If the shoe fits...

Buying shoes is a love it or hate it event. Mostly, cliches in use, women love it and men hate it. But of course, life is far more multi-layered than that. However, an interesting survey of some 2,000 people has shown that around four out of 10 women often buy shoes in the wrong size, and 17 percent of men do as well.

Quoted in the article Lorraine Jones, from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, said: "Many of us find it hard to resist a bargain and the latest fashion must-have, but it's important to remember that by buying ill-fitting shoes, you're not only going to end up in discomfort, but you are also putting your health at risk."

Sample comments, justifying wearing ill-fitting shoes, include this piece of honesty: "Yes, I have worn shoes that hurt, just because they were beautiful. Gorgeous shoes make you feel better, complete an outfit and give you a special "buzz". It is only afterwards that your feet hurt - badly."
Wildmint, Liverpool

Shoes for a night out are one thing though, but at work good fitting shoes are surely a necessity to help people do their jobs correctly and stay comfortable throughout the day. Particularly important if you work in a shoe shop as well.

Underground thoughts

A lovely little piece of art and journalism we stumbled across on the weekend was this series of interviews with London Underground staff, to 'put a face to the people behind the stations'. A clever concept and nicely carried out too, and one interesting thing to note was the fact that each member of staff interviewed was asked about their uniform.

The responses seem to focus on the negative aspects 'Don't like the trousers - unflattering', or 'least favourite uniform item is the shoes', which is interesting to hear, but perhaps it would be nice to hear about their favourite items too and what they like about wearing the uniform.

Either way though it's useful feedback for the supplier of the uniform and if the shoes really are the least favourite item then at least that means the garments are liked.

Running in heels (with eggs)

One thing that women often claim about high-heels is that they are 'impossible' to walk in. Well, men in China have been proving that's not quite the case, by taking part in a series of sprinting events wearing high heels - see.

A fantastic idea - take unusual or awkward clothing and see how fast you can run in it. The sack race only takes place at school and you never see it after that - but why? It's a fantastic race, testing a multitude of skills, mainly jumping, but also balance and, er, speed.

The egg and spoon race - another great race. Why do we do it? When else in life do you need that skills? Do children have an inherent love of running with delicate food? Odd world.

Is this okay?

Not wishing to come across as all moral and heavy handed but the story about 'knee length boots for babies' is surely a bit tasteless? In fact we've written about this before, here, and said much the same thing.

In the story, Claude Knights, director of Kidscape is quoted as saying, 'It is just ridiculous. It is totally and utterly inappropriate - what is the point? Children of that age shouldn't even be wearing shoes, let alone heels. The time has come for parents to use their brains and let babies be babies - they are not dolls to be made into characters.' Which we couldn't agree more with.

Plus there's a new poll for you to vote on down there on the right, do a little scrolling. Ta ra!

Phone shoes

Another weird and wonderful invention here - a mobile phone that is housed inside your shoe. Genius! Saving space in your pocket the shoe phone would just suddenly start ringing so you undo the laces, hop around to keep your sock off the floor, and then chat away - what could be simpler. There's the potential for a good joke in here about using your tongue to talk into the tongue, but we can't find it. Anyone got a good suggestion?

Fame at last, or sorts

During the snow dump of last week we blogged about the hat fashion of Jack Straw - as you can see here - and today we discovered the very constituency that Mr Straw is from, Blackburn, have written a blog about a blog he wrote about the stick he got for wearing...the boots! Oh it's all so confusing.

Still, it's nice to see we're reaching the key movers and shakers in Westminster. Now if only they'd change our name to Company Clothing, rather than just the more powerful sounding, but incredibly vague, Company, we'd be on to a real winner!

Plus don't forget - it's one calender month today until the awards - if you haven't got a ticket for the event of the year, host by the lovely Myleene Klass, what on earth are you waiting for? The moon on a stick?! Go here, now!

Footwear stores bitten by Crunch

The next issue of Company Clothing features an overview of some new footwear products available on the market and underlines the innovation and drive of this area. However, the news coming from the high-street is not so good with the announcement that both Barratts footwear and Priceless have gone into administration.

Poll Results:

We asked you: Do you wear Hawaiian shirts? The results were:

Yes, it's all I own - 14%
Never, don't you know who I am? 28%
Only if I was in Hawaii, sipping a cocktail, playing the ukulele would you get me in one of those. 42%
It's a leftover from a party. 14%

So, it seems, you're not fans.

In other news the technical blight which hampered our efforts to bring you blog posts last week looks to be over, so now you can check back daily for your Company Clothing blog fix.

Rogue brogues attack Bush

Well, there's only one story to be blogged about today isn't there? George Bush being attacked by shoes on a surprise visit to Iraq. Spectacular footage of the event here. Doesn't he duck well?

It's an interesting form of attack and it’s well documented that showing someone the soles of your shoes is a serious form of insult in Arab countries. But in any culture hurling your shoes with all your might at someone's face is considered a serious insult, and then potential injury.

Are there other world leaders who deserve such treatment? Could we throw scarves at Nicolas Sarkozy? Or perhaps a wellington boot at Gordon Brown?*



*In no way whatsoever does Company Clothing endorse, condone or promote the throwing of garments at prominent world leaders.