LARGER FEET?

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 137, 8 December 1930, Page 15

LARGER FEET?

SHOE AND LEATHER FAIR

Are the feet of the average Englishwoman becoming larger, or are they merely being encased in larger shoes in the- name of comfort? (asks the "Daily Mail").' Discreet exhibitors at the International Shoe and Leather Fair which opened at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, were loth to discuss the first question, but concerning the* second they had plenty to say. "It is quite true," declared one exhibitor, "that women are wearing larger shoes. "We are not nearly so frequently asked for the very small sizes that we used to be asked for. In my opinion it has nothing at all to dp with the size of women's feet, but is merely the result of the modern woman's sensible attitude towards dress. "Women are buying larger shoes simply because they are- putting comfort before vanity. It used to be the practice of women to buy the very smallest shoes they could possibly squeeze their feet into, and for days they would hobble about in misery till they liacl succeeded in stretching the shoes to their feet. Now a young woman walks into a shop aud carefully chooses a pair of shoes which are large enough for her to walk about in in comfort —even if it means buying a pair half a size too large. As a consequence- girls of to-day arc walking much better, and many a modern girl doesn't know the meaning of corns. One of the outstanding features of the exhibition is the ever-increasing number of animals and reptiles whose skins are now brought into use by" the shoo manufacturer. "ZOO" LEATHERS. Not so very long ago the cow or calf and the horse were the only animals whose hides were used to any great extent. Nowadays, with the growing popularity of fancy leathers, quite a large proportion of ■ the zoo seems to have been introduced into the boot and shoe industry, and among the- animals and reptiles whoso skins are to bo suen at the exhibition are the horse, cow. crocodile, snake, lizard, pig, and even the tortoise. The last is used by some manufacturers for shoe ornaments nnd buckles. There seems to he no out-

standing novelty such as the Eussian boot of a few years ago at this year's show. Miss 1930 will again • have to depend on leggings and gaiters to protect her stockings on rainy days during the coming winter, unless she chooses rubbor Wellington boots. The latter are displayed at the exhibition in all colours to match the wearer's mackintosh.