Selecting Shoes and Stockings

Ladies' Mirror, Volume V, Issue 6, 1 December 1926, Page 52

Selecting Shoes and Stockings

Jn making a choice of shoes for your outfit, ask yourself : “What do my clothes express—durability, frivolity, dignity, warmth, coolness ?” Then, your shoes must be in keeping with the general scheme. Fashions in shoes are now so changeable that to detail minutely what to choose for each garment from the numerous designs in the shops would be to defeat the purpose of these —which is to make every woman see for herself. Many varieties are suitable for one purpose. Therefore a woman can follow her individual taste and still be right, so long as she sticks rigidly to the rule of having every garment and accessory express the same thing at the same. time. Good quality in a shoe is an excellent economy. It really does save money, because the shoes will keep their shape and appearance for a very long time if they are properly taken care of. You have a better chance of perfect fit and comfort. You do not introduce a cheap note into your outfit and so spoil it. Good fit is of the greatest possible importance. A shoe should not he longer than your foot, but should comfortably clear your toes so that they do not actually touch. The long shoe destroys your balance, and your ease in walking. You should feel the arch of the shoe, beneath your instep. That is to say, unless a shoe gives you support along the entire length of your foot, it does not fit you. You will spoil the arch of your foot and grow easily tired if you are walking without support beneath the instep. If your ankles are weak and turn over inwards, you can have a tiny yielding rubber pad fitting the inner

side of the arch of all your shoes which will correct this defect. Never be so stupid as to buy shoes 100 tight. It makes your foot look bigger, it spoils your carriage and brings lines of weariness to your face. Big feet look neat and smart in well-cut, well-fitting shoes. Small feet are not beautiful except on small people. Find a make of shoe which suits your foot and stick to it. A delicate shoe with a fragile curved heel is very cruel to a heavy figure and a thick ankle. It accentuates these defects. Shoes for town should express simplicity, good style and inconspicuousness. Remember that a black shoe is no longer inconspicuous, but a “matching” colour is. r J I o be smart, stockings must have back seams, and they must be put on straight and fit snugly round the ankles. There are good makes of silk stockings at reasonable prices which wear splendidly and do not ladder. If you cannot afford these, wear chiffon lisle, which are very cheap, look very dainty, and can be obtained in lovely colours. Light stockings must look spotlessly clean. Always clean all your leather shoes, whatever colour, black, brown, fawn, light or heavy, even golf brogues and goloshes with white shoe cream. You will never mark your stockings again. If you have used other polishes, wash them off with a little soap on a flannel wrung dry out of very hot water. W ipe with the plain water and leave them to dry. Do not mend delicate silk stockings with darning silk. It is quite unsuitable. Use the finest sewing silk.