Italian Engineering Feets

Yes I know that should probably read "feats" but honestly every time I look at shoe store windows here in Italy I'm overwhelmed by the minds that could dream up footwear like this!  And I'm not just talking about the high fashion centres in Milano or Roma - these photos are from stores in Marsala, Trapani and Argrigento in Sicilia.  Not exactly the captials of the haute souliers. 

Perhaps even more remarkable than the footwear is the way that many of the women here are able to navigate cobblestoned streets and dodge careening motorinos while tottering along in them.  And still keep their poise as the runway models that they all know they were meant to be.

And you know its odd before I came here I don't ever recall looking closely at women's shoes. I've certainly never wanted to wear them - I mean I don't have the ankles or the calves for them and drag has never really been my thing. But damn you have to admire a country that can produce engineers to create footwear like this and more importantly the women who can figure out how to wear them.

14 maggio - San Mattia apostolo

Window Dressing - Milano December 2010

I gave myself a day to wander around Milano's shopping district before heading back to Roma after last night's performance of Die Walküre at La Scala. As I've mentioned more than once I honestly don't believe that anyone beats Italians for window displays at the best of times and at Christmas design runs to the extravagant as well as the traditional. And nowhere in Italy does it get more extravagant than Milano.

One of the most original displays I've ever seen has to be this perfect party frock for New Year's Eve made of...

jeans!  For a close up just left click on the photo.

Who ever does the windows at Patrizia Pepe on Via Manzoni knows how to make people stop and look. Complementi!

11 decembre - San Damaso I Papa