American women spend billions of dollars on shoes each year. Shoe addiction may be partly to blame.
Video: Melanie Herschorn
Shoe addicts unfazed by prices, keep on shopping
Jimmy Choo. Manolo Blahnik. Salvatore Ferragamo. Sergio Rossi. To some, these somewhat exotic-sounding names are just that: names. But to shoe addicts, these names evoke an emotional response, an inner longing for a beautifully crafted shoe. As more and more women in the United States become obsessed with shoes, retailers are learning that these addicts will pay whatever it takes to get their fix.
When a woman wears flip flops, she’s feeling energetic. Catch her in sneakers, she’s witty and quick on her feet. And if she’s donning stilettos, she knows what she wants out of life. Women choose their footwear based on how they’re feeling and how they want to feel. Shoe expert Meghan Cleary discusses why a great pair of shoes is a pick-me-up and may even have the power to change the future.
Although in ancient times, people began adorning their sandals with fancy straps, modern-day high heels can be traced back to Renaissance Italy. Embroidery, lace, colorful fabrics and even gold gave shoes in the early modern era their flair, but the sometimes 23-inch platform heels also began a trend in footwear that women still follow today, much to the detriment of their often aching feet.
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