Friday 101 (shoe labels)

Once, when i was an impressionable, emotionally fragile teen a girl pulled me up for still having the labels on the underside of my shoes. I was about to go out clubbing with my sister’s friends. Grown ups. I was mortified. I felt like a pretender. A child.

Ever since then i am uncomprimising in my removal of shoe labels.

There is actually nothing more satisfying than removing a label perfectly from a shiny surface. Nudging back a corner, taking it between first finger and thumb and slowly, methodically peeling the white paper back smoothly and cleanly.

Problem is. Labels rarely come off like this. And certainly never shoe labels.

The sticky paper pulls back tantilisingly, before tearing, making it impossible to find a new corner to peel.

I’ve never really understood why labels have to be on the underside of shoes in the first place. What’s wrong with the inside?

Sometimes i let new shoes sit in my shoe box for weeks before wearing them, simply because i haven’t had the time necessary to carry out the complicated,
shoe equivalent of organ removal.

Regardless, I would never be seen dead with the labels still intact.

My sister’s friend was right to pull me up you see.

There is nothing more tacky. Nothing that looks as careless, trashy and cheap as walking along in brand new shoes with with a white label bouncing up to greet the person behind you as you clip clop along.

Perhaps it wouldn’t matter so much if it was Jimmy Choo or Prada peeping up to wave hello.

Unfortunately for most of us it is more likely to be Dorothy Perkins or New Look.

I’m all for cheap high st rip offs, but promoting yourself as a New look gal by your shoes. So not a good look.

So please girls. Be vigilant.

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