Start your day right in the perfect pair of shoes.

IF you’re looking for a new pair of shoes, we have several options for your consideration.

How about a brand favoured by Hollywood celebrities? Or shoes designed for women with small feet? There’s also a range of footwear that features Nike Air technology.

You will leave home on the right foot in any one of these.

What stars wear

It has a French name but it is very much a British company. The French touch was a nod to where the shoes are made but these days, they are made in Spain now. The brand, French Sole, has been an established and popular name since Jane Winkworth founded the business in 1989. Now, it is stocked globally in over 400 outlets and concessions around the world.

Strut your stuff: Peeptoes from French Sole.

Kuala Lumpur gets the distinction of being the first French Sole franchise store in the world. Malaysian women will have the chance to wear shoes that celebrities all over the world hanker for. Literally an A to Z of actresses, singers, personalities and society types have been spotted wearing French Sole.

Just to name a few, names such as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Cameron Diaz, Sophie Dahl, Kate Moss and Christina Aguilera are on the list.

The shoes are all handcrafted, from the round-toe to pointed models, and the low vamped Harriet and Henrietta, that show the ever-desired “toe-cleavage” and mould around the shape of your feet.

But, the style synonymous with French Sole are the ballet flats. This season, jewel tones and super luxe leathers and skins take centre stage in a gorgeous autumnal colour palette of emerald, burgundy, ruby and plum.

Along with styling from the 30s, leopard and tiger prints, rosettes and fringing embellishments are a hallmark of this collection. The Valentine heels in tiger print and the fringed Plain Jane make good options for the evening.

French Sole ballet flats

Luxurious skins and prints are the highlight for the new range of India flats in annaconda and beige snake. Julie is in cream ostrich with a black trim and toe, a classic for the city and weekend wardrobe.

For grown up chic, try the Mariposa in zebra print with contrasting trims and oversized bows.

The new Confetti collection makes for a very glamorous winter wedding. Mother of pearl, cream, ivory and glacier white shades in rich silks and velvets offer style and comfort for the bride.

And then, there’s the flower girl collection inspired by Winkworth’s granddaughter. There are luxurious faux fur-lined, red quilt satin for extra warmth or delicate lilac, ivory and shell. For wedding guests, perfect party shoes include Pattie in silver, Bijou in black satin ruffle and the bejewelled Amishi slingback.

This season is also all about flat boots. The calf-length Patch in black pony skin or the stylish Marianne in black, brown or grey woven leather with three gold button detailing offering a chic military look make the cut. The knee-high lace-up Prince boot is still a classic, and available in both black and grey nubuck suede or in a brown snakeskin and black crocodile.

French Sole boots

Prices start from RM580. The store is located in Suria KLCC.

Special service

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, women now have even more shoes to choose from. Looks like it’s high time to buy that new shoe cupboard, especially since Payless ShoeSource, the largest specialty family footwear retailer from the United States, opened its doors.

Local subsidiary, Map Active Footwear Malaysia Sdn Bhd, opened the first Payless ShoeSource store last July in Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya. Today, there are stores in Mahkota Parade, Malacca, and Sunway Carnival, Penang. Additional stores are slated for the Klang Valley and Johor Baru as well.

Payless offers a huge variety of in-trend, comfortable, high-quality and affordable footwear. There’s a wide selection available ranging from high-heeled dress shoes, wedges, handbags, tote bags, clutches, glitter shoes for girls, character sneakers for boys and even shoes that light up for kids. Prices start from RM79 for women, RM69 for men and RM49 for children.

What’s different is the “foot measuring service” for parents to help determine the right size for children. Payless has an extended children’s sizing programme that enables children of all ages to find shoes of the right fit. This was created in response to customers who said they had to resort to buying adult-sized shoes which weren’t suitable in terms of fashion, styling and price for their children (who had large feet).

The shoe chain has a footwear and accessory design team in New York City dedicated to developing original product designs supporting the retailer’s seasonal collection of in-trend fashion products for women, men and kids’ categories. Thanks to licensing agreements and acquisitions, you can find brands like Airwalk, Zoe & Zac, Montego Bay Club and Lower East Side, among others. It also carries seasonal collections of original designs by New York designers and runway collections.

The Payless Guest Designer list includes fashion icon Isabel Toledo from Cuba, Christian Siriano and Lela Rose. The designer collections are among the most widely distributed designer footwear labels in the United States todayThe Franchise Company PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk is working in partnership with Payless to develop the Payless retail chain in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Curently, Payless ShoeSource Inc has more than 4,500 stores worldwide.

Dual mode

Comfort and style spell Cole Haan’s concept of duality.

There is also the idea of craftsmanship and innovation, whereby materials like soft suede, oiled vachetta and patent leather are mixed and matched with nappa, nubuck and wool felt.

Colours are mixed and matched with these materials for interesting hues of golden glow, burnt orange, oxblood, dark amber, greige and dark gull grey. The combinations are perfect for those who embrace iconic classics.

For the gals, classic materials provide a stunning backdrop for expert craftsmanship.

The Brooke collection features “city chic flap totes” in a mix of materials in bold herringbone, in elegant dark grey suede or wool felt, and black pebbled leather.

This season’s boots collection draws on a variety of different styles. Expect flat, short, tall and ankle booties that are crafted in shades of rich, premium quality soft leathers.

The Air Kennedy Buckle Boot is presented in a choice of four finishes, a spectrum that ranges from sleek and luxe, to traditional menswear materials, all adorned with a feminine heel.

Hand woven lizard embossed details and offset shades of rich pewter give the Heritage Weave a classic yet modern look, while the Heritage Quilt collection provides this season’s totes, clutches, satchels and footwear with a touch of its signature scored weave detailing.

For the guys, think vintage-inspired workmanship this season.

The Major Deegan Layered Boot updates a classic look with contrasting colours and materials, sturdily efficient yet with an aura of sophistication.

Cole Haan classics like the Air Monroe Penny Loafer and Air Colton Collection emerge in bold materials such as velvet, suede, croc print and plaid, with two sets of laces on offer with the Colton, one in neutral, and the other in a pop contrast colour.

For a more disciplined and perhaps powerful look, there’s the Jayhawker Collection, a handsome update to a masculine classic. Heavy welt details and stacked heels highlight the finest burnished suede on an ankle boot, while substantial pebbled and smooth leathers infuse the wingtip Oxford with a classic elegance brought together with unbeatable comfort thanks to Nike Air technology in the heel.

Premium leathers and sturdy nylons make the Bayshore and Merced Bag Collections both utilitarian and effortlessly stylish. A range of wallets, belts, briefcases, and Kindle and iPad cases combine and contrast rugged hardware with soft premium leathers for a masculine appeal that gets better with age.

The Maria Sharapova by Cole Haan collection is where heritage detail meets street style.

In her fifth season as a design collaborator with Cole Haan, the tennis player’s collection draws inspiration from both tradition and modernity.

Distinctive monk strap and buckle details add allure to the sophisticated Air Alexis Collection, available in a pump or ballet flat, and in an elegant open-toe buckle boot. The Air Euphemia footwear styles take an energetic turn, thanks to dramatic lacing and an irresistible captoe. Lacing and other key details such as lush colourways make the iconic Air Bacara Ballet even more desirable than before.

All styles in the Maria Sharapova for Cole Haan footwear collection feature Nike Air technology.

Cole Haan is sold in Suria KLCC and Pavilion KL. Products are priced between RM450 and RM2,100.

No small feat

These days, there are fashion lines which specifically offer clothes for petite women. If that’s the case, makes perfect sense to have shoes for petite feet too, no?

If you have small feet, buying shoes can be a disappointing experience. After all, women are often quite passionate about their shoes. And you shouldn’t have to stew in silence just because you can’t find your size.

Well, here’s some great news – Petit Heels (petitheels.com) – an online shoe store which specialises in high fashion small size shoes, opened its doors in 2010 to cater to this niche market.

Based in Malaysia, the “store” carries different types of footwear ranging from pumps and wedged heels, to sandals and flats. All the shoes are handmade from leather to ensure comfort and durability.

There are various styles available to suit different occasions, from work to play, for casual events to sophisticated evenings out.

“Being petite myself and having small feet, I understand completely how difficult it is to find a pair of shoes that fits.

“Most of the shoe stores in Malaysia usually have their shoe sizes starting from EU35 (if you’re lucky) and above.

“We are currently working with our manufacturer to produce even smaller shoes from sizes EU32 to cater to this select market,” says Lee Ming-See, director of Petit Heels.

The shoes are available online only and payment can be made with major credit cards and PayPal. Delivery is made worldwide.

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