WWD Celebrity Shoe Closet

Tinsley Mortimer. Photo by John Aquino.

Tinsley Mortimer. fabsugar. May 25, 2010.

Celebrity shoe closet interviews are a guilty pleasure of mine. A perfect example? Today's WWD interview with Tinsley Mortimer, a New York socialite (related to Thomas Jefferson on her mother's side). She estimates her shoe collection is between 500 and 1,000 pairs. Among her responses to Marcie Young's questions, a few stand out.

Most comfortable: Converse, but fit isn’t much of a selling point for Mortimer. “I would never not wear an amazing shoe because it wasn’t comfortable. Even if my foot was going numb, I wouldn’t care. I’d still want to wear it.”

Best kick-around style: Converse. “It’s really a new thing for me, but I get a lot of wear out of my Converses. I probably have 10 pairs in a lot of different styles and colors: green, white, blue, patterned.”

One style you wouldn’t be caught wearing: Flats. “It’s not that I don’t think they’re cute on other people; I just can’t wear them. I don’t like the way they look on my legs, even if I’m wearing jeans. It’s just not me.”

Price range you stick to: $1,500 and below, “but it depends on the shoe.”

Best qualities in a salesperson: Mortimer said she’d rather have at it alone. “I don’t like them helping me. I know what I like, and I prefer them to just let me go. I’ll probably buy more if I don’t feel any pressure.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Salespeople: I totally agree!

Price range: I suppose it's good she has an upper limit, yes?

Comfort: How uncomfortable do shoes have to be before women won't wear them? What about if a certain part of the shoe is rubbing your skin raw, then gives you a blister, and if you keep going, it will pop? I've been there, and had to walk very slowly home, until I could take them off — and then give them away!

Flats: I am curious about women who say they can't wear flats. In Tinsley Mortimer's case, it sounds like an aesthetic choice. But are there women who physically can't wear flats? I understand if it's because the flat is uncomfortable, because most flats don't have any support. I also understand if it's because the flat falls off while you walk, because I have narrow feet and this happens on most flats I try on. But are there other reasons why women physically can't wear flats?

Converse: Are you listening? You have a great brand ambassador here!