DSW Gender Challenged

Hi there, it's been a while since my last post.
This is holiday season, and I had to use a DSW $10 coupon today before it expires.
Where I live, there are two DSW stores. This weekend is apparently clearance weekend also, so I head to the clearance racks. In the first store, I try a Born brown, flat lace up shoe of my usual size... Tighter than usual. I look at the size chart. US fine, UK looks fine too. European size: 39...
Yeah, that's small. I look further. It says Women's! The name of the shoe model is also feminine! Heading to the next store. I see a nice Puma sneaker on clearance and proceed to try it on. It's canvas and dark blueish, not commonly seen with Puma for men's shoes. Again, tighter than usual, I look at the labels, and discover the tags say Euro size is 39, and somewhere it says woman on the box. This time around, I notify a sales person of the defect. W
If that were for other shoes, there could be opportunities in these stores to buy shoes from the other sex.

Happy holiday shopping, and watch the labels carefully!

Fw: Sexiest shoes of the year

Sexiest shoes of the year are here!

Fw: Under $50: 20 Pairs of Fall Shoes

How about a same deal for men??

Fw: Inside Atlanta Hawks SG Joe Johnson's shoe closet

"The Atlanta Hawks SG shows off his wardrobe and high-security shoe museum"

500 square feet! 20 feet high! 436 pairs of sneakers, mostly Nike Air Jordan!

Fw: ‘Back To The Future Sneakers’ Might Become Reality

Original post

Fw: What Outlet Malls Don't Want You to Know

This Y! Shine article tells about what I like to call the "warehouse" version of designer brands.

My favorite example involves the famous Cole Haan "Pinch" dress shoe (colors: black, burgundy, no Nike Air):

• In retail and department stores, the Cole Haan Pinch Penny, Pinch Tassel, and Pinch Buckle shoes typically sell for $148. This may include Cole Haan boutiques inside shopping malls.
• In Cole Haan "outlet" stores, the manufacturer sells the Pinch Shawl shoe at around $100, at a 35% discount compared to $148.

Here is how things get tricky:

• DSW and Off Broadway Shoes also sell the Pinch Shawl at around $100. So the brand outlet store offers no advantage.
• The Pinch Shawl is never found outside DSW-like stores, outlet stores, and ebay. Zappos.com doesn't even sell the Shawl.
• The Pinch Shawl never sells for $148. $148 is just the MSRP of its retail siblings: the Penny, Tassel, and Buckle.
• The Shawl misses the leather strap across the instep that hides certain stitches in the Penny, Shawl, and Buckle. In addition, it has an ugly lace around the foot like most boat shoes.
• The leather in certain recent batches of the shoe just looks cheap as opposed to polished and supple. If not, it's the brand logo that appears differently (white on white leather?).

Point taken, you have to look carefully and compare the merchandise at outlet stores and their retail/department stores counterparts. Happy shopping!

Fw: Walk and Talk For Hours Using Shoe Power

www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/08/walk-and-talk-for-hours-using-shoe-power/



Image: InSetep NanoPower.

Fw: Should You Save or Splurge on Running Shoes?

Shoe Swap

Just earlier tonight, I was at a martial arts dojo. Per Japanese customs, shoes must be removed upon entry. A girl who was interested in what the dojo had to offer was also there.

By the time everybody had to leave, she mistakenly puts on my shoes, a beautiful pair of Bass Parker buckle loafers...
Here is more or less how the exchange went:

Me - You putting on my shoes!
Her (after a moment) - Your shoes look so much like mine!



Mistake: I don't remember her name. If she comes by, I'll make sure to remember...
Note: The Bass Parker shoes are now discontinued. The only shoe from the same family is the Bass Walton.

Fw: Louboutin loses to YSL in battle of red soles

The pursuit of the ultimate red hot sole!

Bare Feet Impressions on Ebay

I recently bought a pair of shoes on ebay, where you can find some fine collectibles from shoe brands and series that have been discontinued, such as the Italian-made Bragano from Cole Haan. Here is what I found while browsing some Cole Haan collections:

In this particular setup, the seller is wearing the shoes barefoot, no pants, and seems to be sitting on the carpet or so. Playing with the shoes is cool with me but may trigger unpredictable reactions among different people.

The bottom line is that in a sales context, I would stay away from the messy plays and bare feet.

Fw: How Men And Women Look At This Half Naked Woman Differently

Women spent much more time looking at the shoes

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/eye-tracking-study-2011-7#women-spent-much-more-time-looking-at-the-shoes-12

Fw: The most dangerous high heels: 3 types of footwear that can send you to the hospital

Just a reminder to our height-seeking ladies...

Fw: What can you do with a screen made from 480 shoes?

Watch the video of the screen in action and related topics!

Driving with flip flops and barefoot

There was heavy rain the other day, so I brought a pair of flip flops to walk in the rain from the office to the car and head home. My leather office shoes (loafers or rather slippers?) would have been instantly ruined otherwise. I had not tried driving with flip flops or barefoot before, and I found out it is not practical at all and here is why.

For best driving, your right heel must be a reliable pivot point so your foot can easily switch between the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal. If you are driving a car with manual transmission, your left foot need to move without distractions as well. Flip flops have two drawbacks while driving: they don't support the heel, and there is a risk that the flip flop get stuck underneath the pedals. If that happens, you will probably lose control of your car and may get an accident. In addition, the sensation of the pedals is altered when you wear flip flops or drive barefeet.

First, I tried with one loafer on the right foot and one flip flop on the left. This solves the problem... as long as your right foot is dry. You don't ever want to put wet feet in any type of shoe, you will ruin the lining immediately! Nonetheless, I had to make a stop on the way under the rain wearing the flip flops... and my feet got wet. I decided to proceed barefoot. I had a friend who would usually drive barefoot. Because the pivot or anchor points are different when driving barefoot, you have to adjust your reflexes and driving movements so that you don't hold up traffic and don't accelerate more than necessary. In addition, my feet being shorter than most people, I have to reach up for the pedal and can't rest the heels on the floor mats.

To conclude, that was my first shot at driving with flip flops and without shoes. I wouldn't recommend the practice and wouldn't be able to sustain that for long because I have to reach for the pedals. Time to get some driving shoes and put them on?

Fw: The $28 Must-Have Spring Shoe (Kate Bosworth And Jennifer Garner Are Fans!)

See the Soludos story here and enjoy.

Looks like cheap is not incompatible with celebrity...

Shoe Paintings and Art!

Check out P. Commerford paintings and other creations around pump shoes at www.artbypj.com. If you are in Atlanta this weekend, the artist is on display at the Dogwood Festival!

Recycle your athletic sneakers for Earth Day

Too many sneakers in the closet? Know that Nike collects worn athletic shoes from all brands and converts the rubber and fabric into track surfaces and other equipment! Visit nikereuseashoe.com for more info.

Got Free Loafer Socks With Coupon

Got some free loafer socks with a $10 coupon from DSW. Actually I ended up paying 1 cent. Now I can try out the sockless look while keeping my toes dry and without blisters!

Brand: Anne Klein 112072
Made: USA (at least, it says so on packaging)
Color: black
What it covers: toebox.
See picture here.

Fw: Christian Louboutin reveals science behind perfect high heel

See CNN report from Paris Fashion Week below!

Ice Cream Treat

We ordered ice cream at the office the other day from Brusters and I was surprised by the catch phrase printed on their napkins: "If your shoes are on the right feet - treat yourself." I was wearing relatively loose loafers, but both shoes were on my feet at the time we got served, and I did not accidentally swap the left shoe for the right!

Shoe-shaped ring holder

I was recently informed from a friend that there are such things as shoe-shaped ring holders, and if you forget about the staged "insole," they really look like really fashionable high heels!

Shoebuy.com coupon from Restaurant.com

Just bought a $25 restaurant certificate for just $3, and I also got a bonus $10 coupon to shoebuy.com good through next week. As a side note, the shoe site also has a 20% off sale through March 13. I have to act!

Fw: Sans Chaussettes (on wearing another man's shoes)

If you do due diligence and carefully pick second hand shoes, you may be able to wear them without the ugly bits attached. With loafers, you can even wear them... barefoot! Enjoy.

Inside a Large Online Shoe Merchant

CNN gets a peek inside the work environment at Zappos, one of the largest online shoe retailers.

CSI + Shoe Recognition

Shoes are becoming a key crime investigation element, similar to fingerprints, according to this IEEE Spectrum article (December 2010). The old saying is confirmed: not only fingers, but also "Shoes make the man!"

Fw: Website for Men's Vintage Flat Shoes

This merchant, lavintage.com, distinguishes itself by providing close ups photos of the shoes they sell AND the feet and legs of the volunteers who put on the shoes. Add videos of bare feet and legs and people would turn crazy. If you can stand it, see more at http://www.lavintage.com/category/mens-footwear/flats/ and enjoy!

Hover your mouse on the closeups and you will see even closer.

Fw: Ed Westwick's Pegged Jeans And Sockless Loafers: Hot Or Not?

It must be hot if a photographer cared about taking a close shot (in HuffingtonPost, 8-9 Oct. 2009) of the star's bare ankles showing between jeans and black woven, single-tasseled loafers and a poll was sent out to readers. There is another gallery with pictures here, here, and another close shot here! Are loafers still out of fashion?

Shoes that can't stay on (continued)

The following YouTube hot shots are from lexiboy, featuring shiny loafers (brand?), smooth thin white socks and skinny black jeans. The combination reinforces the impression that the foot is much smaller than the shoe (this might look girly), hence pushing back the limits for playing!!! Enjoy.

Fw: Famous shoe tree chopped by vandals

Is this hatred for shoes growing on trees or something else?

Happy New Year!

A couple of shoe pics to start 2011 with fun! Yes, these pink and brown high-heels shine and feel like it's genuine leather! And you can lick them, kiss them, and suck them until they melt in your mouth: they are made of fine French chocolate!