Get Together in Hush Puppies

From the moment I saw this video I felt a warm happiness.

"The happiest people surround themselves with family and friends, don't care about keeping up with the Joneses next door, lose themselves in daily activities and, most important, forgive easily." Marilyn Elias

"Happiness is like a kiss...you must share it to enjoy it.” - Annon

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Proust

"Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself." Ralph Waldo Emerson


Have a fabulous week- And dont forget that fabulous shoes can make you happy, as long as they are comfortable!
Happy Shoe Shopping
~ V

It is Official! Spring has Sprung in MTL

It is official, at approximately 9:54am today, I saw a perfectly pedicured pair of feet on the corner of Peel and St-Catherine’s street- Strappy gladiator sandals.
It is going to be sunny and 15oc, so have a wonderful weekend wherever you are.

Happy Spring Sandal Shopping

~V

We Invented Casual

To tell the story of how Hush Puppies became an American Classic, we have to go back 52 years.

The time is a post war America. Families are multiplying at a rapid rate and moving to the suburbs.The Krause family, a footwear manufacturer in Rockford, Michigan had developed a new process in the tanning of their suede's. These shoes were introduced to the industry at the National Shoe Fair in Chicago in October 1957.

In the spring of 1958, a company salesman by the name of Jim Muir, is traveling the country with these remarkable shoes. He finds himself dinning at a friends home in Tennessee. One of the items of food being served is a uniquely Southern dish of fried corn dough called “Hush Puppies”. He was told that when the hounds bark, they are commonly fed this dish, hence, “Hush Puppies”. The salesman thought this a very appropriate name for the companies new line of oxfords as we commonly call ones aching feet “barking dogs”. “Keep your dogs quiet by giving them Hush Puppies”-

By mid-1959 the company had produced its first million pairs of shoes and by 1963 one-in-ten adults in the United States owned a pair of Hush Puppies. Hush Puppies became more popular than ever when an early 90’s campaign reintroduced the shoe for the trendy market. Now there were sandals, loafers, sneakers, and even boots to add to the comfort collection. Nothing was as cool and casual as the colorful Hush Puppies, and feet were never so soothed. 52 years later, Hush Puppies continues to provide comfortable footwear for the entire family.

For a bit of the old school Hush Puppies nostalgia, try the Fermatas (available online and at participating Hush Puppies retailers next week). I love my purple suede loafers and my mother is a huge fan of her red patent Fermatas.
Gentleman will have to wait until August for the release of the 1958 collection of vintage HP styles.


Happy Spring Shoe Shopping,

~V

Hush Puppies: Beauty & the Beach

I could not resist posting this video~ and next week I will share how Hush Puppies invented the casual shoe.

Happy spring shopping~

V

Hush Puppies and SoftMoc

Hush Puppies is attending the SoftMoc managers meeting this Sunday.
With almost 60 brands in their 80 stores across Canada we have been selected as one of ten suppliers to present our brand and our beautiful spring collection. It’s an honor and we look forward to a fun filled day with SoftMoc.

Top Five Footwear Trends for Spring/Summer 2010

The following is my top five list of footwear trends that will follow you well into the fall season. And best of all, my selections are comfortable.

1) Neutral/Skin color palettes top the color radar:
The footwear heavy hitters (Louboutin, Lanvin, Miu Miu, Valentino to name a few) are showing a lot of neutral. If you are not looking at sinking a small fortune into your footwear this season, have a look at the Isa, Mona and Maya from the Hush Puppies Couture Collection. The nude and brown materials are smashing.

2) Reds, berries and pinks make a nice splash of color:
For a colorful delight have look at the Canela by Hush Puppies Collection. The Lovely in fuchsia patent is something to see, and the Harmony will add some warm color to the mix.

3) Wood stalked heels: In the spring of 2009 Mulberry had some killer chucky wood stalked heels. For comfortable value, have a look at both the Couture Collection, and Canela Collection. The Margaret is amazing (especially in the navy!)

4) Cork heels and woven heels: Tory Burch has woven out soles and incredible cork heels in her new summer collection. For an HP take on this hot trend, have a look at the Turris, Calaris and Bithia.

5) The final trend of this season, in my opinion, is a toss up between reptile prints (all over the stores now) and embellishments. Try the Mary Jane Satire and the Daystar for a casual take on the snake, or the saucy Athinia and Aridea, both feature the reptile print and embellishments.

There are a number of trends this spring, but for women who seek a timeless, wearable (and comfortable) pair of sandals or shoes, have a closer look at Hush Puppies.

Happy Spring Shopping- its sandal time!

~V

Are you average?

It is estimated that the average Canadian woman has 27 pairs of shoes in her wardrobe. 13 to 16 year old's with an average of 15 pairs and women over 50 having on average 50 pairs. Regardless of age, a woman should have the following ten basic footwear essentials:
A low heeled basic pump, a neutral pump, a flat, a dressy black high heel, a metallic high heeled dress shoe, a casual everyday shoe, a sneaker, a dress boot, a casual tall boot, and a sandal. As mentioned, these are just the basics. What woman today doesn't have at least one statement shoe, a pair of Uggs or Ugg like boots, a pair of rain boots, and of course a vast collection of flip flops (flip flops don’t go out of style).

As it turns out, the average Canadian male owns 8 pairs of shoes (from 3 on the below average side, to 14 pairs). My significant other is above average with at least ten pairs of sneakers. One model was purchased in three bold colors, and another sneaker model gives him severe blisters along the top of his foot (but he sports them anyways because they were ‘limited edition’, which really means overpriced and uncomfortable) For the men reading this, please share how many pairs you own, as 8 doesn’t seem like a fair average.
~Happy Spring Shoe Shopping~……….
V

Fabulous and free.....

Can a woman really have enough shoes?

Just think of all the activities women do in one day, and how each outfit/activity requires a different shoe. Just ask my best friend Liz who keeps all her pretty shoes in their original shoe boxes (with all the original tissues and stuffing). She also calls these pretty shoes her ‘investments’. How are the investments, I sometimes ask her, and her answer is usually; you should see my portfolio (the shoe closet), its getting bigger as the weather gets warmer. Although Liz is an import to Montreal from Toronto, I didn’t tell her what Town Shoes is doing this spring…..as we don’t have a Town Shoes here in Montreal (but we do have poutine!!)

I was at Town Shoes last week in Vancouver (The Pacific Center) the employees had pins on that read ‘I own x pairs of shoes, how many do you own?' On top off the fabulous thought of multiple pairs of shoes, Town Shoes is offering one free pair per month…… Imagine, carte blanche on one pair of shoes every month for an entire year, and they have 12 winners to announce!! (I really, really hope I become a lucky winner). I was served by a great young woman named Marie from Dublin Ireland, she signed me up for the contest, and this is after I asked her what part of England she was from!

People from the West Coast are so friendly; my theory is that it is due to all the sunshine, yoga and Stanley Park exercise they get.

While in Vancouver I also had the pleasure of meeting the enthusiastic sales force at Ronson’s shoes. Organized product knowledge nights are the best way to send your brand message and being the original casual footwear brand, we have a really interesting 52 year brand history. I have also been told we give away the best swag bags at the end of our PK sessions. Speaking of the best gifts, if you buy a pairs of Hush Puppies at participating retailers this month, you will get a fabulous snake print, faux patent leather bag, with stylish wood handles. Did I mention that this is free! Its not a free pair of shoes per month for an entire year, but it is stylish and screams summer time.…
** This picture was taken at the HP offices and was taken using my Blackberry Curve**
~Happy Spring Shoe Shopping~……….

V