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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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,
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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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