4 PAIRS OF BEAUTIFUL SHOES FOR KATE'S WEDDING

Kate Middleton Commissions Four Pairs Of Shoes For Her Royal Wedding Day0 Comments
By Mair Perkins
Posted on 14 Mar 2011 at 2:52am

http://wakeywakeynews.com/31273/kate-middleton-commissions-four-pairs-of-shoes-for-her-royal-wedding-day

While all the focus has been on who’s going to be chosen to design the Royal-bride-to-be Kate Middleton’s wedding dress for her forth coming marriage to Prince William….

Another pressing question everyone should be asking themselves is….

Who will be making her shoes?

When the Queen married Prince Phillip, she wore ivory duchess satin shoes that were embellished with silver pearls, and Lady Diana’s slippers were made by Cobbler, Clive Shilton and were decorated with no less than 600 mother-of-pearl sequins, and a Royal insider has revealed that Kate Middleton has commissioned four pairs of shoes for her big day, and each of varying heel height….

According to the insider, the Royal-bride-to-be will be wearing a pair of embroidered silk slippers to walk down the aisle

Change her shoes for lunch…

Once again for the Official wedding photo’s and then finally, last but not least, slip in to a much higher pair of heels for the evening party….

At present there are two strong contenders to make her shoes, one being 45-year-old Georgina Goodman, who has been making shoes for almost 15-years and owns a boutique on London’s Old Bond Street.

Georgina’s wedding sandal has the word ‘love’ in crystals n the side and is a definite bestseller in the run up to the wedding season, and the designer hopes that Kate Middleton won’t choose courts, because as etiquette dictates, “a bride who is married in a Cathedral has to wear a closed shoe.”

Next is the bookies favourtie, London Cobbler, 29-year-old Aruna Seth.

Her wedding shoes have padding inside and a leather sock that sits beneath pressure points ensuring comfort if you have to stand in them for hours at a time, Aruna wants Kate Middleton to wear something classic and curvy that will flatter her legs, adding:

“The Royal tradition is to wear ivory satin.

“She always wears a heel of three-and-a-half inches, and I think that is wise for her wedding day.

“She is likely to chose a Louis heel, which is slightly thicker than a stiletto.

“Kate’s shoe has to be demure.”

MY THOUGHTS

4 pairs of beautiful shoes for a single wedding!  well, she's royalty (to be).  we, ordinary mortals, have been known to have 2 pairs for a single non-royal event.

Beautiful Shoes for Large Feet

How to Buy Fabulous Shoes for Large Feet

Gerri Miller ON Oct 4, 2005 at 1:27AM

Like Tuscan villas and Hugh Jackman, beautiful shoes were things I'd salivated over in magazines and admired from afar but could never have. Finding cute pumps to match an outfit? Forget it. With size 11AA feet, I had to make do with a severely limited selection of boring, if not downright ugly, shoes in black or brown -- when I could find anything at all. But I'm happy to report that those days of footwear deprivation are over. With a great variety of manufacturers, stores and Websites catering to extended sizes worn by increasing numbers of bigger, taller women, today's size 10+ shoe fanatic can be fashionable from head to toe.

Eleven and 12 are not oddball sizes anymore," says Bob Lewis, whose Prevata line of Italian-made leather shoes is sold in those sizes at Nordstrom's and independent retailers. "I think it's a huge market, and in my own retail stores we take advantage of that tremendously," concurs Donald J. Pliner, who offers sizes 11 and 12 in his four eponymous outlets.

Stuart Weitzman, whose exquisite shoes adorn the soles of Hollywood's red carpet regulars, has earned the love and loyalty of women with hard-to-fit feet by offering a wide range of sizes in his 15 U.S. stores. "We do 3 1/2 to 12, AAAA to W, says Weitzman, who'll add outposts in San Francisco, Atlantic City and San Antonio this fall. Weitzman does a booming extended-size business via his Website and twice-yearly trunk shows in May and November, when customers can pre-order any style in their size. "It's custom made, and we don't charge any extra for it," notes Weitzman. Actress Kate Winslet, who wears a size 11M, wore Weitzman's T-strap Nighty to the Academy Awards.

Élevé by Forgotten Soles, the new custom line from DesignerShoes.com, goes a step further. "We have a virtual trunk show where women have the chance to see styles before they're actually made. We work with customers who have shopped with us before, so we can show them shoes and they can tell us what style and color they like," says company president Barbara Thornton, whose Boston store and Website cater exclusively to hard-to-find sizes. "We start at 10 1/2 medium and 9 on the narrow side and 8 on the wide side and go up to 15. We don't even carry a shoe unless it goes to size 12," notes Thornton, who can fit both the tall teenager who wants flats and the confident career woman who likes heels. "It's all about choice."

Nordstrom, with its 95 department stores nationwide and thousands of shoe styles available on its Website, maintains a commitment to extended sizes that reflects its beginnings 100 years ago as a Seattle shoe store catering to large-footed Swedes. "We try to carry sizes four to fourteen, and widths AAA to WW," says spokesperson Pamela Perret. You can get on the mailing list to be notified of special oversize shoe events and benefit from the huge national inventory. If your store is out of your size, chances are it can be ordered and shipped to you.

For fall, Perret promises a continuation of the bohemian and embellished trends, now in boots, "and what we're calling Baroque -- very decorated, rich fabrics like velvet and brocades. Skirts are huge for fall and whatever style skirt you have, we'll have lots of options."

So much choice can be overwhelming, but it's a dilemma that's way overdue. So clear some closet space and start shopping!

Stuart Weitzman

Where to buy: Stuart Weitzman stores, Nordstrom, Stanley Korshak, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, StuartWeitzman.com

Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 12, AAAA to W

What's hot now: Scrunched-down boots, booties, metallic leathers in shades of brass, pewter and anthracite, cowboy-influenced styles, moccasins in both low and high heels. "The platform and wedge are very strong for fall," says Weitzman.

Donald J. Pliner
Where to buy: Pliner stores in Beverly Hills, Miami, Las Vegas and San Jose and at Nordstrom stores, or DonaldPliner.com
Plus sizes: 11 and 12 M, some N

What's hot now: Mid-heels and flats in cassis and olive green, hair calf, camel and white mocha print and "a newspaper print with a fuchsia underlay."

Prevata
Where to buy: Harry's Shoes, Nordstrom
Plus sizes: 11 and 12 M

What's hot now: Wedges and bootie-type shoes in stretch materials combined with leather in black, camel and gray and metallics like pewter, bronze and old gold.

Stores that stock plus-size shoes
Nordstrom
Where to buy: 95 stores nationwide, Nordstrom.com
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 14, AAA to WW
Brands: Stuart Weitzman, Anne Klein, VanEli, Linea Paolo, J. Renee, Charles David, Franco Sarto, Donald J. Pliner, Kate Spade, A. Marinelli, J. Renee, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, BCBG and exclusive house brands Classiques Entier and Brass Plum

Marmi
Where to buy: 30 stores nationwide (see Website for locations), MarmiShoes.com or Catalog available at 1-800-966-2764
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 13, AAAA to W
Brands: VanEli, Rangoni, Sesto Meucci, Eric Javits

Elleven Up
Where to buy: 12 West 57th Street, NYC, 212-757-2154 EllevenUp.com or 866-ELLEVEN (toll free)
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 13 N to W
Brands: Anne Klein, Donald J. Pliner, VanEli, Claudia Ciuti Join mailing list for sale and new style info.
Friedman's Shoes
Where to buy: 209 Mitchell Street, Atlanta, Georgia, LargeFeet.com, catalog available 800-540-6513
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 13, AA to WW
Brands: VanEli, J. Renee, Cianni, Paul Melian

DesignerShoes.com
Where to buy: DesignerShoes.com
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 15, AAAA to WW
Brands: Via Spiga, Stuart Weitzman, Anne Klein, Pancaldi, Claudia Ciuti, Donald J. Pliner, Steve Madden, custom Élevé line (also see ForgottenSoles.com for list of stores carrying them)

Statuesque
Where to buy: Catalog available, 800-367-7167
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 13, AA to WW
Brands: Franco Sarto, Jazz, VanEli, Pelle Moda, Moda Spana, Rangoni

Unique Feet
Where to buy: UniqueFeet.com
Plus sizes:10 1/2 to 12 AAAA; 10 1/2 to 13 AAA and AA, 10 1/2 to 14 M, W and selected WW
Brands: Cole Haan, Stuart Weitzman, VanEli, Prevata, Sesto Meucci, David Tate

Up and Under
Where to buy: UpandUnderShoes.com
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 12 M
Brands: Anne Klein, Stuart Weitzman, Via Spiga

Beautiful Shoes
Where to buy: Beautiful-Shoes.com
Custom shoes, made to order from your photo or suggested styles similar to Christian Louboutin, Giuseppe Zanotti, Prada and Manolo Blahnik. Pricey, but worth it for a great copy or replacing a beloved old or discontinued pair.

Shoedini
Where to buy: Shoedini.com
Plus sizes:10 1/2 to 12, AA to W
Brands: Via Spiga, Donald J. Pliner, Anne Klein, Stuart Weitzman

Shoes.com
Where to buy: Shoes.com
Plus sizes: 10 1/2 to 12, AAAA to WWW
Brands: Cole Haan, Donald J. Pliner, ViaSpiga

MY THOUGHTS

don't you just envy them? i don't remember being asked for the width of my shoes.

Repair and Maintenance of Beautiful Designer Shoes

Repair and Maintenence of Your Designer Shoes

Think twice before tossing those Jimmy Choos

Let's face it, you love your shoes. But maybe you haven't treated them right. You've worn them down and haven't given them the attention they deserve. Inevitably, a cuter, newer pair has come along, and you feel like tossing the old ones away. Well, the abuse has to stop! The shoes you purchase are an investment, and they need to be treated that way. Expensive footwear, if properly cared for, will last a lot longer than you realize. So fall in love all over again with the shoes you already have and get them repaired. And when your next love comes along, treat 'em right.

Stain and waterproof your shoes.

Applying a protective spray is the best way to shield your shoes from spills, rain, snow and mud. This can be done at a shoe repair shop, but it can also be done at home for a minimal cost. Leather and suede sprays and lotions should be applied before the first time shoes are worn and then on a regular basis afterward -- approximately every six to eight weeks. Meltonian Water and Suede Protector is one brand that comes highly recommended by shoe repair experts. The advantages of using a spray over a cream are that the spray takes less time to apply, and excessive use of a cream will result in a dull finish on the shoe surface. Another good option for weatherproofing your shoes is Kiwi Premier Shine. This is a water-resistant wax formula with a controlled-flow applicator. A telltale sign that you need to reapply your repellant is when water stops beading up on your shoe's surface. For these and other maintenance products, check out ShoeShineExpress.com.

Prevent wear and tear.

There's nothing more exciting than wearing a fabulous pair of new shoes for the first time. But there's one good reason to control yourself, and we assure you it's worth the wait: having rubber tips and heels applied. Yes, you may feel some separation anxiety leaving your brand-new shoes at a repair shop, but it's in your best interest to add the rubber soles before any wear and tear takes place. This will extend by months the time you have with your shoes before you need to bring them in again.

Repair shoes at a shop.

If you currently have damaged or worn-in shoes that you've written off as dead, think twice, because it might not be time to pull the plug. You can bring those babies back to life by having tips and rubber soles applied even after the shoes have been worn. Pamper your footwear the way you would pamper yourself. Bring them in for a quick polish or cleaning on a regular basis, and keep shoe trees in them when you're not wearing them, to help maintain their shape. Cedar shoe trees also absorb moisture, acid and salt, thereby reducing cracking and the deterioration of leather. Suede shoes should be brushed (on a clean and dry surface) up the nap using a rubber or stiff-bristled suede brush.

Broke your heel off while fighting for a taxi in the rain? No problem. Any reputable shoe repair shop can fix this in addition to many other woes. One of our biggest problems is that we often tear the leather on our heels when climbing stairs. The repair shop can fix that in no time, and your shoes will often look like new when you get them back. Repair experts can also buff out scratches and shine dull leather. In New York City, we love Shoe Service Plus (212-262-4823), which has never met a shoe it couldn't fix. Every fashionista in town goes there to get her designer shoes fixed. Ask at high-end shoe stores for good repair people in your city, or you can ship your shoes to Shoe Service Plus and they'll send them back once they're fixed. Think of it like sending your shoes on a spa vacation!

At-home repair tips.

If you're looking to save some money or you simply don't have the time to make a trip to the repair shop, here are some great home-maintenance tips:

Rinse off white salt marks with a 50/50 mixture of white distilled vinegar and water (make sure you apply this to dry shoes and boots only).

White shoe polish won't smear if you spray the shoe with hairspray after it's dry.

To keep canvas shoes clean longer, apply spray starch on the surface of a dry, clean shoe.

Use baby wipes to clean and shine patent leather shoes

Clean white leather shoes with non-gel toothpaste, rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover.

MY THOUGHTS

i know vinegar may help. but i didn't know nail polish remover can be used on leather. i've tried alcohol and i intend to try the toothpaste.