CHOOSING ONE'S SHOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19953, 23 May 1928, Page 7

CHOOSING ONE'S SHOES.

PERSONALITY TELLS. Shoes are an index to character; they tell our finends so much about ourselves, and are a hallmark of taste. One visualises the type of womanhood that should wear certain shoes, from the Oriental princess whose small embroidered shoes are as inscrutable as herself, to the modern girl whoso serviceable " lizards " betray her sporting tendencies, states an English writer. American women seem to possess the prettiest feet; or is it that they take endless pains over the fit and choice of their footwear, never sparing their intelligence in seeking for what they want, and only being satisfied with " the best?" Actresses, among other people, have a largely developed shoe sense, but that is, perhaps, because of their audience critics. The Parisian, too, has great taste. Why not a national shoe for the respective nations ? A brogue would be typically representative of British sporting tastes, while the Parisian might be identified with jewelled footwear. A strapped patent for the Americans with high heels would make a contrast with the sabots of the Dutch girl and the miniature shoewear of Chinese and Japanese womanhood. Russia has given us her serviceable knee boot, and from the East cornes the sandal. Pretty mules create a spirit of rest; their outline suggests Parisian salon splendours. So if France adopted the mule it would be appropriate. The variety of shoes at the present time seems endless; many of the evening shoes are works of art, embroidered with infinite patience by skilled people, whoso love of craftsmanship is shown by their work. Others are devised nfore for comfort than appearance, though the new " lizards " combine both and are the acme of comfort. There seems an immense advance iD the finish and design of the latest shoewear. Nothing looks better for afternoon wear than a court patent shoo or one of the new strapped variety that are sometimes finished with high heels. lam not fond of coloured shoes, except the quiet shades of beige, mole, or grey, and these must be in narmony with the dress. One of my favourite evening shoes has a circle of rubies round the instep with a heel that I designed myself to match a brocade dress of crimson and gold. For point-to-point races one cannot bettor waterproof and calf boots, while for golf and races a sensible heavy brogue with low heels meets the occasion.

There seems endless individuality in evening shoes, for which one can pay any price from five to fifteen guineas. A good deal of soft kid is worn and looks suitable for most occasions. Country and town shoes should never be mixed, and I think it a good plan to " house " them apart. My own outdoor town shoes "live" in an old Chinese cupboard that looks as though it dated centuries, and here sometimes I spend a few moments inspecting my shoes reposing in neat linen'bags. On the landing outsido is the country annexe, containing more practical shoes, and in my bedroom, in a quaint old cabinet, I keep indoor shoes I shall never, however, compete with that fcostess, of whom I once heard, whoso three hundred pairs of shoes reposed on shelves in a large room tended by a maid specially kept for the purpose. Good tasto is shown in tho selection of the right shoe for" the right occasion, and there is subtle personality in every shoe. I think the best, thing to do is to spend a great deal of time over the purchase of new shoes; it is wiser to have a number sent on approval and to try them on with different dresses; or of course, it i§ even better to have one's shoes made to order. There are many standards of taste, and as long as a shoe looks right with a dress there is nothing to worry about, but if it focusses more attention than tho frock itself, then the shoe is not right. It should bo part and parcel of the picture. At a recent party I noticed 1 a guest wearing patent shoes with rather a serviceable two-piece suiting, and another one in a black dress with brown shoes. These mistakes should not have occurred. I think our taste in footwear is improving, but it is not always an easy matter these days, with so many varieties on the market, to make a right ciioice. Shoes are an important item in dress; a hat not in its first freshness may pass comment, but dowdy shoes —ne^er!