Flashback – I had loved shoes by Clarks. However, for whatever reason, their primary shop in Mumbai closed down and some other Clarks shops were perennially shuttered down. I lost hope of seeing them in Mumbai. Then, there was news that they will tie up with a well known retail brand for the Indian market. Then all was quiet. Then, I see this outlet!

On further inspection and questioning of the sales staff, I have news for you!

Clarks in India is now available through all Lifestyle department store retail outlets, in their shoe section (you cant see it online yet).This is a chain by the ‘Landmark’ group, the one that owns those awesome book stores, and not only the Future group as the press release mentioned . As I saw, they are also available at select Metro shoes outlets and some Central outlets. Hmm, Clarks has been doing a lot of homework behind the scenes!

What is consistent with their press release, is their intention to be present in the market in 2011. It is the end of 2011, but the year is as per plan.

The prices have come down since my last visit. What once used to cost INR 4,000 is now available for INR 1,999. A factor of the Lifestyle’s costing system? I care not! However, I don’t know what the cost of newer designs will be.

The (High Streeet Phoenix) Pheonix Mills, Lower Parel showroom is also apparently back, though at a different shop number. I have not yet physically checked it out. You can find out the store nearest to you across India using this store locator.

Which is also something I need to mention – Clarks finally has an Indian website. It was not there earlier. This, I hope is a tip towards their seriousness of being in this growing, shoe-hungry market. Yippee!

All I know is, Clarks is available once more, and I hope they bring in newer, better designs!

(psst – their website promises well – check out women’s designs here)

It all started with the Louboutin story.

A Fight over the Color, not Logo

A Louboutin Pump

If you dont know about the famous shoe brand on which Jennifer Lopez sang her famous ‘Louboutins‘ song from the album ‘Love?‘ - ‘Im throwing on my Louboutins!‘, now is the time to read up. However, unfortunately for us, the video never got filmed – Christian Louboutin had stated that he was ‘flattered’ that JLo had sung a song with his shoe line in it, and had thought up amazing creations for the video, but – sigh – that never happened.

So, Louboutin’s are shoes, made by Christian Louboutin. Just like Manolo Blahnik‘s are. He started making shoes with the now-famous red soles. And every celebrity wears one at least once a month. They are just so easy to identify!Also, he hardly ever makes low-heels. The shoes are designer, high heels for evening affairs. A pair typically costs hundreds of dollars and have been seen on innumerable starry events, including on Carrie, on Sex and the City (yes, that is a qualifier).

YSL's 'red-all-over' Shoes

And then – YSL happened. They made a shoe range that was ‘red all over’, and raised red flags all over Louboutin’s workshops. So, Louboutin argues that they (Louboutin) have the patented red out-sole for all their shoes, and anyone making shoes with red out-soles infringes their right. The red out-sole is of the colour ‘Chinese red’, but they argue that any similar shade of red can be confused by consumers.

The million-dollar suit for “trademark infringement, unfair competition and false designation of origin” was filed in April 2011.

This is now a rather interesting case – can colour be trademarked?

Tiffany - Trademark Blue

Tiffany has now jumped into the game, and supported Louboutin. Why? Well, because Tiffany has trademarked their distinct ‘robin-egg blue’ and if Louboutin loses the case, (as they might, with YSL’s logic), Tiffany may stand to lose some day in the future!

So much for a simple shoe. Here, we have a legal battle between some of the biggest name sin high fashion over the color of the sole of a shoe!!

This will surely set the precedent for legal cases in years to come.

aad

aswdwa

podf

Jimmy Choo

On other Shoe-related BIG news, Jimmy Choo will be seeing some changes! After 15 long years heading the range, Tamara Mellonis resigning from Jimmy Choo. The other high-fashion foot accessory will now see new leadership and who knows? A new direction?

Tamara Mellon with her Choo's

I will let this brilliant article speak for me on The Independent.

Note: Links trackback to The Independent, The Economist and Forbes for their brilliant articles on these subjects; apart from Wikipedia

Show me your Shoes!

I know a lot of women out there (and a lot of men, too) who own lovely shoes. Though I love shoes, it is physically and financially impossible for me to own and store all varieties. It is also mentally impossible for me to know all varieties.

I invite you, reader, to now come forth and send me a picture or two of your favorite pair. And tell me a story of why it is your favorite. And I will put it up on this site!

Show Me Your Shoes!!

You can contact me by a comment on the blog (any post will do), and I will direct you to the email address where you can send your pictures and write up. If you have a blog, I will provide the link to it.

Your shoe-story can be about your latest purchase or your oldest hand-me-down pair. It can be about a solitary shoe, or a complete shoe closet. It just has to be about shoes and the shoes in your life!

I love a good story, and I just simply LOVE good shoes! So give me either, or give me both – and I will be more than happy to showcase you

The price does not matter, the make does not matter, the age does not matter. What matters is what matter the most to you – why you like that shoe!

What I will need (The Requisites):

1. A good picture of the shoe. It can be with you in it, it can be the shoe alone. It should be well lit so that the shoe can be seen clearly. The image should be of at least 4MP clarity (not too difficult in todays age). If you have multiple pictures, please highlight at least one picture. I will put up as many as I can, but not at the cost of the text.

You can also send me multiple shoes’ pictures. If you have a closet of shoes you want showcased, send me a picture of the complete shoe closet if you want.

2. A Story. Text of around 300 words or more centering around your photograph. I may or may not edit it a little

3. Your details. I am sure you as a person will be crucial to the reason the shoe/s are important! So please send me a two-liner about yourself, as well as the following details:

Preferred public name (will be displayed)
real name (for my records)
email address (let me know if you want it public, else it will be private)
age, gender, location (will be displayed) and
blog address or contact detail you would want to put up on this blog (if at all. Its ok if you don’t)

Anything additional is a bonus! This can be your own picture, your neighbours picture or your pet’s picture! To put up the additional information will be my discretion, based upon your sidenote/story on it!

It’s really that simple! So I will await your feedback, and perhaps make this a regular feature here?

NOTE: The postings will be ad-hoc as of now, and on first-come first-serve basis as far as possible. I have no prejudices, and will have no reason to reject an entry if it fulfills the requisites.

But then, they will need pictures. And I am not carrying the pictures. And I don’t have time to get more pictures. So what I will do is, retrieve those pictures from my camera, and then write in details about my shoe spree.

Meanwhile, I have really experimented with some make-up stuff. Let me write about that. Afterall, if you like reading about shoes, I am sure you do apply some makeup sometime? Don’t you? And just these last few months I have made some small, but interesting purchases. I am going to break it up into two posts, else it will be just too long!

Foundation

MAC is pretty new in India. However, it has caught my fancy and of-late I needed a foundation. I must say the foundation–concealer of Mac is awesome. It’s long lasting and covers any slight blemishes that you may have. Of course, I am talking about Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation.  Just pop into one of the stores and ask the lady there to give you the perfect shade. I would advise going for a darker shade to look more natural once it is on, and then pat on some powder to make it set. Also, note that this is the liquid one I am talking of, and not the powder. The compact / powder one gives a matte finish but I preferred this to act as a slight concealer as well. And liquid foundations (IMO) spread better.

The only thing about this foundation I find a little inhibitory for regular use. It looks like I have some foundation on. Yes, that sounds weird, but that’s how it is. Perhaps this is because I am used to a sunscreen-loose powder look, but still. It makes my face look perfect (which is great) but also a little too perfect for every day. A little on the made-up side, if you can understand what I mean.

So, this purchase has resulted in my foundation count becoming – Three! Yes, I have three foundations. And once upon a time, I just had one, and then at another long point of time, none! Gee.

See, I am a little wary of anything sitting on my skin for more than a couple of hours. Being super sensitive to most products, I rather leave my skin breathe as far as possible. Use of foundation on a daily basis had aggravated my skin trouble and then I had completely stopped, making my skin return to its normal self. But then, for evenings out, for parties, for speakerships, for important work relating to senior customer meetings and for any such formal, important occasions I would still prefer to look a little more perfect than I am, not to mention professional. And hence I went looking for a foundation.

So, after a consultation with my dermatologist, I shortlisted on getting mineral based powder foundation. Rationale? I was using loose powder on a regular basis, and did not want anything that would clog my pores. A powder based foundation fitted the bill perfectly. So, after much deliberation and try-outs, I ended up with the L’Oreal Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation (that’s a mouthful!)

To test out its suitability on my skin, I left it on for a whole evening before going and purchasing it the next day – to ensure I had no allergic reaction. And I did not.

The foundation is great. It’s not a great cover; it just provides a better finished look than a bare face – if you know what I am talking of. But for my requirements, it was perfect. I needed something light, leaving enough room for my skin to breathe, and looked natural enough for semi-regular wear without looking made-up. And I loved the packaging!

Only problem? In a humid environment, when I would tend to be out in the Mumbai monsoon, or heat, my skin would reject it. I get a little itchy and prefer to wash it off. Also, its not a great base for additional makeup. So, it’s a great wear in autumn/winter months, or for the time when I know I wont be exposed to external humid environment.

The brush is great, and its fun to apply it. If you don’t have a very sensitive skin like mine, you can definitely go for it for daily wear.

And then a few months ago I was traveling, and I needed a foundation – having forgotten mine at home. So I went for a Japanese brand I had not heard of. It was cheap(er), it looked good and I was somehow assured of the quality. And I have conveniently forgotten its name. I will put it up the moment I can. Promise.

So this foundation is packaged in a nice little bottle with the squirt top, covered in a lovely light green packaging – quite attractive. And then, the foundation. It is not as great as the Mac (which is the reason I got it) but it is definitely better than some other I have tried. It really stays on for a long time, and it is a good natural foundation. It does not act as a concealer, but it forms a good base make-up and it feels light and perfect for my skin. This is my favourite foundation for regular wear in any weather! Got to go somewhere quick? I just slap some of the foundation on, and Im set to go!

Lip-wear

Enough about foundations. The other thing that I obsess over is lipwear. I am finicky about lipsticks and love having a variety of colours around. However, my lips crack really fast, and I tend to eat up my lipsticks. Even when I don’t eat them up, they just disappear! I talk – and whoosh! The lipstick’s gone! The ones that stay for a long time dry out my lips faster than any lip balm can cure them. So, though I apply them in the morning and before meetings, I have given up on them for a through-the-day look. For that I rely on my lipbalm.

I have been a faithful user of Himalaya Lip balm. Its awesome. It can heal dry lips in a day if applied every few hours. And its not too sticky. The only problem? I always bought two fo them because I never knew when it will be out of stock. Himalaya needs to sort out their distribution system for their lip balms!

So, once I found them difficult to procure, I started alternating with Vaseline lip balm. It’s good too. Good ole paraffin! But it’s a little sticky. On the plus side, it can be used for any kind of dry skin in a hurry, and many times I have used the lip balm for my hands.

So imagine my delight when I was walking down a shop and saw this lovely pink coloured tube – Vaseline Lip Care, Rosy Glow! This is the same goodness as Vaseline lip balm, but has some added pigment. So, when I apply it, it manages to look like a natural gloss while nourishing my lips. I’m just too thrilled with it! There are a few colour variants and I think you can choose which you want on the basis of your skin colour. This has now become a staple in my purse.

The applicator end is slanted, but it is too runny to use directly from the tube. Then I end up squeezing too much and look like a bloodsucking vampire or something. So I use it with my fingertips (you can see in the picture how liquid-y it is).

On application it feels cool and mentholated, which makes me feel very fresh – a very nice touch on such a simple product. It feels a little sticky on lips, but I think about all the good it is doing, and let it be

However, a lip gloss look-alike is not good enough when it comes to the need of a full blown lipstick for a meeting. And I have always carried a sturdy one in my purse. With the amount of movement that my purse goes through, a normal gloss container usually cracks and then I have gloss all over the insides of the purse. And most of the times the cover of the lipstick cracks or opens up.

So this time, when my Maybelline gloss-finish natural looking pink lipstick finished, I headed to the store and ended up in…Lakme! When was the last time you bought anything Lakme? Apart from some nailpolish remover and loose powder, I cant remember. But they had this amazing lipstick product called ‘aquashine’.

This is supposed to provide lip balm effects as well, but I don’t know about that. What I do know is, the applicator is amazing. It has a foam applicator which needs you to push out the lipstick gel through small holes in it by twisting the pen. And the angle is perfect for putting it on the lips. The cover closes with a definitive click and as of now I don’t see any chances of it spilling. Its sturdy and looks like a rather fat ball point pen.

The colours are tame – mostly earthy shades, but they have a gloss finish. They are quite thick in consistency and so, even though they are gloss finish, the colour sits long on my lips. Which is just perfect for me! And because it sits long, it is glossy and it imparts colour to my lips, I find it great. Also, the thick consistency ensures that my lips don’t crack too often as evaporation is to a minimum.

As of now, I am loving each of the products and am quite satisfied. They are all meant for different uses, and are motly economical.

Vaseline rosy care serves the purpose of some lip colour in office while hydrating my lips, the himalaya lip balm helps me combat extreme dry lips. the aquashine lip gloss is perfect for a quick application before a meeting!

And I carry all of them in my purse! See how depleted the Himalaya lip balm looks? I will soon need another vaseline rosy glow. This is quite near its end, even though it doesnt show it. The aquashine is still quite new and I hope to get many many applications out of it still! It is the only one above INR 300 here, the other two are in two-digit prices!

For my next installment, I will write about eye shadows and lip liners Till then, au revoir, and enjoy your lip glosses and foundations!

Man in Casual Wear

Why only jeans qualify as informals, is something I havent deciphered. Especially since all clothing companies try so hard to educate them about: linens, khakis, cords, canvases. And of course, for the more experimental, trousers in innovative cuts, including (yes, I will say it) the Jodhpurs (see image on left).

Coming to shoes, the other fallacy I have noticed is the simple bifurcation in Men’s minds about shoes:
a) Formal shoes: Black, Brown
b) Casual shoes: Sports shoes (sneakers)

While formal shoes are experimented upon to some extent, with laced, slip-ons and even innovative leathers, its the casual shoes that take a beating.

There is nothing worse than the sight of men in office, wearing jeans coupled with black, formal shoes. No, jeans coupled with floaters and socks come a close second, but black formal shoes definitely win. (It is so horrible, even Google doesnt store an image!)

So what can be worn as casual shoes in office?
Well, the standard sports shoes and floaters are there. However, sports shoes all the time are boring. They may be comfortable, but be truthful. Do you really always want to wear sports shoes? Also, it gives the impression you have only 2 pair of shoes – one for office and one for running. Not Good.
As for floaters, they are not a feasible option in formal offices, which promote ‘Friday Dressing’. And I despise them anyway. Sorry.

In such a case, I offer to our dear fashion deprived men, the quaint, old-fashioned product, universally known versatile shoes known as ‘Loafers‘.

Men's Loafers - Louis Vuitton

Loafers are typically slip-on shoes, with a mocassin construction. Traditionally made from leather, loafers are slip-on shoes that resemble a moccasin on top, but have a wide and fairly flat heel. They can sometimes be worn for formal wear, but a pair can be owned, which scream casual. No man can go wrong with loafers – they are as masculine as they come, no matter the colour.

Loafers with Show Bows

Loafers are best in brown, white, or even black (and sometimes deep wine red). They can be soft leather, with stitches showing on the sides, have tassles (like cowboy shoes) or metal decorations (as popularised by Gucci)

Tassled Loafers_Gucci

Dress loafers are those which are more moccasin-like, with deeper cuts, but they look more formal.

If however, our fashion deprived men find it difficult to identify loafers, the famous suede shoes can be a substitute that can be considered by them.

Blue Suede Mens shoes

Suede Mens shoes

Suede shoes in light brown, less heels, with or without laces, can work wonders as casual wear.

Suede Boots

Boots are another option, though they may not be perfect for office all the time, they can look very good with jeans, especially when the correct pair is worn. Boots dont always have to be high, ankle length boots do just as well. Suede boots can be wonderful as casual wear, if worn with the right pair of jeans.

Athletic Inspired Shoes

For those, whoever, who do not want to venture into loafers, mocassins, suede shoes and boots, ‘athletic inspired shoes’ are an option! These are a mix of boots and sneakers, while being actually shoes. They can be just upto the ankle, and are usually in the garb of mountain climbing shoes.

Athletic Inspired Woodlands

Some of the best places to buy casual shoes for men in India:

- Rockport: A great option for long lasting shoes, especially if you are loathe to buy leather since they have a good collection of non-leather. Rockports are always sturdy, long lasting, comfortable and yet quite stylish.

- Woodlands: They offer some of the best athletic inspired shoes in India.

- Regal Shoes

- Mochi Shoes

- Clarks Shoes

- Levis Shoes

- Inc 5

- Chain stores like Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop, Pantaloons, Westside, etc.

So, considering there is a last working day for the week, every single week of your working life, I suggest to all my male readers – go ahead and get some casual wear shoes. C’mon! I a sure you are tired of wearing the same old shoes all the time! At least if you are not ready to get rid of those jeans every weekend, get a pair of shoes that make those jeans look good

Happy Shopping! Here’s to more Stylish Men at workplace!

And who to say it than Lila from one of my regular comic strips – The Meaning of Lila.

And here is something else that Lila said:

I dont know about the beautiful people code, but I seriously dont get the deal about crocs.

Its not like they are super comfortable. Its not like they do anything greater than other perforated rubber based shoes do (even in Indian monsoons). And its not like  the colours are sooo great.

So if you are a Crocs lover, let me know why.

Till my next post!

(PS- I just like The Meaning of Lila, I am not in any way associated with the strip)

My colleagues comment left me speechless. A little flattered, but surprised as well. You see, shoes are the one thing that really don’t need confidence. They are just…worn.

Porphyra - A Beautiful Red Algea

I love the colour red, like almost all Indians. However, though keep few reds in my cupboard, I wear them with caution, and not usually to work. With shoes, it is a different matter altogether.

I have always had a pair of red shoes in my cupboard. Ever since I can remember, I have liked to pick up red shoes. Its a pity I did not take photographs of my shoes before this, else I could have given a nice series of photographs – vintage, really – of my ‘Red Shoes Through the Ages’ or some such thing.

They started off more as fun in college, and now I have these that I wear to office.

At the moment though,  I have two pairs, one rather dull red, and the other a shiny patent red. I am a little particular about the shade of red when I choose the shoes. I sincerely believe that red is a beautiful colour. However, it can look so very awful if the shade of red selected is

a) not suitable to the skin (warm shades and cool shades) or

b) not suitable to the occasion

Once I had red flats, with red sequins holding down the toes. They added zing to my dull blue jeans for a casual evening out with friends. I however, could not imagine wearing them to office.

Red Leather Peep Toes

To start with, are my red leather peep-toes. The design of these shoes are not exactly subtle, but the colour and the overall make of them, thanks to the leather, the stitching, etc., makes them my favorite for office wear.

They are not exactly from a fancy shop, but something I saw and was love at first sight. The toes are covered quite well, and the ‘peep’ is just enough to show a hint of nailpolish. And it covers the feet quite well from all angles. The leather scrunches up as it ends near the foot, to give a nice feminine ruffled look.

The heels are around 2 inches, comfortable and of  dark wood-like substance.

I wear this pair pretty often with either dull coloured skirts, or with a black and white outfit.

It brings in a splash of coliur to the black and white, without drawing attention to itself.

The leather itself is patchy in shades, and that brings its own angle into the shoes.

Red Shoes in Office

They go pretty well with jeans as well. The heel height helps in cigarette leg jeans, and the red colour adds to the glam look of the outfit.

However, I still like to reserve it for office wear. It is the bit of daring in formal wear which can make a day brighter.

The next pair of red shoes – and I must confess, I recently got them from Singapore – are anything but subtle. In design they are as formal as can be, but they are a bright red, made of patent leather-like material, shining and definitely drawing attention to themselves.

Shiny Red Shoes

I got these shoes from a URS & Inc shop, and they fit like a dream – and I simply could not resist the sassy red.

The design, as you can see, is a very staid moccasin look-alike, with a bit of steel buckle for show. But the red is tomato, yet in certain light looks maroonish.

From Office in Patent Red Shoes

The heel is pure wood, and gives a nice hollow ring when walking on solid stone floors (marble or granite), which is nice to hear in its own way.

The sole is well cushioned, and in short, wearing this pair is a joy unto itself – and most of it is due to the colour!

So I pair this with my dullest trousers (photo above: shirt: Fab India, Trousers: G2000, Dirty room with tangled computer wires: mine!) The design of this pair of shoes is good for trousers, I dont think I will wear this with skirts, or even Salwar Kameezes.

In trousers as well, because of its shiny nature, it does not go very well with pure black, and thus I reserve it for camel, beige and brown trousers. It then adds an interesting aspect to the complete look, especially when sitting down – as then the shoes become really visible.

My suggestion – on a Monday, when you have the Blues, there is nothing likea pair of Red Shoes to chase them away.

Try it, the next time in office. But do take care that the shade suits your feet, and complements your clothes. Red shoes need to be worn with care, and you dont want people pointing at your feet because the colour is so garish and bright, it robs the shoe and the wearer from any style quotient!

The colour red is known for its energy, its sanctity (in India and China) and its power. Feel free to dip into this reservoir and make a bleak work day some fun!

(Photograph courtesy Flickr)

Singapore is one of those city(-states) that believe in dressing well. All you see around you are well dressed people. Really well dressed.

In their midst wearing sports shoes was not the best choice. But then I was the tourist. So I persisted. My faithful pair helped me through the day of walking around the famous Sentosa beach island-bit of the city-state/country.

But. (and its a very large but) Singapore weather is slightly worse than that of Mumbai (check out the humidity levels on that link!). At least it was while I was there. Sweating in sports shoes are not the best thing. So by evening when I took off my shoes in the late evening, I found my poor foot abused.

From that day on I wore only my breathy gladiators out of doors. Was I glad I had taken them along!

The beauty of gladiators, like Ive mentioned earlier is, they can be teemed with most things. So my uniform for the trip became skirts and gladiators

The shoes were comfortable for long walks. Flat, they did not strain any undue muscles of my legs. Also, the multiple straps held the foot firmly in place ensuring my foot never slipped.

At the same time, the thin strips left enough place for my foot to breathe. The sole was also thin enough that my foot-sole could be comfortable.

The gladiators I have now are black, with faux stitch marks on each strap giving the impression its made of leather. It is however, not leather.

They are a comfortable height upto my ankles, and therefore can match with most clothes, irrespective of the height.

There are a lot of colours to choose from, but I took a basic black since it can match with almost any coloured clothes. I even wore it with a pink dress. My last pair of gladiators were pure leather, of skin tone. That is another colour which looks good but then it does not dramatise its presence.

The heel is slightly supported, so it is not absolutely flat. This really helped since I did a lot of walking around. Perfectly flat shoes can strain the foot and make one tired easily.

All in all, I say, when you are traveling, carry a pair of gladiator sandals. They do not occupy much space, are lighter than most other shoes and are rather versatile while being comfortable!

Till a few years ago, the life of a shoe owned by me was rather short. It was not that I did not look after them, but rather more about how I wore them and walked in them. I did not treat them well, twisting them out of shape when bored. Now, of course, I am more careful.

But that did not mean my shoes were bad to look at. They just tore early because of the friction they faced. I have always maintained that Cracked, Dusty shoes look horrible. Shabby, even. That does not mean you need to take out the shoe polish and spend an hour on those precious leathers every day. Just take care of them!

There are a few simple rules that make it easier to look after your precious shoes – and feet. And no, they are not all about cleaning and polishing and shining those shoes. Some are very simple, doable activities, especially in a dusty country like India. Here is my tuppence on what you can do to increase the life of your shoes.

#1 Watch where you walk

I am the few disreputable ones who does not polish their black shoes everytime I wear them. But then, most times I dont need to. Its simple. I try and watch where I walk. Avoid puddles, roads dug up, definitely avoid cattle. The thing that I find difficult to avoid are the roads in India where the pavement is lose and there will be a sudden crater of dust – just that point where you need to step on to and enter that car/taxi/bus/shop. So you go on to next rule.

#2 If you must, walk lightly

Try not to walk with a full step and weight onto delightless items as those mentioned above. So, it rained. So, there are puddles. That does not mean one need wade over them. You can lightly jump over them to dry ground, or lightly walk to avoid the water splashing on top and spoiling more than need be.

#3 Store them well

And I cannot stress this one enough.

#3 a) A lot of dust on shoes is from shoes themselves. Keep a shoe on top of another, and its a sure fire way of ensuring dust on your pair. All the mud the sole of your shoe accumulated is now being deposited on the top of the other. So, DONT store them on top of each other.

#3 b) The other advantage of not storing them as a tower is, the shoes maintain their shape. They dont get squashed from top, lose their creases at the sides or need extra effort wearing. Good shoes dont need to be coaxed into your feet.

Keep each pair in rows, next to each other. Boots need to be kept horizontally if they are of a soft material since then they may crumple down. If the boots are of hard leather, you can keep them standing. If you have the plastic shoe-shapers, keep them inside the shoe – they will maintain the shape of the foot for the boot.

#3 c) Another source of dust on shoes is your own home. In India, dust is everywhere. Keep your shoes covered as far as possible, unless you are wearing them daily. I use a shoe closet, and for those that dont fit in, I keep the shoe boxes. The special shoes worn once in a while are in boxes which I open to take them out. This ensures that not only do they not rest on each other, but also dont accumulate dust from all over the place and look pretty.

#4 Clean shoes with dry dusting

Once in a while, while wearing the shoes, dry dust them with a brush or a soft cloth. You may not have time to polish, but even this one moment rub down of your shoe keeps the shine alive and dust away.

#5 Really Clean them

This I cannot stress enough. Once in a while, take out all your shoes. Spend a Sunday on shoes if need be. Inspect them and in case of any part that needs to be repaired, keep it aside to get it repaired. Clean the shoes with a dry duster, then polish them with a shoe polish, and then neatly rearrange their shape if they have for some reason got misshapen. For suede shoes, keep a different brush to take care of the hair/wool that can stick to them. Check the heel tips, the toes for friction marks, polish these regions as well. If the shoe has an insole that is wearing out yet the shoe itself is fine, you might want to either get rid of it or invest in a shoe insole which you can use with multiple shoes. Dr. Scholls makes them well, with many varieties – and some especially for women. Gladiators too need to be brushed and cleaned. Polish the straps, especially if they are leather. Chappals, especially Kolhapuri leather chappals also need their fair share of polish. Sports shoes also need care. Wash them regularly!

Then keep the shoes back.

This not only ensures that your shoes are well cared for,  but also makes you suddenly realise the contents of your closet. Old shoes emerge, new shoes get identified, sometimes missing pairs are found and sometimes you will realise there are shoes that can be thrown away.

A last note: many women dont wear socks. Its fine as far as women’s shoes go, but if you are wearing closed, laced up shoes of any kind, you might want to invest in socks for the well being of your feet. Even otherwise, peds, ankle length socks or stockings can be of help for the strappy shoes and saving you from undue shoe strain or even slipping them on easily.

So go ahead, spend a day with your shoes, and remember, the real secret to maintaining any of your shoes are a little regular care!