There's no business like shoe business

MANILA, Philippines - It all started with a fascination — no, an obsession — with shoes. Lani Velasco was always receiving compliments on whatever pair she was wearing, and started getting shopping requests for a pair or two from friends whenever she traveled abroad. Later on, quite predictably, she put up a shop, cutely called What Shoe Wearing (WSW).

“My store is an extension of my shoe closet since it was never big enough to store my shoes and I’ve always been passionate about them,” she gushes. “No, really, it’s just an excuse to buy more!”

If some women are preoccupied with signature bags, you will find more women are partial to shoes. Explains Lani, “Shoes possess magical properties — they are capable of making you feel sexy, splendid, elegant and confident the moment you put them on. And it doesn’t matter if you’re fat, thin, short, tall, beautiful or otherwise, because a good pair can bring about a state of euphoria.”

The store carries a dizzying array of shoes in hard-to-find brands that are mostly carried in the US or in Europe. A majority of the shoes (as well as bags, wallets, clutches and cuffs), however, are from Lani’s personal favorite brand under the name of New York socialite-turned-designer Tory Burch. ”Her statement is classic and comfortable, but style is never sacrificed, which is what most Filipinas look for — nothing too flashy.” Display racks show you just about everything: from ballet flats to pumps, platform, wedges, thong sandals, sky-high stilettos, boots with the most interesting details — name it, she has it. She says there is no formula when it comes to selecting shoes on a buying trip. Trends, of course, are a factor, but Lani has a razor-sharp instinct about which pairs would sell. Oh, and they do, like hotcakes.   

The best justification for wanting to buy yet another pair of killer stilettos would be this: “Money is inevitable, but you may never see that pair in your size ever again.” In this recessionary day and age, one has to be wise about one’s financial obligations. That being said, when the time does come to make difficult decisions like this, make sure you do get a pair that will last you practically a lifetime.  

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Shoes and accessories are available at What Shoe Wearing, 2295 Jannov Plaza Building 3, Pasong Tamo Extension. Phone: 812- 1787. Store hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. By appointment only on Sundays.