HAVE SHOES, WILL TRAVEL BY DEBBI K. KICKHAM 1
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Let’s start with a “footnote”:* *I’ve been wearing Bass Weejuns since high school — that was in the 1970s — and they still are my go-to shoes for every day and especially when traveling and sightseeing. I like to look sharp when I’m in a foreign destination, and you’re certainly not going to see me wearing a T-shirt, running shorts and athletic sneakers when I’m out and about, especially in fashion-conscious places like Italy and France. Instead, no matter what I wear for clothes, I’m typically in Bass Weejuns — either the traditional mahogany $110 “Estelle” penny loafer or, my new favorite, the $110 “Whitney” black loafer with white kiltie. Bass Weejuns are the quintessential American shoe, worn by everyone from Cindy Crawford to the late President John F. Kennedy, and they couldn’t be more classic. ghbass.com/home.do That said, in my travels, I’ve discovered some amazing and fabulous other brands of footwear that you should definitely stash in your Samsonite — for whenever you take your next trip. Let’s hope the coronavirus quarantine comes to an end soon. Here’s my salute To All The Shoes I’ve Loved Before (with apologies to Willie Nelson): Take your footwear cue from royalty — that would be Prince Charles’ wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Her famous tootsies are typically shod in Sole Bliss shoes, designed for maximum style and comfort. “Camilla wears our brand regularly, when she's on engagement,” says Sole Bliss founder and designer Lisa Kay, who created her company in England and just launched it in the United States. And then you have another type of royalty — the Hollywood A-lister, specifically Helen Mirren (who won an
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WAGMAG.COM AUGUST 2020
1. The "Imogen" from Sole Bliss is as super comfy as it is stylish, in bone with a black tip. 2. Sarah Flint's perfect black pump is expertly engineered to be ultra comfortable. 3. The Sole Bliss "Debut," seen on the model here, is de rigueur for fall. 4. Canfora's linked, custom-made "Jackie Kennedy" sandal was a favorite of the first lady in 1962. 5. The bejeweled "Sophie" by Canfora in Capri is available for purchase on the internet.
Oscar for playing Camilla’s mother-in-law, Elizabeth II, in “The Queen.”) “Helen has been a fan of ours since Day One,” Kay adds. “She wears our peep toes, high heels and block heels and our boots.” She created Sole Bliss shoes with clever construction to cocoon your feet in comfort. Each pair features three separate layers of foam and a bunion bed “that can stretch forever,” she says. “The trick is to make them deep and spacious but to make sure that the shoes fit at the back as well. They are the result of a lot of research-anddevelopment and expertise.” The shoes are manufactured in Spain, and “50 to 60 pairs of hands make every pair of shoes,” Kay adds. The “Imogen” black-and-bone spectators — ideal for your Chanel dress — are popular, but the best sellers are the Pandora high heel and the Carmen classic pump. (The ballet flats and kitten heels are also must-haves.) And take note of the $325 snakeskin “Debut” booties for next season. Another style to wow your wardrobe is the stunning “Erin” $315 black patent leather flat boot, which will be gorgeous on your gams, even if you have a wide foot. solebliss.com
