Crocs or Louboutin?

MANILA, Philippines - On a recent trip abroad, my wife surprised me with a colorful box. The box contained a pair of red/white/blue shoes with bloody red soles. “You expect me to wear this,” I commented. She retorted, “Why not? They’re Louboutin. They’re chic and fashionable and look much better on your feet.”

I’m a creature of habit and once I get comfy with a shoe type, I religiously stick to that brand. Back in the ’80s, I wore nothing but Anne Kalso’s comfy Earth Shoes. In the ’90s, I was hit by Doc Martens fever and wore nothing but the boot-laced shoes even to black-tie gatherings.

Seven years ago, I bought my first pair of Crocs. It was so darn comfy I fell in love with it and have stuck to the brand ever since. I have a collection of over 20 pairs and plan to acquire more if my wife doesn’t object.

Unlike most Pinoys whose feet are proportionally tapered, mine are extra wide. Most shoe shops in the Philippines and the Asian region don’t carry wide shoes in their inventory and make it difficult for me to find pairs that would comfortably fit. Choosing between style and comfort, I will choose comfort anytime and Crocs are real comfy. My preference for comfort over style is rarely shared by most people, especially the female species. Like designer bags made by Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Prada and the like, there are also companies that specialize in designer shoes. I made a survey of most recognized by Pinoys and came up with the Top 3 — Jimmy Choos, Louboutins and Manolo Blahniks. These designer shoes are as expensive as designer bags with prices ranging from P30,000 all the way to the hundreds of thousands depending on the design and the skin used.

Christian Louboutin began designing shoes in his early teens. He was a fixture in New York’s party scene rubbing elbows with celebrities like Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol. His extensive travels to Africa and Asia inspired him to design unusual stiletto and spike-heeled shoes. Charles Jourdan was his first employer then he became a freelance designer for YSL and Chanel. In 1991, Louboutin opened his first shoe store in Paris. His clientele includes a stellar list of world celebrities like actress Catherine Deneuve, Princess Caroline of Monaco, designer Diane Von Furstenberg, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian, Sarah Jessica aaaaParker and Britney Spears. Christian Louboutin sells close to a million shoes annually worldwide. Prices range from $500 to $6,000 for a pair. Two decades after he opened his first store, Louboutin introduced his line of men’s shoes. All Christian Louboutin shoes have red soles.

Dato’ Jimmy Choo, OBE, or Choo Yeang Keat is a Penang-born Malaysian-Chinese based in London. He comes from a distinguished Hakka family of shoemakers. He designed his first shoe at the age of 11 and graduated from Cordwainers Technical College in England in 1983. In 1986, he opened his first shop at an old hospital building in the north of London. Princess Diana was one of his early customers.

Because of his worldwide success in the shoe business, Jimmy Choo has diversified into the RTW (ready to wear) business. He is currently involved in setting up a shoemaking school in his native Malaysia.

Half-Spanish and half-Czech, Manolo Blahnik grew up in Spain’s “Rich & Famous” favorite vacation destination Canary Islands. He studied in Switzerland and France but set up business in London. Like Louboutin, he has a penchant for stiletto heels which to date still dominates his line. Manolo Blahnik shoe stores and boutiques are found in hundreds of worldwide locations from Hong Kong to Dubai to London to New York.

Crocs, on the other hand, was originally developed as a spa shoe. The first model Beach was unveiled in 2002 at a boat show in Florida. It sold out in no time. Crocs is made from a resin called Croslite. Croslite forms itself to a wearer’s feet and offers purported medical benefits as vouched by podiatrists (foot doctors). Unusual in look, it is a favorite among world-renowned chefs, including my idol Mario Batali. In 2007, the Philippines became notorious when thousands of counterfeit Crocs were seized in various malls. Crocs is highly recommended for diabetics who have delicate and sensitive feet.

So, will I ever wear my new Louboutins? I probably will if I get invited to a costume party.