2011 Fashion Trends

2011 has been a splendid year for the fashion industry in Nigeria and abroad. So many fashion trends were introduced. For some that follow fashion trends and usually 'must' buy everything that's in, well am sure they spent lots of money buying some stuffs they might end up not wearing again. But for those that know how to mix and match, well it won't be a waste. We had trends like colour-blocking, vintage (or retro chic) , prints, street chic and so many more to mention a few.

                        Street Chic
I particularly like the street chic style, though it wasn't a big hit here in Nigeria. Street chic has this care-free attitude which I love. Dressing street chic isn't as hard as it seems. Though some people look effortlessly chic every single day, once you know the basic guidelines for dressing, being street chic can be a reality.

How to do street chic.
Cultivate your own sense of aesthetic. Everyone is unique, and therefore, everyone has diverse tastes. Know what you like in music, literature, movies and art. Incorporate these things into your style. To cultivate this, immerse yourself in different genres and be open minded to different people.

Know what colors look good on you. To figure out which color type you are and which colors look good on you go to http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/Tutorials/CindyBuschColorAnalysis.htm. Once you got that figured out, wear these colors all the time.

Learn about proportion. The key to being street chic is balance. If you're wearing a loose top, pair it with a tight bottom. If you're wearing something baggy on the bottom, go with a lean shirt. The same goes for shoes. Chunky heels look out of proportion on petite girls, while stiletto heels look weird on girls with chunky calves. This also applies to showing skin. Only flaunt one part of you body. you want to look chic, not trashy (unless that's the look your going for). 

Don't forget what's underneath. Always buy quality underwear in your size and basic colors like black and nude. You should have seamless knickers too in these colors. Wear the black one under dark colored clothing, the nude one under the light colored ones.



Accessorize! Necklaces, bracelets, rings, belts, bags, scarves and headgear. Pick whatever you like. There are lots of stores with different styles to suit your taste. Layer them if you like. I love bracelets and bangles. I love stacking them in different colours, shapes and sizes. Sometimes, more is actually better. At least when it comes to certain types of jewelry. Who can resist a wrist stacked with different bracelets, each an individual statement in its own right, as a way to pile on a little personality. These things make a basic outfit look stunning. When done right, accessorizing can be your best technique into looking street chic.

Choose a point of fashion. As in, 'Today, I'm an 80's raver' or 'Alice in Wonderland' or whatever.
Be creative, be whimsical and have fun!

The good thing about the street chic style is one is free to wear whatever and one will always be different.

                         Colour-blocking
Now this trend was a hit in Nigeria with everyone mixing colours. Some got it right while some didn't. It's all about mixing colours, not just any colours but bright, bold, solid colours. It isn't a trend for everyone; it's for those who are daring. The idea behind color blocking is simple in theory: pair solid - yet somewhat unexpected - blocks of color with each other to make a cohesive outfit. You can either go monochromatic, pair bright colors with muted colors or contrasting and complimentary colors. Accessories like handbags, shoes and jewelry can also feature color block designs to help complete and pull together any color block outfit.

 

Jennifer Lopez in Gucci

 

Leighton Meester in Missoni and Kristen Stewart in Balenciaga Resort

 

                                                            Camilla Belle in Gucci  

                                                          Dries Van Noten

           Tips for pulling off color blocking:

• Team colors from the same family together for a cohesive look – think bright pinks with vivid fuchsias, turquoise with royal blue;
• Keep warmer tones like orange and red together;
• Go for a neutral-toned shoe to keep it simple
• Opposites Attract: think purples with oranges; lime green with melon or rosebud pink for a jarring, but pleasant, combination;
• Work accessories into the mix. Select a contrasting shoe or handbag.

  Mix it up

• Work regal purples in with contrasting, fiery oranges;
• Try lime green with melon or rosebud pink for a pleasantly jarring combination;
• Go to town on the look with a loud, contrasting shoe or handbag.

Now its time to try your hand at color blocking. And just remember: this trend is more about attitude than the clothes. If you choose to go with it be ready for a few stares from onlookers that are either amazed at your fashion sense or your courage. Either way, happy blocking!

                                        
                 Vintage

There was and there is still so much noise about this trend. People everywhere are caught up with one of the hottest fads to sweep the planet since sliced bread, and it is not even something new. Vintage clothing is making a big comeback everywhere and people are raving about how old can be so in and new. What is it about vintage clothing that people cannot get enough of and why is it so popular?

For us to better understand what vintage is and how to spot vintage clothing we have to first know the story behind its slow rise to the fashion scene. Typically, vintage clothing is something that was created back from the 1920's to the 1980's. Items of clothing like shirts, pants, tops, vests and other clothes worn in those eras are considered vintage. Other items like boots, shoes, accessories and other materials that were created for the purpose of being worn are also vintage items.

Vintage clothing is a generic term for new or second hand garments originating from a previous era. The phrase is also used in connection with a retail outlet, e.g. "vintage clothing store." Generally speaking, clothing which was produced before the 1920s is referred to as antique clothing and clothing from the 1920s to 1960s is considered vintage. Retro, short for retrospective, or "vintage style" usually refers to clothing that imitates the style of a previous era.

Most vintage clothing has been previously worn, but a small percentage of pieces have not. These are often old warehouse stock, and more valuable than those that have been worn, especially if they have their original tags. Although there has always been some demand for old and/or second hand clothing, the awareness, demand and acceptance of this has increased dramatically since the early 1990s. This increase in interest is due in part to increased visibility, as vintage clothing was increasingly worn by top models and celebrities, e.g. Julia Roberts, Renée Zellweger, Chloe Sevigny, Tatiana Sorokko, Kate Moss, and Dita von Teese.

Vintage garments designed by the following designers are particularly sought after - especially when they are representative of the designer or the era: Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret, Mariano Fortuny, Elsa Schiaparelli, Jeanne Paquin, Madeleine Vionnet, Jeanne Lanvin, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Claire McCardell, Cristobal Balenciaga, Emilio Pucci, Yves Saint-Laurent, Ossie Clark, Biba, Mary Quant, Pierre Cardin, Halston, Giorgio Armani, Zandra Rhodes, Vivienne Westwood, Thierry Mugler, Gianni Versace, and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Generally speaking, clothing older than 25 years is considered to be vintage, though opinions vary on this definition. Many sellers of vintage clothing consider even more modern pieces to be ‘vintage’, provided that they are particularly representative of the era in which they were made.

With all these explanation, I would say that vintage is second hand or what we call 'okrika' here in Nigeria, well that is if you are buying the one that has been worn by someone else from a previous era.  

           Here Drew Barrymore is wearing a dress she bought at a vintage store for $20. So great!
                                                         

            Kim Kardashian wearing a reworked version of her mom’s vintage Valentino (1984)

                         Julia Roberts in vintage Valentino (1982) at the 2001 Oscars.

 Note that vintage isn't all about the dresses, bags or shoes. There are also vintage accessories or jewellery.
Here we have celebrities wearing vintage diamonds and jewellery at the Oscars.

1.} British actress Carey Mulligan, the Best Actress nominee wore a stunning pair of 19th century cascading diamond earrings from Fred Leighton.
2.} Presenter Elizabeth Banks also wore a vintage Fred Leighton - an understated diamond headband.
3.} Julianne Moore wore 2 diamond and platinum Bulgari (circa 1930) - from their historical archives collection.

 4.} Vera Farmiga wore a pair of 1920s diamond clip earrings vintage Fred Leighton and a 1960's diamond cluster cocktail ring.
5.} Sarah Jessica Parker wore 19th century diamond cluster earrings.
6.} Maggie Gyllenhaal's bracelet is a Fred Leighton 1940's diamond cluster statement bracelet.

7.} Charlize Theron wearing a vintage marquise diamond wave bracelet by Harry Winston.
8.} Jennifer Lopez wore vintage Cartier diamond clip earrings circa 1934.
9.} Meryl Streep wore a magnificent Fred Leighton Art Deco diamond and oynx bracelet teamed with a silver purse.

Have been able to talk about some of the fashion trends that rocked 2011. So which represents you better?

 

Too Many Shoes?

It was a beautiful afternoon. Preparing to go hang-out with friends later in the evening, I picked up one of my beauties, cleaning it while dancing to the song coming out of my music player. Then my mum burst into my room.
"Did you take one of my bags?", She asked.
"No, I didn't.", I replied.
Then she saw my sandals. "I wonder how you get to wear shoes this high. Don't they hurt?", she asked.
"No, they don't. They are actually comfortable.", I replied.
Still thinking I took her bag (am the only girl with three younger brothers. So my mum & I are the only females in the house), she started searching. Then she saw them; my must have fashion accessory - SHOES.
"My God!!! What are you doing with all these?", she asked.
"Wear them", I replied non-chalantly.
"To where?", she asked. "Out", I replied smiling. "Mummy, you see there are shoes for different occasions", I added.
"I hope you don't spend all your money on shoes", she said.
"At least I make them. So......", I said. "If only you knew...", I thought and smiled mischievously.

This is usually the conversation I have with my mum each time she sees my collection. She doesn't really understand why a young lady, like myself, should have so many foot-wears.

Really, can a lady have too many shoes?
 
 
NO, NO, NO.... A lady needs foot-wears for different occasions and outfit. She needs shoes to go to the market, to hang-out with friends, to church, work, to the beach, to the cinema, to go clubbing, to see a friend in the neighborhood,....She needs foot-wears that must go with her pair of jeans, dress, shorts, cute short skirts, etc.The truth is one gets to wear two or three foot-wears more than the others. But hey, there is no harm in owing lots of shoes and one can still get to wear them some day. There are  
                                         times  I just look at my shoe collections and I smile.

It's good to know that men, OK let me correct myself here, gentlemen...So it's good to know that gentlemen also know that there is need to invest in foot-wears and am really happy about this new development. Gone are those days that you see some men with just two or three shoes; some usually have one. But am glad, really glad that they are beginning to have more shoes & they are really taking care of them.

Some have several in different colours and shapes. They are also aware that there are formal and informal shoes. Oxford, lace-ups, etc are categorised as formal shoes. Sneakers, converse, loafers, sandals are informal foot-wears. Loafers can also be formal it all depends on the outfit and since most organisation here in Nigera 'dress down' on fridays, guys can wear them. 
 
I must say that when it comes to foot-wears, some gentlemen are competing with ladies (one of my brothers has so many shoes that he just packs them in a corner in his room because he doesn't have space for them again). 

But can they ever win or beat we ladies in this "Shoe Race"? No they can't. NEVER    : p



(all shoes are from ShoeFetish by Ronke Adeshina)

Finding the Right Shoes

The wrong shoes can cause or aggravate foot ailments. The right shoes can often prevent - but cannot correct - problems. So wearing the right shoes is vital to foot health. Follow this checklist when you buy shoes. Be sure they measure up.

SHOE CONSTRUCTION

• Leather is best because is breathes like skin and molds to your foot. But cheaper canvas is fine for fast-growing children. 
• Soles should be strong and flexible with a good gripping surface. 
• Insoles should be cushioned to absorb the jolts of walking on hard surfaces. 
• Arch supports distribute weight over a wider area. Rigid shanks also give added support. 
• High heels are fun and look good, but they should not be worn too long at a stretch or for much walking. Besides cramping the toes, they change body posture, making backaches more likely.

THE RIGHT FIT   

• Only you can tell if shoes fit. If they aren't comfortable, don't buy them! 
• Don't plan on shoes stretching with wear. If you already own shoes that are too tight, ask your shoe repair shop if they can be stretched.  
• Because feet spread with age, have your feet measured every time you buy shoes. Both feet should be measured as they are often different sizes. Always buy shoes for the BIGGEST foot.  
• Go shoe shopping late in the afternoon. Feet swell to their largest then. 
• Size depends on shoe make and style, too. Don't insist you always wear one size if the next feels better. 
• The toe box should be roomy enough so you can wiggle all your toes. 
• Your forefoot should NOT be wider than your shoe. 
• The heel should fit snugly and the instep should not gape open. 

SHOES FOR CHILDREN   

• Good shoes are especially important to avoid problems in developing feet. 
• Because shoes serve only to protect children's feet from injury, none are needed before a child walks.  
• High-topped infant shoes do not support ankles - oxfords and tennis shoes are equally good. 
• Check OFTEN to be sure shoes aren't too small. Children's feet are so flexible they can be crammed into shoes two sizes too small - and the child may not complain. 
• Don't have children wear hand-me-down shoes. They are permanently molded to the original owner's foot.

Unfortunately, most shoes today are narrower in the front than the foot is. You can check this by standing on paper and tracing around your bare foot. Compare the outline of your foot with the sole of your shoe. If your shoe appears too narrow, you may be inviting foot problems. Choose only shoes that feel comfortable - you are the best judge of that.

Our marvelous feet evolved for flexibility and strength - not to be stuffed into shoes. When people roamed the earth barefoot 4,000 years ago, foot problems were not the rule. Today, we need shoes to protect our feet from cold, injury, disease, and pounding on hard pavement. But too often we choose shoes for style rather than comfort and function.

Remember:  Good shoes are part of the good care your feet deserve.

How to Walk in Heels

I know there are some ladies that do not need to read and learn how to walk perfectly well in heels like my humble self  *batting my eyelashes and smiling*, but there are some that find it hard to take two steps in them. So for those who do not know how and want to know well this is for you. For those that can walk miles in heels, well you still need to read this and learn one or two things and maybe who knows help someone who desperately need to walk in heels.

Well ladies the first thing to know if you want to walk well in heels is to know your shoe.

 

Know Your Shoe

 

 

THE BODY: If a stiff shoe causes blisters, spritz this area with water and use your fingers to mold the softened leather to the shape of your foot or try special inserts to reduce friction.

THE BREAST: The inner arch of the heel, which affects stability. The farther forward the arch, the less you will feel off-balance.

THE SOLE: Slipping on slick floors? Pick up a pair of sole protectors or score the soles of your heels with a key to create extra traction.

THE TOE BOX: If your toes feel pinched, have this area stretched out at your local shoe repair shop.

THE INTERIOR: If you suffer from low arches, slip in supports to relieve pressure on the balls of your feet. 

 

Take It Step-by-Step

1. POSTURE: Heels pitch weight forward, so for balance, keep your head up and shoulders back. Tightening your core will offset some of the pressure on your feet.

2. STEPS: Striding in a normal heel-to-toe motion can snap a stiletto or twist an ankle. Instead take short steps, going down evenly on the ball of the foot and heel.

3. WEIGHT: As your weight shifts fully onto a foot, spread your toes in the shoe slightly; this will help to distribute the weight onto the ball of the foot.

4. HIPS: When you're feeling off-balance, you tend to stiffen up. For an easy, attractive momentum, let your hips swing in small, sideways, figure-eight motions.

 

Tone and Train Your Legs

Foot experts warn that the unnatural slope of stilettos puts unnecessary strain on feet and lower leg muscles.  Try to let your feet rest. Let them breathe. Wear flats in slippers, shoes. There are varieties to choose from. From loafers to brogues,embellished slippers and so many.

Take Time to Soothe and Repair

Refresh tired feet with a tingly foot treatment.

Knead away sore spots and stimulate blood flow to help your feet recover from a day in uncomfortable shoes. You can do this by using a Porcupine massage ball.

Slip on a pair of moisture-gel padded socks for an instant at-home spa treatment. There are different types of softening socks you can choose from.

Keep calluses and rough spots at bay with a callus stone. 

 

Here is one last tip: You love high heels, but you find them uncomfortable?
Well try on pairs with a platform of at least 1 inch, which decreases the relative heel height. Or borrow this trick: Have a repair shop add foam padding to the inner soles of your stilettos. The extra cushioning is well worth the cost.

So ladies go get those heels and start strutting in them *wink*wink*.

Ronke Adeshina: Shoe Care

Ronke Adeshina: Shoe Care

Some hints and tips on caring for shoes.

The appearance of old scuffed and worn brown leather shoes can be improved by the application of scratch polish sold for use on polished wooden furniture.
To clean suede shoes - instead of using a wire suede brush which takes off the top layer of the leather try using masking tape.
	To clean nubuck leather use a very fine sandpaper - brings it up like new.
To clean patent leather shoes rub in petroleum jelly and leave for a while to soak in. Then buff up with a soft clean cloth.  This will not only keep them shiny but also prevent them from cracking.
	To keep leather soft and supple, apply a little castor oil and leave to dry, then clean in the usual way.
Castor oil is also useful for waterproofing the underneath of leather soles.
	If crepe soles become sticky, put talcum powder on them and this will resolve the problem.
Shoe/Boot zips getting stuck - run a lead pencil down the zip and they will run smoothly.
	If crepe soled shoes become stiff put them in a warm oven (70 to 100 deg) for a minute and they will become flexible again.
To stretch tight shoes, pack with potato peelings and leave for 48hrs.
	If you are unable to tighten shoes laces because your feet are not "deep" enough - pad out under the lace area with a small piece of rubber.
To give an antique look to a light pair of shoes, polish with a much darker polish than the leather colour.
	To create a pair of "flamenco" dance shoes, put carpet tacks in soles at the toes and heels. Be careful the tacks do not go through the inside of the shoe though.
If lace ends fray making them difficult to thread - hold end over a lighted match for a moment, this should fuse the fibres together.
	To freshen up an old pair of shoes buy new laces, perhaps in a contrasting colour.
If laced shoes are uncomfortable over instep, loosen laces from the bottom up then put  the lace ends back through the second from top holes before tying.  This will give more room over foot but will allow the laces to be tightened enough to hold the shoe on.
	To prevent shoe laces untying put polish on laces and leave to dry overnight, then rethread into shoes - should hold O.K. now.
If brightly coloured leather becomes faded in certain areas, use an oil pastel of the same colour over the affected areas then top up with a neutral wax polish.  Buff up and hey presto!
	To stretch shoes, slip a leak-proof plastic bag into the shoe, fill with water, ensuring it fills the shoe completely.  Close securely and freeze.  The water expands and stretches the shoe. I put a shoe that is too tight on and put rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit) on the tight spot and walk around with the shoe on.  It has worked for me for many years. It has never hurt the leather.   Jean Beideck
White salt stains on leather shoes are extremely difficult to remove and the treatment risky. You could try, however, mixing a mild washing-up liquid with an equal amount of white spirit and enough water to make a creamy solution (1:1::4 ratio).  Work this over the entire shoe, giving extra attention to the salt mark, before rinsing and gently drying.  This will remove the polish and, with luck, the salt stain.  Repolish when completely dry.   As any treatment only removes the surface salt line, the stain may well reappear.     (culled from Hints and tips by Bervie McCrea)

Shoe Care

Shoes protect and shield our feet whenever we are on our feet in the outdoors. We wear our shoes when we go out for walks, strolls or running. However, in most cases, we do not take the effort to put in the little effort it takes to care for our shoes. A little effort in doing so can help extend the working life of our shoes a long way. The following are a couple of steps that you can take to care for your shoes.

One sure way of caring for your shoes is to keep them clean. I do this all the time. Once I return from anywhere I go to, I make sure I clean my shoes before I store them. Doing this makes it easier and faster to clean the shoes the next time am going to wear them. Whenever your shoes get dirty (e.g. you get caught in the rain), the dirt will eat into the protective layer of your shoes. This causes coloration and hastens the wear and tear in your shoes. As such, after each use, if your shoes are dirty, give it a good clean before you store it away. Also, in most cases, cleaning it right after use takes much less effort than cleaning a pair of shoes that has already got dirt set on it for a long time.

Besides cleaning your shoes regularly, you can also take preventive maintenance. For example, you can apply a good layer of water resistant protective 'cream' and stain remover before first use. This normally extends the life span of the factory applied protective layer of your shoes. For leather shoes, apply protective material like polish regularly to nourish the leather and keep its shine. This also helps to keep the color consistent. Another method of preventive maintenance is to use foot spray deodorants in your shoes. Foot sprays protect your shoes from bad odour (for those whose foot smells. This is a topic for another day)
You should also wear socks whenever possible while you are wearing your shoes. This is especially so if your feet sweat easily. Socks help to absorb the sweat and prevent sweat salt layers from form in your shoes. However, try not to wear the socks for too longer periods without washing. Ideally you should send your socks to laundry after every use.

The next thing to do is to take notice of the wear at the tips and soles of your shoes. If you actively use your shoes and wear is fast, you should consider applying reinforcements (e.g. changing the bottom layer of the sole) before the wear eats into the main body of sole. Also, if you drive regularly and find that the wear in your shoes are constantly made worse by the friction applied on your shoes while driving, you can consider keeping a cheap 'for driving only' pair of shoes in your car.

Finally, you also need to take steps to protect your shoes when you are not using them while you are at home. As most people have multiple pairs of shoes, most of their shoes are kept in the shoe rack waiting the shoes' next use. These shoes should be kept in boxes to prevent dust collection and prevent them from ending up being chewed your pets. The boxes also protect the shoes from getting crushed if you have limited space at home and keep all of your shoes lumped together in a closet.To know where a particular shoe is, you can take pictures of your shoes and label each boxes with the pictures. To be more creative, you can draw pictures of your shoes, colour them and put them on the boxes to know where a particular shoe is.
Also, before putting your shoes into boxes, you should also use shoe trees to protect the form of you shoes. Shoe trees maintain the original shape of your shoes and prevent them from being crushed. You can easily get this accessory from shoe stores nowadays. In fact, some shoes come with trees right from the factory.

Basic Little Steps To Take To Care For Your Shoes

Polish your leather shoes regularly to preserve moisture and maintain shine.
 
 

If the heels of your shoes are worn down or cracked take them to a cobbler to see if they can be fixed.

 

Waterproof suede and nubuck shoes and use a soft bristled brush to lightly lift away dirt.

 

 Fabric or canvas shoes can often be cleaned by hand or machine washing. Fill them with crumpled newsletter after washing to maintain their shape while drying.

Rotate your shoes by wearing a different pair every other day. This will help your shoes last longer and wear less.

 

Constant rubbing against your skin can cause uneven wear of your shoes. Try changing the thickness of your socks until you find a pair that keeps the shoes from rubbing you the wrong way.

As you can see, the above suggestions are very easy to follow and you may even find that you are already doing so. Remember that a little effort goes a long way in protecting the life span of your shoes.

Shoe Tips & Tricks - 1st Edition

Shoes are important. We cannot do without them. They are a fashion must-have but they also give the wearer problems.

Some shoes constantly scuff, some are so painful you cannot even wear them for too long, some are falling apart from too much wear,...the problems shoes can create are countless but we cannot do without them.

I own a certain pair of yellow patent mary jane shoe that constantly scuff when I wear them. I don't really know what the problem is all I know is that I magically have tons of brown scuff marks all along the inside of my heels and on the leather.

Well, it turns out that the best way to deal with scuff marks on patent leather is to use something you already have laying around - nail polish remover.

Be sure that the remover isn't highly colourful or too harsh like the regular cheap ones we have around. If the nail polish remover is too colourful, it may also put a tint on your patent leather (and be careful of any polish you may be wearing). 

Put a small bit on a cotton ball and rub the scuffs you want to get rid. Really deep scuffs probably would not come off but this should remove any minor scuffs or discolourations.

If you notice that the shoes have lost a bit of their glossiness, the best solution is to use a bit of vaseline on the surface.

Your patent shoe is back to new.

What's in a name? Stiletto

A stiletto heel is a long, thin, high heel found on some boots and shoes, usually for women. It is named after the stiletto dagger, the phrase being first recorded in the early 1930s. Stiletto heels may vary in length from 2.5 cm (1 inch) to 25 cm (10 inches) or more if a platform sole is used, and are sometimes defined as having a diameter at the ground of less than 1 cm (slightly less than half an inch). Stiletto-style heels 5 cm or shorter are called kitten heels. Not all high slim heels merit the description stiletto. The extremely slender original Italian-style stiletto heels of the late 1950s and very early 1960s were no more than 5mm in diameter for much of their length, although the heel sometimes flared out a little at the top-piece (tip). After their demise in the mid-late 1960s, such slender heels were difficult to find until recently due to changes in the way heels were mass-produced.

A real stiletto heel has a stem of solid steel or alloy. The more usual method of mass-producing high shoe heels, i.e. moulded plastic with an internal metal tube for reinforcement, does not achieve the true stiletto shape.

 History

Relatively, thin high heels were certainly around in the late 19th century, as numerous fetish drawings attest. Firm photographic evidence exists in the form of photographs of Parisian singer Mistinguett from the 1940s. These shoes were designed by Andre Perugia, who began designing shoes in 1906. It seems unlikely that he invented the stiletto, but he is probably the first firmly documented designer of the high, slim heel. The word stiletto is derived from stylus, meaning a pin or stalk. Its usage in footwear first appeared in print in the New Statesman magazine in 1959: "She came ...forward, her walk made lopsided by the absence of one heel of the stilettos".



High heel shoes were worn by men and women courtiers. The design of the stiletto heel originally came from the late Kristin S. Wagner but would not become popular until the late 1950s. The stiletto heel came with the advent of technology using a supporting metal shaft or stem embedded into the heel, instead of wood or other, weaker materials that required a wide heel. This revival of the opulent heel style can be attributed to the designer, Roger Vivier and such designs became very popular in the 1950s.




As time went on, stiletto heels became known more for their erotic nature than for their ability to make height. Stiletto heels are a common fetish item. As a fashion item, their popularity was changing over time. After an initial wave of popularity in the 1950s, they reached their most refined shape in the early 1960s, when the toes of the shoes which bore them became as slender and elongated as the stiletto heels themselves. As a result of the overall sharpness of outline, it was customary for women to refer to the whole shoe as a "stiletto", not just the heel, via synecdoche (pars pro toto). Although they officially faded from the scene after the Beatle era began, their popularity continued at street level, and women stubbornly refused to give them up even after they could no longer readily find them in the mainstream shops. A version of the stiletto heel was reintroduced as soon as 1974 by Manolo Blahnik, who dubbed his "new" heel the Needle. Similar heels were stocked at the big Biba store in London, by Russell and Bromley and by smaller boutiques. Old, unsold stocks of pointed-toe stilettos, and contemporary efforts to replicate them (lacking the true stiletto heel because of changes in the way heels were by then being mass-produced) were sold in street fashion markets and became popular with punks, and with other fashion "tribes" of the late 1970s until supplies of the inspirational original styles dwindled in the early 1980s. Subsequently, round-toe shoes with slightly thicker (sometimes cone-shaped) semi-stiletto heels, often very high in an attempt to convey slenderness (the best example of this being the shoes sold in London by Derber), were frequently worn at the office with wide-shouldered power suits. The style survived through much of the 1980s but almost completely disappeared during the 1990s, when professional and college-age women took to wearing shoes with thick, block heels. However, the slender stiletto heel staged a major comeback after 2000, when young women adopted the style for dressing up office wear or adding a feminine touch to casual wear, like jeans.

Stiletto heels are particularly associated with the image of the femme fatale. They are often considered to be a seductive item of clothing, and often feature in popular culture.
 
Stilettos have a unique way of combining beauty with that sexy outlook. They will most definitely work wonders with you if you are a person who has style and taste. Men will always drool at a woman clad in stilettos, but do not blame them. Stilettos are sexy and it is no longer a secret that they arouse a man and play with his libido. A moderate heel worn with a stylish body hugging dress can make you look astonishingly beautiful. These shoes enhance your figure more and make it more pronounced and that is why stilettos are sexy. They are such unique shoes that dot every woman's wardrobe. Stilettos always bring out the best in a woman. They give a lady style and class.

Apart from the added beauty and elegance, stilettos add value to your sex life. They are able to tone the leg muscles and more importantly they exercise the pleasure muscles. The pelvic floor muscles which enhance sexual pleasure and a subsequent orgasm are thoroughly exercised while walking on stilettos. Stilettos are sexy shoes which can make your sex life turn around. Your sex life will surely and definitely take a turn around and become more fulfilling. Well toned pelvic floor muscles are an asset every woman would like to posses. The muscles respond very sharply during sex. They help you achieve unprecedented sexual pleasures by having powerful orgasms that leave you gasping and breathless. Stilettos worn regularly over a given period of time, will help you achieve the required benefits. Have faith that stilettos are sexy and start putting them on today.

For those who take daily exercises to work out the pelvic muscles, worry no more. Stilettos will do such fine exercises for you that you will never regret investing in them. While you might forget to follow your regime of a daily exercise of your pelvic muscles, you do not need to remember anything with stilettos. That is the reason why stilettos are sexy. They enhance your sexuality and go ahead to improve your sex life. Stilettos do not need a special time to be allocated in order not to miss the exercise. You just slip them on and continue with your normal activities as these magic shoes work wonders with your body.

Stilettos are sexy as well as exciting and fun. They make you look flamboyant in your gait while at the same time enabling you to have a walking style that makes heads turn. Stilettos give you that much sought after tightness during sex. They are a cure against vaginal laxity. It is that tightness that makes you so popular with your man when it comes to sex. Your ratings in bed receive top honors courtesy to stilettos. If you are a regular user of stilettos you might wonder what is this fuss all about. Vaginal laxity is as a result of the relaxation of the pelvic muscles which gets many women unawares. Vaginal tightness that offers a tight grip during sex offers more pleasure during sex for both partners.

Ladies go get yourselves a pair of stilettos or more....

Ronke Adeshina: History of Shoes

Ronke Adeshina: History of Shoes: "A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities. Shoes are also used as an item ..."

History of Shoes

A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot while doing various activities. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture to culture, with appearance originally being tied to function. Additionally fashion has often dictated many design elements, such as whether shoes have very high heels or flat ones. Contemporary footwear varies widely in style, complexity and cost. Basic sandals may consist of only a thin sole and simple strap. High fashion shoes may be made of very expensive materials in complex construction and sell for thousands of dollars a pair. Other shoes are for very specific purposes, such as boots specially designed for mountaineering or skiing.

Shoes have traditionally been made from leather, wood or canvas, but are increasingly made from rubber, plastics, and other petrochemical-derived materials.
Until recent years, shoes were not worn by most of the world's population—largely because they could not afford them. Only with the advent of mass production, making shoes available very cheaply, has shoe-wearing become predominant.

The foot contains more bones than any other single part of the body. Though it has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years in relation to vastly varied terrain and climate conditions, the foot is still vulnerable to environmental hazards such as sharp rocks and hot ground, which shoes can protect against.

In the Beginning

Shoes were one of the first items man learned to make.  When traversing rough, rocky terrain, humans quickly realized the importance of finding a way to protect their feet.  Historical records of Chinese, Egyptians and other early civilizations all show mention of shoes.  The Bible also has frequent references to footwear.  Even fables and fairy tales passed down over the centuries were often based on shoes, including 'Cinderella', 'Puss in Boots', 'Mercury's Winged Sandals', and many others.

The earliest people wore sock-like coverings on their feet.  The first shoes with a rigid sole, a sandal style, were created by early Egyptians.  Not unlike today, the quality of the shoes worn reflected the status of the wearer.  Royalty wore sandals with a toe that extended upward in a spiral while lesser beings wore plain-toed sandals.  Slaves, unfortunately, were not allowed to wear shoes at all and had to go barefoot.
It was the Greeks who made shoemaking more of an art form.  They also introduced the world to heeled shoes.

The next advance in shoemaking was what is known as turned shoes, that is shoes that had the sole and upper sewn together and were then turned inside out to hide the stitching.  During the Medieval era, pointed shoes became a fashion craze, but it soon got out of hand.  Many governments passed laws that restricted shoes from having toes that extended more than two inches from the end of a person's foot. 

Other shoe extremes followed, including square toed shoes and extremely wide shoes known as bear claws. 
Another outlandish foot fashion was elevated shoes that would raise women as far as two feet off the ground.  So many women fell and were injured, laws were again passed to restrict the impractical shoes.

Men's heels became popular for the elite in the 17th and 18th centuries until the French Revolution.  Heel heights returned to normal levels after that as a symbol of equality. 

In the 1800s North America saw the beginnings of a simple form of mechanical shoemaking.  This made it easier to make shoes to fit either the right or left foot.   In fact, it has now been nearly 1900 years since right and left shoes began to be differentiated, but it was difficult to produce them before the industrialized era began.

During the late 1800s, basketball became a popular sport and brought about the invention of one of the all-time favorite shoes ever produced - the sneaker.

Next time you look at the huge variety of styles of footwear available today, you might want to stop and think about what our ancestors wore on their feet.  It will make you grateful that you didn't have to walk a mile in their shoes.

While you were choosing which of your many shoes you will wear, have you ever stopped to wonder about the history of shoes?  When did people start wearing them?  What were they originally made from?  How did they become the all-important fashion accessory they are today?  Books could be written about this fascinating topic, but here is just a brief look at the history of shoes.

Brogue

As a shoe lover, I tend to buy shoes even when I don't need them. Recently I saw this shoe and I fell in love with it. Am not the usual "pink loving", "girly" lady; I dress to suit my mood; whether boyish, girly (which isnt all the time), rock-chic,......guess thats the reason why I love brogue.



It's called Brogue.

Brogues originally are men's shoes. These shoes originated in the country of Ireland and Scotland during the 19th century. Those days, these shoes were basically worn by the peasants and workers in damp bogs. Brogues typically have the criss cross lacing as well as the perforations on the shoe‘s top or the uppers. It is these perforations or holes that make the shoes unique and different from other kinds of footwear from men. These holes are designed in ‘w’ shape resembling the Oxford shoe. However, these perforations during those days were not meant for style, they had a function. Because of the presence of these holes water could seeping in the shoes could be drained out easily. Nowadays, too you will get these perforations in the uppers but they have no functional usage and are only meant for fashion.

Men’s Brogues have turned out to be the popular most dress shoes in the footwear industry. They are even popular for evening wear as well as corporate wear and complements any type of formal attire. These shoes have a very simple look when compared to the conventional formal shoes. It is the simplicity of these shoes that makes it distinguishable. Originally, the Brogues were made from untanned leather and were available only in brown shade but nowadays tanned leather being used in manufacturing the Brogues, there are many colours for shoe buffs to choose from. So, this means, Brogues being made of high quality leather are comfortable as well as durable and can even be found in different colours suiting your choice.
Because of the increasing demand for the men’s Brogues Shoes, there are several designs available. Some of the popular types of Brogues for men are Brogue Boots, leather Brogues, lace up Brogues, buckle Brogues, Country Brogues and many others. The perforations of these shoes differ from one shoe to the other. These shoes are mainly divided into quarter, half and full brogues depending on the number of perforations or holes available in the shoes. There are also many people who classify the Brogues according to the style like Gibson or Derby and Oxford. These shoes are believed to be a completely different kinds of shoe by many shoe buffs.
The two tone Brogues are in craze among fashionable men. Men love wearing these shoes. You will look daring and be surely be identified in the crowd with these leather shoes on.

So because of the beauty and uniquness of these shoes, women brogues are now being made. From flat shoes to heels which comes in different styles, designs and colours.Brogues now come in a array of heel heights and we celebrate the rustic colour palette from mossy green to burnt orange. Men must not be the only ones to enjoy these shoes.....

Imagine pairing these up with a your favorite boyfriend jeans. Could be very, very cute if played the right way.

Here we have got a great selection of brogue with a style for everyone; the only trouble is picking which one you want. Well if you find it too hard to choose why stick with the one pair go for two or three!!

Got to get myself some brogues...will make some for me cos I make shoes....am a shoefetish...,lol

Make sure you are a style icon this year with your brogues!

All About Shoes

If eyes are the window to the soul, shoes are the window to a man's/woman's personality.

Let's first check out the overall condition of the shoe. If the shoe is scuffed, worn out and just plain nasty, you can clearly believe that this man/woman does not have a closet full of shoes. If he/she does have more than two or three choices, the other two pairs being a pair of equally scruffy sneakers or a disgusting pair of shoes/sandals or worse yet flip flops; he/she never wears them.

What this tells you about this man/woman is that he's/she's probably very hard working and puts everyone's needs before his/her own. He/She puts comfort before fashion and doesn't really think about what others think about his/her appearance as long as everything is clean and is not on backward or inside out. It's much easier to keep putting on the same pair of black shoes because they match everything. He/She doesn't have time or the energy to worry about the latest style or eye-popping color. And the only thing he's/she's concerned about popping are the buttons of his/her shirt or the zipper on his/her pants. He/She hates shopping for himself/herself and it shows.

Now lets talk about just the lady. If you check out a woman's shoes and they look like they are brand new and in the latest color and style, you are dealing with a woman who loves shoes. She probably has a closet full of the most darling shoes you've ever seen in every color and style imaginable. Her outfit matches her shoes, and she is well put together. This woman enjoys being looked at and knows her brands and designers. She would rather starve for a week than pass up a great pair of shoes. This woman is high maintenance and isn't worrying about just getting through life. She's getting through life with a flare and having as much fun doing it as possible.

Next, the style of shoe a woman wears tells you volumes.

The athletic sneaker worn with everything, the sandal, the clog, and the flip flop are pretty common for the married mother.


Flats also scream comfort and lack of time, but with the cute ballet flats and other styles, you look more put together and modern.

Even those with fallen arches and weak ankles can find cute comfortable shoes that will not look like your granny willed them to you. They may cost more but your feet and legs will thank you.

High heels, my all time favourite,,also say confidence, sexy, and I don't have flat feet, or if I am in pain, I don't care, because I look hot.

Remember, when you reach for that pair of shoes tomorrow morning it's telling all your secrets.