correctly, the right material in the shoe being used or by having orthotics added. (I’ll go into the Lynco Orthotics another time but you can find out a little more on “How it works” here. These are not the sort of orthotic that is medically prescribed, but they are an amazing tool for Mary-Ann and her team when getting a shoe correctly fitted for a customer.)


Since opening the Foot Foundation store, 2 years ago, Mary-Ann has learnt that the key to everyone’s foot comfort is through education and that, rather than offering a cure to her customers each time, it would be so much better if people came to her before problems arose.  She says, “We need to properly understand our foot shape and posture, choose our footwear wisely and take early steps to prevent many of the commonplace foot complaints”.  So, don’t think you have to be a senior clubber to qualify for sensible footwear!  There are some real footwear gems out there that offer style and keep your feet healthy.
 
Finally, to get more of us to think about foot health, the trick surely is to make the shoes desirable in the first place.   I do hope some of you splendid footwear manufactures out there are reading this!!!!

Have a great week everyone and in this heat, treat your feet!  Mine are treated to a pair of Birkenstocks – I couldn’t live without them and “NO!” they are not just for German tourists!

Danielle