Fun, Funky, Quirky (FFQ) Shoes and Shoe Travel Stories
I don’t believe I have a shoe fetish, but I do love taking photographs of FFQ shoes (mostly women’s). And no, I don’t hang out in high-end women’s shoe stores secretly taking photos. Probably, my favourite place to find FFQ shoes are thrift stores.
A close second are small town shoe stores. I can’t pass up a chance to explore a small town shoe store. Recently, on a road trip to Olds, Alberta I had to wander into Henry’s Shoes and am glad I did. It was full of funky women’s shoes which was the impetus for this blog.
Found these shoes in London UK, at a charity sale of high-end fashion items that had been donated by various boutiques and fashion houses. It was a feeding frenzy.
Heny’s Shoes,Olds Alberta
Everyday Tourist Shoe Library
When I searched “shoes” in my photo library, I was shocked to find 4,000 photos. In my defence, many were street photos with lots of people, who naturally were wearing shoes.
Surfing the photos brought back many great everyday travel memories. Like visiting the Alberta Boot Factory in Calgary where they make cowboy boots for the rich and famous, as well as the not so rich and famous.
Or the time we stumbled upon a craftsman making shoes by hand, one in a Florence market in the morning and later the same day we happened upon an upscale boutique shoe factory in the middle of a residential area, where they also made shoes by hand. We popped in and ended up having a personal guided tour of the factory learning how custom shoes are made and the benefits of custom shoes. I had no idea how different my (and everyone’s) two feet are.
The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in Florence too was a learning experience (read eye candy) as was the exploring Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum. Several photos of shoe repair shops are also part of my photo collection – as were a couple of photos of a shoe shine experience in downtown Calgary, which in turn reminded me of a Guadalajara, Mexico trip where the Plaza de la Liberacion had dozens of outdoor shoe shine chairs on the periphery.
It is amazing how a visit to Henry’s Shoes in downtown Olds, resulted in a trip down memory lane.
Las Vegas’ FFQ neon artifacts have been preserved and are displayed throughout the city.
Found this artwork on the floor in the hallway at the Alberta University of the Arts with a sign say “take me.” It was the end of the year and students were cleaning out the studios. The diary is blank but the board tells a story, which for the life of me I can’t figure out. Perhaps that is what the artist intended? Life can’t be figured out!
These are perhaps the most unusual shoes I have found. There were in the Value Village in downtown Victoria B.C.
This designer shoe boutique in Scottsdale Az sold of old stock at great prices, I was told. A great place for those who love the thrill of the hunt.
Ferragamo Museum
Shoe molds for famous.
Charity Shops / Thrift Stores
Many of London UK’s Charity Shops were more like upscale boutiques.
Found these shoes in a thrift store - they have been used at Halloween many times.
Bin of shoes at Goodwill in London, Ontario.
In Calgary’s Kensington Village this shoe repair shop window always has a thoughtful quote. in this case, “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” Pablo Picasso
Me getting a shoe shine in downtown Calgary. Not sure if there are any traditional shoe shine chairs downtown anymore. There used to be several.
Shoe shine chair in Guadalajara, Mexico’s Plaza de la Liberacion. People would often just leave their shoes to be shined and then pick them up later. Too bad I only had soft shoes as it would have been fun to sit in the chair and people watch while I had my shoes polished.
Hand-made shoes by artisan in Florence market.
Close up of artisan’s work bench.
The finished product.
Wall with various boot patterns and names at the Alberta Boot Company.
Shoes As Artworks
Fun Shoe Facts
Heels were first worn by men. Link: 14 Fun Facts about shoes
In the late 1800s, people started using the word sneakers for rubber sole shoes because they allowed you to “sneak” around without making a sound.
U.S. women own an average of 19 pairs of shoes. (I am close to that).
Supposedly the most expensive shoes ever sold were Dorothy’s iconic ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz. They sold in auction for $660,000 in 2000.
The first women’s boots were created for Queen Victoria in 1837.
Jimmy Choo constructed his first pair of shoes at age 11.
The Bata Shoe Museum is home to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of shoes and footware. Link: Bata Shoe Museum
The founders of Puma and Adidas were brothers.
Dolita Shoes blog has a great blog on the history and evolution of shoes.
Street Shoes
Florence Cafe
London Fashionista
Calgary “Parade of Wonders” participant
Mexico City Street Performers
London Fashionista II
London, Street Runners
Berlin Teens
Berlin Bus Riders I
Berlin, Bus Riders II
Calgary, Stephen Avenue Walk
Austin, Stars & Stripes
Atlanta Street Walkers
Berline Fashionista
London, Red Shoes
Atlanta, The Thinker & The Belly
Calgary, Glenbow Opening
Atlanta Photo Shoot
Berlin Photo Shoot
Calgary, Out There
Seattle Window Licking
Seattle, Shoe Rack
Last Word
I hope you enjoyed this photo blog of my FFQ shoe finds and some of their stories.
Given the number of photos of shoes I discovered in my library, I decided to do some research on fetishes and found that “a fetish is psycho-sexual disorder where individuals have intense fantasies that involve intense sexual urges or sexual fantasies through non-living objects.” I don’t recall ever having any fantasies or urges that involve shoes….though I do have 10 pairs of golf shoes. FYI: I am donating 2 pairs to a thrift store today…just to be on the safe side.
Calgary, Memorial Park Anniversary Picnic
If you like this blog, you will like these links:
Most fun you can have with your shoes on?
Calgary Postcards: Alberta Boot Company