Stylish yet comfy heels unveiled at Shoephoric event

One would rarely mention killer heels and comfort in the same breath, if not to complain about the latter not being found in the former. However, in the one-of-a-kind event hosted last Friday by Shoephoric.com and the Life Science Center for Wellness and Preventive Medicine, “shoephorics” and wellness buffs alike found that comfort in stylish heels is not that hard to achieve. Being very tastefully put-together, the first ever Shoephoric Year-Starter lived up to its promise. Most notable was the ambient display, which made use of every space available within the Life Science Center.

An impressive selection of shoes and shoe books (from the personal collections of Shoephoric founder Ann Jacobe and Life Science Executive Director Marv Romero-Salas) lined the shelves next to bottles of cleansers and jars of exfoliant. A pair of seventies-style platform shoes hung from the poles of an infusion pump, while other rooms were graced with the likes of Louboutin, Manolo and McQueen. Examination tables were converted into platforms for the designs of Risqué Designs' Tal de Guzman, the night's featured artist. Her “Lady of Devotion” shoes were set on a pedestal in the center of the reception area. Exquisite sculptural pieces by Ferdinand Cacnio were among them, while the painted works of Shoephoric’s graphic designer, Ray Piedra, were also on display. Life Science Medical Director Dr. Ben Valdecañas shed some light on foot wellness, opening his speech with, “I want you to know your feet so you can love your feet.” The best shoes, regardless of heel height or flatness, are those which support your arches, while routine foot care is also a must. Posh Nails took care of that for the evening, offering free mani-pedis to guests who ventured into their cozy consultation room set-up. Soon-to-be shoephoric Czarina looked delighted in her Topshop Party Face platforms when she said, “It’s interesting because there’s this doctor… [it’s a] one-stop event.” Fellow shoephoric Cris Castro seemed just as impressed with the turnout, gushing about how nice it was “to see everyone with fabulous, fantastic shoes.” From Alexander to Zanotti Having over five-hundred pairs of shoes lining her closet, Ann Jacobe needed to find a way to organize them all. Armed with a passion nursed since childhood, a background in Information Technology, and a collection to rival Imelda’s, Ann set out to create the first ever online database for shoes. It started out as a personal project but steadily grew into what followers all over the world now know as Shoephoric.com. The site is a unique platform for cataloging your personal shoe collection and browsing through those of fellow shoe lovers. You can also put your pre-loved shoes up for sale, while a soon-to-open feature enables shoe merchants to sell their wares through the site.      When asked about the future of Shoephoric, Ann jumped in and said, “I’m very excited for this year.” “We’re opening up the shops… we’re also going original because we want to promote craftsmanship of Filipinos in different regions…” she added. Seeing her clad in her ultra-high Jimmy Choo sandals and a luxuriant emerald green dress, you wouldn’t guess that her passion for charity is as big as her shoe devotion. But Ann also explained her plan to collaborate with artisans from Gapan, Nueva Ecija - the “Tsinelas Capital of the North”. The partnership will improve their livelihood while giving her the opportunity to give back to her home province. Today, there are over 100,000 shoephorics from all over the world (“we even have Europe,” Ann states proudly), 65 percent of whom are Filipinos. And with all the exciting new developments in the site, not to mention the implicit pull of a social network/database for shoe lovers and their collections, that number is sure to grow.      The Risqué and the risky Every month, Shoephoric selects a stand-out member to feature from among its thousands of followers. This January, the spotlight shines on Risqué Designs’ Tal de Guzman. “Each shoe is a lady,” says Tal as she fondly discusses her latest collection entitled Ladies of False Luxuries. Tal is the owner and designer of Risqué Designs, an artisanal online shop which is taking nationalism to new heights with its creations. Like Shoephoric, it is a fairly new enterprise which grew rapidly through footwear fandom. The brand is all about experimentation and collaboration. “I like working with people,” says Tal. Her designs are meant to showcase not only her personal creativity, but the work of different local artists and crafters as well. Her previous collections include six-inch high signature-cut wedges with woven accents, hand-painted canvas booties, and even a few flats in bright Aztec-inspired patterns. All of the designs are fully customizable—from color to material. Tal also makes sure that every piece she releases is “really comfy” by personally testing them first. She is very meticulous with the production of her shoes, admitting that she never rushes, lest a piece should lose its artistic value. The minimum price for a pair of Risqué shoes is P3,500, while the most expensive yet was put up for auction that evening with a starting bid of P20,000. This pièce de résistance of Tal’s latest collection is none other than “The Lady of Devotion”. The shoe’s zippered body is made from handcrafted leather while the wedge is intricately carved in Malasantol wood from Paete, Laguna. The carving, made with the help of local artist Lloyd Valera, features faces, sampaguitas, and chains, which represent the plight of the poor. Befittingly, the proceeds from the auction go to Musmos, a charitable organization based at the Ateneo de Manila University. And that was the night's wonderful revelation. More than just passion for shoes, beautiful craftsmanship, artistic vision, devotion to beautiful things; it was an evening of wellness and social change, as well. What better way to welcome the year than that? — DVM, GMA News