Fw: The high price of wearing heels

Ladies, see this story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution about Morton's neuroma and metatarsalgia, which are foot conditions related to wearing high heels for extended periods of time. Enjoy!

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.