So here is the first article of 999 Emergency,inspired by my own fashion dramas,where today I will be dealing with
"What to do when the sole or heel of your shoe breaks off?"
Picture this:
A journalist and I went to see a photo exhibition,attended by a number of very high profile people,including the Minister of Tourism,Nando Bodha.I cross the street and hear a strange flapping sound,and feel something weird in my shoe.I turn around to see that both of the soles had ripped off of my sandals and were hanging by a scrap of material that was wearing out very rapidly.
In my wallet,there was only Rs100 that was used to pay for the bus and water.
Before I continue,here are some solutions to this problem,all of which I couldn't use that day,reasons in brackets.
1.Buy a cheap pair of shoes off the street. (Not enough money)
2.Buy some glue and stick the sole of the shoe back on. (Only paper glue available in the supermarket)
3.Get a lift from parents/boyfriend (I have a duty to go to events no matter what happens,plus I was working,plus plus nobody could pick me up even if I wanted them to)
4.Always carry an extra pair of shoes in your bag (When you're a journalist,you need to travel light and still look good)
5.Get creative with a stapler (My sole was made out of wood)
Instead,I had to go to the conference,walk around examining the pictures on display,go back to the office,walk to the bus station and after that keep walking until I was collected.
How did I manage it?
I ripped both the soles off of my shoes.I didn't want to walk around with something flapping behind me,and it looks terrible.So trying my best not to tear the fabric on top,I tore my soles in a supermarket and asked for a plastic bag.
I was only walking on fabric,which is slippery stuff and quite uncomfortable-your feet mould into every rock of the Port Louis streets,but it's the only option I had.
So I spent the whole day with the shoes.Once I got back home they were in tatters:Here of course you can use a stapler to somewhat pin the fabric together but there were none available.
My colleague did give me an idea that you can use if you tried to take off the soles of your shoes as I did but the fabric started to tear.Buy a packet of chewing gum,chew a couple and then carefully place them on the sole of your feet,binding the sole and the fabric.Disgusting,but your ultimate fashion survivor option.
Lessons to be learnt:
A.If you are on the go like I am,your safest bet is to wear ballerinas or sandals which are almost "ripped sole proof".I don't like ballet flats-I've seen too many of them and they feel passe but I wouldn't say no to a classic two toned pair.
B.If you live in a colder,more humid region as I do,check your shoes for sole damage and ripping every three months or so.
It's incredible how much attention you end up paying to other people's shoes if you've found yourself in a shoe mess.I especially noticed lots of women with pained faces,struggling to walk in heels-we don't have the best pavements here,and most of the streets in the capital are cobbled,which is shoe hell.Gladiators are still pretty big here (another shoe that has finished its time).My favourite shoes seen that day were raffia wedges with cherry print fabric,worn with jeans and a super colourful top.
What to do if your heel breaks off:
Now that's trickier-you can't transform them into flats most of the time,and chewing gum will not fix things either unless you are really lucky.You need glue.
Option 1.If you are with someone,sit down and ask the person to go and buy wood glue or whatever is powerful enough-powerglue,superglue etc.If you walk in broken heels you risk tripping over and hurting yourself.Once you obtain the glue,bond the heel and the shoe,holding them firmly for thirty minutes or so.
Option 2:You are alone.Walk barefoot to a supermarket or shop where you can ask for help.I know walking barefoot in public looks weird but rather that then taking a tumble and breaking something,right?Plus you want to preserve the shoe as much as possible (trust me,most of the time cobblers can fix even the most tattered pairs)
Whether it's flats or heels,in both cases I would recommend letting a professional fix the shoe.
Style Tips:
There are so many really bad colds out there (I caught the flu twice in the space of three weeks) so I recommend re-reading http://stylemauritius.blogspot.com/2011/04/ss-2011-recaptrans-seasonal.html for styling ideas and a HUGE scarf to keep warm.My article on Fall/Winter 2011/2012 trends will be coming very soon.If you have any questions,don't hesitate to contact me either by commenting on posts or by emailing me at stylemauritius@live.com.
Plus,it's worth investing in cute closed shoeboots that can be worn any season and they keep your toes warm.
We are suffering from the worst drought to hit Mauritius to date (apparently) so please do not wash your clothes after wearing them once.Your best bet is to invest in a super powerful non-scented deodorant and wear key pieces that you can layer and style in fifty different ways.Avoid materials that don't "breathe" too.
FAQ
1.People in the fashion industry here seem nice for the most part,but others seem a little fake.As you were at the Heat Tour,do you have any information on them?
I am not running a gossip blog!Mostly everyone I met were lovely,down to earth people.When people have real talent,they don't act "grand noir" (pretentious), try and upstage whatever you do or act like trolls.If they don't agree with something you say,they will discuss it without being pushy,and when they give constructive criticism, they are never nasty.
My Week
The major event of the week was yesterday,where I had to go cover the Hotel World exhibition held at Swami Vivekananda.The highlight was meeting Helene de Senneville,a renowned local artist,who is a superbly stylish woman and very,very kind.She talked to me for quite some time without moving on to other people.
Her gallery will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year,where many artists have exposed their work.
"I collaborate with decorators,architects,the IRS..(that means you can find her work in Integrated Resort Scheme Houses too as well as the other places).It's another way to introduce art.Before,there was only print-now we make use of acrylic,sculpture and other forms to showcase what we do."
Art here has remained almost immobile in the way it was expressed until recently.It was just paintings and drawings,and now there are other forms that are piercing their way into culture.
She also stated that tourism has helped us to develop.Tourism was the seed that sprouted restaurants,hotels,shops and so on,all which have art on their walls (well at least most of them do), and tourists that buy local art.
Her creation process is intricately beautiful.She doesn't need anything big to inspire her.
"Creation and concept.That's what's important.The elements leading up to the creation of my work are so short in number you will be surprised!All I do is find material (fabric).Say a quarter of a finger in length-just that.I ask where it is from,what it is,in essence.It could be contemporary colonialism,for instance.And I build on that."
"It's a niche.Both are of course not of the same price (talking about her work used in hotels,IRS villas etc)-it's decorative art.But its conceptual art all the same."
"My art is not selfish-that is,it's not just there in a room.It's here to be shown.It's art to give."
"When you paint,you feel it in your soul"-she is very expressive when she talks,and you understand she is an artist of the purest kind-"But there is no pretension.When I create,there is no pretension."
That's it for this week.Have an amazing weekend and week people!
xoxo
Alex
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