Free Republic

The founders of United Nude, Dutch architect Rem D Koolhaas and British shoemaker Galahad Clark, have launched their Spring/Summer 2010 collection. It’s bright, cool and sexy in its own way and very emblematic of how a Dutch architect would design footwear. Solid at the base, with lots of loops for support and an emphasis on soaring verticality. United Nude has produced a striking S/S collection that will please shoe lovers worldwide.

has taken casual to a haute new level. While volunteering Wednesday at a D.C. food bank, the First Lady sported her usual J.Crew cardigan, a pair of utilitarian capri pants and, on her feet, a sneaky splurge: trainers that go for $540. That's right: These sneakers - suede, with grosgrain ribbon laces and metallic pink toe caps - are made by French design house Lanvin, one of fashion's hottest labels. They come in denim and satin versions, and have been a brisk seller all spring.

Suede shoes are timeless footwear. For Fall 2008, they are making a triumphal return with metals, trim, and even fringe. What can be more glamorous than a pair of slouchy suede booties and ankle boots?

Black, white, red, yellow, and green; sandals, flats, stilettos, and boots… For women, there can never be enough shoes. But does every woman know the shoe essentials, the true classics, which should be in every women’s wardrobe, despite the season and fashion trends? The Fashion Time Magazine editors unveil 5 classic shoes that every woman must call her own.

WASHINGTON - Hail to the flip-flop, the best-selling footwear in the history of the world. Talk about classic design: The flip-flop's so classic that there's an Egyptian hieroglyph for it -- a long oval with an inverted V in just the right place. King Tutankhamen's tomb has prototypic flip-flops in it. Whether they're high-end Rainbows or brandless Chinese imports, slipping into a pair can signal a beach in the offing or downtime in the dorm. But the basic flat sole with a Y-shaped strap, joined between the first and second toes, is also a historic, even heroic, consumer good. For...

Sturdy shoes first came into widespread use between 40,000 and 26,000 years ago, according to a US scientist.Humans' small toes became weaker during this time, says physical anthropologist Erik Trinkaus, who has studied scores of early human foot bones. He attributes this anatomical change to the invention of rugged shoes, that reduced our need for strong, flexible toes to grip and balance. The research is presented in the Journal of Archaeological Science. The development of footwear appears to have affected the four so-called "lesser" toes - excepting the big toe. Ancient footwearWhile early humans living in cold northern climates may...

I'm thinking of purchasing a pair of combat boots - I want something durable, comfortable, and suitable for extended walking. I'm in Texas, so heat is a greater environmental challenge than cold. In this instance, price is not a concern. Quality, durability, and functionality are critical. Altama seems to have some good products; Magnum has some strong advocates. Corcoran has some proponents - one model is here Danner has an interesting model here So, as I asked earlier...what is your favorite? Which would you never use? And why? Quite possibly I'm not aware of the best brands or models, so...

LONDON, March 3 (UPI) : A survey of British women has found more than four in 10 have shoes they have never worn, with an estimated value of $1.2 billion, The Scotsman reports. The value was based on the average cost of $115 per pair in the study on wasteful consumption commissioned by the power company Npower. In the past, fine footwear indicated a woman was under the care of a wealthy man, although today, most women purchase their own shoes, and have helped drive the annual footwear market in Britain to $9.5 billion. Helen Bateman, an Edinburgh shoe designer,...