{NM Daily}

Christian Louboutin Very Prive Python Pump

Women seem to shop for shoes in one of two mindsets – one, they need to find a shoe to fill a void in their closet. Or, two, they have the means to buy shoes purely to make a statement or in appreciation of the beauty of the shoe. I realized this during my shopping date with author Rachelle Bergstein, who has just published her first book, “Women from the Ankle Down:  The Story of Shoes and How They Define Us.”  It is a fun and witty look at the way women’s shoes have evolved throughout the twentieth century.  Even more fascinating is how the evolution of the shoe mimics the change in women’s roles throughout history—the growth of women’s self-confidence.  Shopping with Rachelle, who spent four years researching the history of women’s shoes, was not only fun but also quite educational.

Rachelle Bergstein

In her day-to-day life, Rachelle is a city girl who is always seeking the perfect balance between fashion and function.  She prefers wedges or flats due to her lifestyle, but appreciates a beautiful heel as well… preferably a platform.  And with her fashion sense shaped during the Grunge era of the Nineties, Rachelle favors edgier shoes that mix both masculine and feminine elements. So it is no surprise that Rachelle was immediately drawn to the Jimmy Choo studded smoking loafers.  She loves the style, and the studding keeps them edgy, but above all else they offer the “perfect mix of comfort and style.”  With a guilty look she admits, “I don’t wear flats as often as I probably should.”

Jimmy Choo