ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS: SHOES & POETRY

The Academy of American Poets asked me to comment on my favorite shoe poems.

Oh! Poems AND Shoes! Two of my most favorite things together. Like Oreos and Milk or a pair of Wolford tights and my new Louboutins!

Favorite Fit: A Shoe Expert Tries on Poetry
by Meghan Cleary
Poetry is the delicious linguistic and oral art of transformation, taking one thing and holding it in light or dark and watching it transmute. These poems do that for shoes, every prism of the shoe is explored and illuminated so that we have a new taste on the tongue for an object that ranges from the mundane to the iconic, from the practical and functional, to the beautiful and seductive. This much is true: you cannot deny the power of the shoe. "Red Slippers" by Amy Lowell Red slippers in a shop-window; and outside in the street, flaws of gray, windy sleet! Behind the polished glass the slippers hang in long threads of red, festooning from the ceiling like stalactites of blood, flooding the eyes of passers-by with dripping color, jamming their crimson reflections against the windows of cabs and tram-cars, screaming their claret and salmon into the teeth of the sleet, plopping their little round maroon lights upon the tops of umbrellas. The row of white, sparkling shop-fronts is gashed and bleeding, it bleeds red slippers. They spout under the electric light, fluid and fluctuating, a hot rain—and freeze again to red slippers, myriadly multiplied in the mirror side of the window. They balance upon arched insteps like springing bridges of crimson lacquer; they swing up over curved heels like whirling tanagers sucked in a wind-pocket; they flatten out, heelless, like July ponds, flared and burnished by red rockets. Snap, snap, they are cracker sparks of scarlet in the white, monotonous block of shops. They plunge the clangor of billions of vermilion trumpets into the crowd outside, and echo in faint rose over the pavement. People hurry by, for these are only shoes, and in a window farther down is a big lotus bud of cardboard, whose petals open every few minutes and reveal a wax doll, with staring bead eyes and flaxen hair, lolling awkwardly in its flower chair. One has often seen shoes, but whoever saw a cardboard lotus bud before? The flaws of gray, windy sleet beat on the shop-window where there are only red slippers. Much like the moment in "Sex and the City" when Carrie Bradshaw peers into the shoe shop window and sultrily addresses a pair of heels through the glass as "Hello, lo-vah," this poem perfectly captures the iconic status of the shoe—especially for women. It hones in precisely on the shoe as a fantasy, an aspiration, an untouchable object of desire. By contrasting the gray and white of the everyday world of shops and windy sleet against the "crimson lacquer," the "stalactites of blood," the "red rockets" of these slippers hanging in the window, she heightens the shoe to this intense, pulsing otherworldly object, held just beyond reach, behind glass.

Read the rest of the article here, at the Academy of American Poets fab website.

NAJWA MOSES HEARTS MISS MEGHAN

And we heart Najwa right back!!

Naj interviewed me for her amazing Styleaholics blog.

Styleaholics, welcome to not only another New Media Tuesday but you are about to discover not only one of the MUST READ BLOGS on the web, but a BRANDED PERSONALITY ON THE RISE and if you don’t now you know!

LOL.

Miss Meghan is not only one of my favorite all time people, but she is also smart, savvy and a shoe addict-read below to find out more.

Styleaholics Heart Miss Meghan!

You call yourself a Shoe Therapist–please explain what this does and feel free to relate any funny case studies/stories.

The concept of Shoe Therapy (TM) originated because getting a new pair shoes is really therapy for every woman. I don’t care if you are a clog girl or a Stiletto girl, or you get them at a cool vintage shop, Manolo Blahnik’s store on Madison, or the Salvation Army — every women loves a new pair of shoes. It gives you an instant uplift and you don’t have to dress and undress in front of a bad flourescent mirror, you just try them on and go. Shoes change the way you walk, how you feel, your entire mood, your confidence. It’s a beautiful thing!

For the past four years traveling on tour with my book around the country, this concept has been proven to me over and over in so many different contexts–thousands of women have poured out their shoe stories to me. I have seen women light up when they put on a pair of new shoes they like. It’s like this moment of transformation, like a lightbulb that literaly switches on. It changes how she thinks about herself. And it makes you just happy to see something you love on your feet. As Christian Louboutin says, “How can you not smile when you look down at your feet and see a hot pink pump?”

Read the entire interview here.

THIS NEXT: MEGHAN CLEARY

Hey hey! The lovely and fabulous Kristopher Dukes interviewed me for This Next and it is now up. Read the entire interview here.

Who is Miss Meghan?

From the ThisNext blog: Posted Monday, August 27, 2007 at 06:59AM

After a successful run as a marketing consultant on Wall Street, it was time for Miss Meghan to pursue her life-long obsession with shoes. Now we know her as America’s Shoe Expert, a shoe therapist and doyenne, the fashion authority of all things shoe. From her hit television show Shoe Therapy ™ on the Home Shopping Network, to her podcast series Shoe are You?™ on iTunes, thousands of women across the globe pour out their shoe stories to learn key tips and strategies on finding the latest shoes. When Miss Meghan isn’t dispensing celebrity shoe secrets and teaching us how to walk in stilettos, she can be found rounding up the latest finds on ThisNext. We caught up with this ‘sole therapist’ for the latest trends in the shoe department.

TN: Any sneak previews you can share with ThisNext readers?
MM: Well, I can say that there is a very hot ankle boot we’ll be featuring on the debut of my new show on Home Shopping Network on the 20^th (8 p.m.). It is a patent bootie with a suede cuff that has this super sexy slit up the front. Is very eighties but with a cool modern heel. I looove it! And keep tuning in to my show Shoe Therapy on HSN because we are going to be bringing people some really hot shoes this fall and Winter and a lot of hilarious surprises.

TN: Biggest response a blog post of yours has received from consumers?
MM: We got a lot of response from my Shoe are You? podcast with Jason and Randy Sklar — they have a huuuge following and the podcast was so hilarious, I practically stopped interviewing because I was just laughing so hard. You can check it out here or on iTunes.

Read the rest of the interview here.

WHAT YOUR SHOES SAY ABOUT YOU ON LIFETIME

Listen up! Here's a neat little slideshow on Lifetime.tv to tell you what your shoes say about you.

What Your Shoes Say About You

Are you a demanding diva or a down-to-earth mama? Look no further than your feet to find out.

by Camille Noe Pagán

Posted: Thu., Jul. 19, 2007 , 4:12 pm EDT

If you really want to get in touch with your soul, look at your soles. "Shoes speak volumes about who you are. They represent your mood, your aspirations, even the way you conduct yourself," says shoe expert Meghan Cleary, a.k.a. Miss Meghan, author of "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You."

Click here to see the slideshow.

SHOE THERAPY(TM) IN SEPTEMBER

To my loyal fans:

Here's the Shoe Therapy schedule for September on HSN:

Wednesday September 5: Fall Boot Trends

Thursday, September 13 at 7 pm: Shoe Therapy

Friday, September 14 at 6 am: Shoe Therapy

Tune in or check it out live on HSN.com.

xo
Meg

SHOE THERAPY(TM) ON HSN

Well if you missed me last night, you can click here to watch the entire hour. My fabulous host Suzanne Runyan did a preview of all the shoes and then I am on about 10 minutes into the hour.

We had a blast, and more pics and Behind the Scenes to come!

SHOE OF THE WEEK: SEQUIN BALLET FLAT

Since we are majorly heart-ing ballet flats this week over at Miss Meghan headquarters, we thought we'd show you a really affordable one that we love. Leopard sequins. Meow. Click on the shoe to buy.

KIMBERLEE AUERBACH: SHOE ARE YOU?

This week on Shoe are You? I chatted with dear friend Kimmi Auerbach, former FOX news producer and author of the recently released, The Devil, The Lovers & Me: My life in tarot, an amazing and touching memoir.

Join us as we chat all things animal totem, LeClic cameras, big hair and what shoes Kimmi wore for her first kiss.

Click here to launch and listen in iTunes.

MEGHAN CLEARY ON CW11 THIS AM

Did you catch me? Truly Julie and I hit the streets of Manhattan to read women's shoe signs. . .

BALLET FLATS: MORE HEARTS

Read all about it. . . .

BALLET FLATS: OH! AND WE HEART DELMANS

Check out my thoughts on flats on Yahoo shopping.

Look sharp in flats
Our favorite picks for ballet-inspired footwear
from Deborah Hopewell, Yahoo! Shopping Editor

When Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw and gal pals reunite this fall for the big-screen follow-up to "Sex and the City," could it be possible that her Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo heels will be replaced by the new fashion must-have - ballet flats?

"Women have begun demanding more comfort with their style," says "America's Shoe Expert" Meghan Cleary, who writes about shoes for the New York Daily News and the Huffington Post, and is the author of "The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You." And ballet flats, says Cleary, fit the bill perfectly.

The ballet flat evokes the glamorous Hollywood days of such willowy beauties such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly - yet it's a flattering look on just about anyone. They pair especially well with capris, knee-length or shorter skirts, leggings and shorts (save the heels for wearing with longer pants, dress and skirts, as flats will make you look shorter).

"The average heel height has skyrocketed," says Cleary. "Heels in the '60s were 1½-2 inches. Now they can even go 5 or 6 inches," says Cleary. "Women do react to that. They are going into the marketplace and looking for something to look acceptable to wear to work, out on the town, with a cute mini or tight jeans - any which way. It's a cute shoe, but it's comfortable. Women get very attached to that."

However, Cleary warns that because flats are, well, flat, there isn't a lot of support, and that can be uncomfortable for some. "Make sure they have a solid sole on them, and maybe more than just a little strip of leather on them." She suggests the "twist test": Hold the toe in one hand, the heel in the other and gently twist the shoe. "If it's really flexible, you shouldn't buy it. It shouldn't be hard, but it shouldn't be really flexible."

And says, Cleary, look for the ballet-flat trend to continue into the fall and winter. "We're going to keep seeing them," she says.

Delman, founded in 1919, has been making ballet flats since the 1940s, says Cleary. It's "Work" flat has a classic look, but looks particularly contemporary in a variety of cotton stripes: cream/beige, melon/beige or turquoise/green. These pair perfectly with a lightweight tea-length skirt or skinny jeans.

NEW SHOES: WE LIKE THIS SONG TOO

First heard this song in May, then suddenly it was everywhere. Planes, buses, my iPod. An ode to the true power of the shoe. All you need is a new pair to change your life.

Paolo won't you call us? We want to podcast you!

ALEXANDRA NEEL: SHOE ARE YOU? ©

Bonjour mes amours! This week on Shoe are You Miss Meghan chats with
French shoe designer Alexandra Neel. A onetime dancer with the Paris
Opéra, she worked for Celine and Balenciaga before she struck out on her
own. She is particularly known for her corset heel Stieltto creation in
2001 that kicked off her cult status among hardcore fashionistas
worldwide who demanded a little dose of delicate frills with their
sexiness. Continuing on with her amazing designs, look for some major
Alexandra Neel developments in the near future. Merci beaucoup!






From the interview...

Miss Meghan: What kind of shoe do you like to see on men?

Alexandra: On the men it's no shoes-- barefoot! Or motorcycle boots...
My style is more sexy, delicate, but for the men I prefer sporty men.


Alexandra supports UNICEF.

Hear the entire podcast on iTunes by clicking here or podshow by clicking here.

SHOE OF THE WEEK: AFRICAN CORSET SHOE

Ladies, celebrate the very last moments of summer with this amazing sandal from Hot in Hollywood. Embroidered fabric upper, a large bow-shape vamp strap, center tie bow with seed beads and goldtone grommets. Buff leather outsole and a textured rubber sole which is key for us city girls. Leather stacked heel is 2-3/4".

As always: 5-1/2 to 10,11 medium. 6-1/2 to 10,11 wide in teal, neutral or pastel. Click on the shoe to buy now.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that HOME SHOPPING NETWORK (HSN)


--puts each and every one of their shoes through an extensive quality testing process with a guy named Vince (believe me, I met him and he is strict about the shoes!)?

--stocks hard-to-find sizes from 5 1/2 to 12?

--creates exclusive brand new shoe styles based on their customer feedback?

--carries brands like Beverly Feldman, Born, Hot in Hollywood, Yellowbox, Diego di Luca, and Bellini?

--average shoe buyer also shops at stores like Nordstrom's?

--oh! and also HSN has this great new show, you might have heard of it, called Shoe Therapy (TM) with Miss Meghan
? Don't forget to tune in, August 20 at 8 pm!

HSN.COM IS ALL NEW - AND I'M AN AVATAR!

Oh my goodness. HSN.com has completely revamped! And guess who is on the homepage for Shoes & Handbags? Moi. Check it out and hear me talk all about patent, animal prints and metallics. Meow.

EVEN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ACKNOWLEDGES THE POWER OF THE STILETTO

You know I am always, always talking about the power and confidence of a Stiletto. Apparently the Wall Street Journal agrees:

"Heelpolitik: The Power of the Stiletto

Why Female Executives Keep
A Pair for Clashes and Crises;
Ferragamos to Be Fired In
August 2, 2007; Page D8

Look under many a powerful woman's desk and you'll find a serious pair of heels. Whether they're on her feet or tucked in a drawer, the shoes' key attribute is a three-inch spike that, if redirected, could put your eye out.

A pair of black Richard Tyler pumps -- pointy-toed, matte leather, very skinny heels -- live under the desk of Dana Thayer, senior vice president of marketing for Chelsea Piers, a sports and entertainment complex in Manhattan. She pulls them out for important meetings. "They turn me into this different person," Ms. Thayer says.

Amy Swift, who runs a women's business incubator called Women Who Launch, opts for a pair of beige snakeskin Jimmy Choos that "have an all-business quality to them." She calls them "quiet but fierce."

Flats are this year's much-hyped shoe trend, with sales of comfy shoes shooting skyward, according to retailers such as Nordstrom and Zappos.com. But those friendly flats tend to disappear at key moments -- the biggest meetings, confrontations and transactions. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 77% of women wear heels to special occasions, which probably explains why Zappos still sells more designer heels than flats, at a substantial ratio of 65-35.

"High heels indicate power," says Stuart Weitzman, designer of many a power heel. "For some reason, it's a natural instinct for human beings."

This is partly a factor of height. At 5'9½ in bare feet, a pair of heels leaves Kristin Bentz, who runs a fashion-investment blog, towering over many men in a room. "I totally use the shoes for the intimidation factor -- for women and for men," she says.

Yet, as much as I'd like to argue that this is all about the added height, I'm afraid it's not. High heels are sexy. They offer an inherent contradiction: They make us more fragile, but conquering them to stride alongside men in their sensible flats creates mystique.

In an elevator at Lehman Brothers, Ms. Bentz's former employer, a couple years ago, a senior executive stared at Ms. Bentz's chocolate-brown crocodile four-inch pointy-toe pumps and asked, "Where do the toes go?" she recalls with relish.

The empowerment of women in the office has actually opened the door for sexier looks, even in conservative offices like the insurance brokerage where Darla Brunner works in Los Angeles. High heels were once less acceptable because of their alluring connotations, says Ms. Brunner. They were a distraction. But "in this day and age when it is more accepted that females are capable in the business world, those same high heels now command more business respect," she says.

Even if sex is still power, it must be carefully constrained in the office. Step across the line to blatantly sexy, and you risk moving into the dumb zone, or worse. Hence, Christian Louboutin's red-soled heels, with their hint of bondage, are best left out of the monthly budget meeting."

Read the rest of the article here.

IF THE SHOE FITS: MM ON BOSTON NOW

If the shoe fits: Talk with Meghan Cleary

Rachel Solar, Fashion Editor

---

What is the book's premise?
It's sort of like astrology for your feet. The book outlines some of the most popular shoe styles and includes analysis of what those characteristics say about your personality whether you're a "Stiletto Girl," Ballet Flat Girl" or "Sneaker Girl." Throughout each profile, I also provide tips on fashion, dating and careers to match each shoe type.

What is the appeal of heels for women?
I think women's love of shoes is absolutely genetic. When I was five, I became totally obsessed with this pair of baby blue wedge espadrille sandals with flowered embroidery. They just seemed like the ultimate accessory even though I probably didn't even know what that word meant then. I bothered my mom until she bought them.

What is your personal favorite shoe?
Some favorites right now are a pair of grey python Azzedine Alaia pumps from the winter 2006 collection. I loooooove Giuseppe Zanotti for red carpet events, and I have a pair of crazy platforms from Due Farina that are super fun -- black and yellow patent.

What makes a shoe sexy?
I am a Stiletto girl when it comes to sexy shoes. Stilettos are the most feminine, confident shoe a woman can have in her fashion arsenal. I love towering and the silhouette it brings to the whole outfit. But it's different for every woman. It's all about how a good pair of shoes makes you feel inside and how confidently you walk in them. You have to rock your platforms if that's what you're in!

Published on Fri, Aug 3, 2007

CHEAT ON YOUR PEDICURE

Cheat on your pedicure!
It's much more practical than cheating on your man - and it'll save money too
by Meghan Cleary

From Sunday's New York Daily News

Between swishing through the sand and giving yourself blisters with new shoes, you're hardest on your feet in summer.

And even in the land of $20 pedicures, taking your weekly spa job down to every other can save you a little cash you can use for other beach staples (like Bumble & Bumble hair powder, a new tube of Diorshow mascara or a little deposit in your savings account).

POST-PEDICURE POLISH

Twenty-four to 48 hours after your pedicure, carefully brush on a clear top coat. Try Barielle Ultra Speed Dry Manicure Extender or No-Chip Speed Dry With Silk Protein: it'll add another layer of protection on your polish, extend the color and prevent chipping.

PAMPER YOUR PEDS

Summer dryness manifests in cuticles and rough heels. Help dry cuticles by rubbing them with oil - any kind, from olive to baby.

Rough patches? Try a 15-minute lukewarm foot bath at the end of the day. Buff rough spots with a pumice stone and layer on some foot lotion before bed. Try Dr. Scholl's for Her Foot Serum (it has beta hydroxy to gently exfoliate the rough bits). For extra oomph, give yourself a little foot massage, and slip some cotton socks on over your lotion to seal in moisture.

BANISH BLISTERS

We've all bought a pair of shoes we love for summer - that gave us the worst blisters. How to wear them without permanently disfiguring your feet? For starters, once you get a blister, let it heal! We all put the offending shoes back on the very next day, but feet should have a three- to four-day window to heal. Get some moleskin foam with adhesive at the drugstore, cut it up and put it inside the shoes in the spots that gave you the most trauma. Then soak feet in as warm a bath as possible and rub them down before bed with a thick, unscented lotion, like Lubriderm Seriously Sensitive, to speed healing and reduce scarring.

PAINT YOURSELF

This summer, go for deep purple-red jeweled tones on the toes, with a sparkly undertone. These reflect in the summer sun and turn your toes into gorgeous little jewels in your sexy strappy stilettos. For some added appeal, layer a deep wine with a reddish sparkle: Try one coat of Essie National Velvet with an overlay coat of Essie Wild Thing.

Meghan Cleary is a Manhattan-based shoe expert; see www.missmeghan.com.