Whether you’re a lover of shoes for their style or their practicality, there’s a whole lot you probably don’t know about them. With this in mind, here are a few surprising facts about shoes and sandals in Rochester Hills, MI:
- High heels haven’t always been for women: High-heeled shoes were actually initially designed for men. At the time, heels were a symbol of aristocracy, power and wealth. They also had practical purposes—the gap between the heel and the ball of the foot helped men to stay on a horse’s stirrups while riding.
- Queen Victoria’s influence: Boots are not as old as you might have expected them to be. In fact, the first pair was designed for Queen Victoria in 1840. Boots have dramatically evolved since then, and have become a staple of many professions and activities.
- Some people have recurring dreams about shoes: If you’ve ever had a recurring dream about shoes, this doesn’t mean you’re simply itching for a shopping spree (although that could definitely be a factor!). Dream experts say shoes represent a person’s approach to life. If your shoes feature in your dream, especially changing your shoes, it could reflect thoughts about changing roles in your life or your perspective on certain life issues. If you dream about forgetting your shoes, it could represent a decision to leave behind your inhibitions.
- Some people can’t get enough: There are plenty of instances of famous people having a shoe obsession. Celine Dion claims to have at least 3,000 pairs.
- Some shoes hide drinks: There is a limited edition of Brogues made by Oscar Sweeney that have a secret compartment in the sole, specifically designed to hold a small bottle of Johnnie Walker Red Label scotch. The bottom of the shoe has a clear panel that allows you to reveal the hiding spot to trusted friends and confidants when you raise your soles off the ground to offer a drink.
- History of shoe measurements: The way we measure shoes goes back to the reign of King Edward II, who declared the official way to measure shoes was to use barleycorn. Three barleycorns were equal to an inch.
- Ruby red slippers: Remember the shoes worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz? Those sold for $666,000 at an auction in 2000, the highest price a pair of shoes has ever been sold for.
- Largest pair: The world’s largest pair of shoes is on display in the Philippines at the Marikina Shoe Museum. Each of the shoes measures 17 feet long by eight feet wide, and can fit 30 people inside. Not exactly practical, but certainly impressive!
Want to know more about our wide selection of shoes? We have a large variety of different shoe styles and types available at our shoe store in Rochester Hills, MI. Contact Haig Shoes today or stop in with any questions you have and we will be happy to provide you with more information.