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SHOO BIZ - The World's Best
E-mail Friday, 17 November 2006

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As we have seen in various posts here on The Cool Hunter, footwear has become a genre of art all of its own.

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Much like the how the simple need for shelter has crescendoed into superfluous McMansions, the shoe started out as a humble necessity: to keep the toes out of harm's way. Currently - as anyone who's purchased a pair of platform sneakers or sky-high stilettos can attest - a need for beauty and style has far overshadowed the trivial want for comfort.

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Oscar Wilde once professed, "One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art". The financially fortunate seem to agree, with well-manicured feet peaking from artistic footwear worth their weight in rubies and diamond detail. Cobbler extraordinaire Stuart Weitzman took this tendency to an unprecedented pinnacle with the unveiling of his "Cinderella Slippers" which were were worn by singer Alison Krauss at the 2004 Oscars ceremony and priced at $2M.

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Thankfully, the art of footwear is not limited to those of stratospheric bank accounts. The need for fashionable shoe has crossed all social boundaries. Collecting retro-style sneakers to high-end designer fashion heels, shoe sales are a major part of the international fashion market and a serious indicator of status and sub culture.

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Naturally, the shoe store has evolved, side-by-side, into an equally stylish hub of modern fashion. No matter if you're talking about a pair Jimmy Choo wedges (a must on the streets of Manhattan) or a rare collectable pair of original 1972 Adidas sneakers – there is a carefully manicured storeroom and market-analyzed price tag for each.

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So what's your favorite shoe store? We're asking our readers to tell us about the most unique shoe store in their part of the world for a feature that will appear in magazine print.

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We want to see stores that feature the most original display and merchandising techniques out there. From sneaker shops to high-end department stores to exclusive boutiques, if you know of a great candidate then send us an e-mail, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Of course, those with the best tip have a chance of winning a pair of Evisu sneakers. By L. Harper

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Tags: Shoes, Stores,
 
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