Link Love: Surprise! Snow Boots Sell Well!

Photo by Courtesy Photo, for WWD

Tarek Hassan, owner of The Tannery in Boston, said his stores recorded strong sell-throughs of Hunter and Sorel boots in the inclement weather.

“We love the storms because schools are closed and people take the day off from work, [so] it absolutely drives traffic. The snow [has helped] the boot business tremendously [because] the ticket price on those boots [is] high, so it drives sales.”

—From Snow Banks Boot Sales, a WWD article by Michelle Tay.

Photo by Courtesy Photo, for WWD

The Tannery at 711 Boylston Street opened late 2009 and is one of my regular browsing haunts. I think it is the second most beautiful shoe store in Boston, with a long sleek showroom, beautiful wood floors, a dramatically huge mirror (although more mirrors would be more practical). It has an incredible range of brands, many of which are comfortable. Its outrageously steep prices are softened by more reasonable sales.

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!