Going Global: An Around-the-World View of Shoes!

Good day, my fellow Fashionistas!  

Moni here, to provide a quick peek of some shoe styles around the globe, past and present! 

First stop, Scandinavia! Or what you might have thought was a traditional shoe only in Scandinavia but was actually a predominant shoe style throughout all Europe at one point in time, even in Italy and Greece!  It is also part of a dance culture in the United States here and now: 

The Clog!

I found this article on Zappos.com extremely informative, even the last paragraph about my shoe-nemesis, the swiss cheese style Croc.  Truth be told, its silhouette clearly resembles the traditional, wooden clog.   Contemporary clogs sport synthetic, leather, and fabric materials with rubber, cushioned insoles as opposed their to painted, wooden predecessors.  Here's a perfect example, which can be found at a Feet First Store near you:

Sanita Sille Women's Professional Printed Clog

Next: China!  Many of us who are aware of the tradition can't help but wonder how on earth foot binding was such a widely accepted and practiced custom for so many centuries and always puts into question the subjective nature of what is considered beautiful and the so-called adage, "beauty is pain, pain is beauty":

The Bow or Lotus Shoe

image provided by artsofasiacorp.com

image provided by top5s.net

Based on their delicate aesthetic alone, however, I don't think it would be far off to assume that the highly feminine nature of the bow and lotus shoes inspired the ornate, bejeweled, and intricately patterned flats and wedge heels we see today, only now equipped with the wisdom of a woman's foot shape being as nature intended!

Poetic Licence Arm Candy Floral Wedge in Blue

All Black Little Bow Women's Flat in Nude

Can you guess the oldest shoe silhouette in the world, tracing as far back as 4,000 B.C. Sumeria?  Everyone wore them, whether a person was royalty, a soldier, a lady of a household, or a farmer.   

It's a style that remains strong today, especially in warmer, more tropical climates like New Orleans around Jazz Fest time ;)

I present to you, Fashionistas, the Sandal!

image provided by iamawkwardlyunique.blogspot.com

Here's my Feet First pick! Stop on by and get yourself a pair today!

Sam Edelman Ginger Sandal

 

That's all, folks! I hope you enjoyed this hopefully informative and inspirational quick trip around the shoe-globe!  

Happy Jazz Fest, and of course, Happy Shopping! xo