Synopses & Reviews
"Shoes possess magical properties," writes Italian journalist and shoe fanatic Paola Jacobbi. The allure of shoes is so powerful that they have become her fashion obsession, one she shares with millions of women, from Imelda Marcos to Sarah Jessica Parker to Joan Crawford. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Here Jacobbi indulges that obsession by embarking on a witty and highly opinionated journey through the styles and cultural significance of women's footwear and our attachment to it. Jacobbi pontificates (sandals are the bikini of footwear); psychoanalyzes (the relationship between shoes and sex); has fiery beliefs (ankle boots are quite simply a no-no); and speculates (there's a little Imelda in all of us). She also offers plenty of sage advice: how to choose the right heel for your physique, how to keep shoes lasting long, why to avoid mules at all costs, and how to judge a man by his footwear. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; Charming, sassy, and irresistible, andlt;iandgt;I Want Those Shoes!andlt;/iandgt; will be a perfect fit for every woman who has ever coveted, rearranged her closet to accommodate, or maxed out her credit card for one more absolutely-gotta-have-it pair of shoes.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Paola Jacobbiandlt;/bandgt; is a journalist and special correspondent for Italian andlt;Iandgt;Vanity Fair.andlt;/iandgt; She lives in Milan.andlt;bandgt;Sujean Rimandlt;/bandgt; is an illustrator whose work is often seen on DailyCandy. She lives in New York City.
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction
Women Who Talk with Their Feet (and Run on Heels)
Sex and the Shoe
Mocassino Comodino (The Comfortable Loafer)
Athletic Shoes: Not Just for Sport
A Republic Founded on Shoes
The Imelda Syndrome
The Point of Life
The Unconscious and the Louis Heel
Women in Boots
Ask Me About the Beatles (Not Those Beatles‹the Ankle Boots)
The Ballerina Flat, and the Eternal Illusion of Being Audrey
The Other Hepburn, and Men¹s Shoes
A Brief Course in Self-Esteem (Regarding the Length of a Shoe Strap)
Sandal, Your Name Is Scandal
The Law of the Heel
Take to Your Platforms!
Globalization and the Crisis in the Western Slipper
Rain: A Divine Punishment
What Men Say When They Talk About Shoes
The Mysterious Magic of Red Shoes
Trade Secrets and Other Devilments
Health and Shoes: A Topic That Won¹t Be Broached
Epilogue
Glossary
Bibliography
Acknowledgments