Barratts Shoes Buzz and News November 2008



The following message has been provided by Barratts Shoes to inform of the latest updates in the world of shoes and its retail market.

A highly versatile shoe:

The latest sandals by the queen of the multi-task Gwen Stefani have been described as an extremely versatile shoe. Kelly McAuliffe, writing on the online pages of fashion resource Shoewawa, said that she is a fan of popstar and designer Gwen'ss label LAMB and thinks she is a genius. But she claims that she attempted to remain objective when casting her eye over the grey suede and snakeskin gladiator-style stilettos. However, Ms McAuliffe admits that the colour, style and texture of the footwear adds up to the perfect package for autumn and winter. You can pair these with everything from bodycon dresses, to skinny jeans and frilled cocktail dresses worn with leather jackets. Worn with opaques or without, these are a supremely versatile shoe, she stated. But girls who can'st afford the hefty 's163;219 price tag may be relieved to hear that Barratts are currently stocking a similar pair of grey leather gladiator sandals, for a fraction of the cost.

A patented evening look:

Patent knee high boots can give a sophisticated but practical edge to a working wardrobe, but also look glamorous when hitting the tiles for a night out. Writing on the online fashion resource Shoewawa, Amber McNaught said that boots that have been given a shiny finish can be left on for a night out, without dragging down the sexy look of an outfit in the way that more sturdy footwear sometimes can. In particular, shoppers should keep a lookout for boots with a round toe - a key trend for the winter - and a heel that is high enough to add some inches to those legs but also low enough to be able to comfortably walk around in at work. Meanwhile, with Christmas approaching, girls should start channelling the Wizard of Oz and invest in a fun pair of glittery shoes. When worn with a classic little black dress, such heels are sure to inject a bit of sparkle into any festive function.

Women hiding secret shoe splurges:

Ladies who spend money on updating their shoe and bag collections tend to keep their purchases secret, new data has found. According to an online survey by Virgin Money, 80 per cent of respondents admitted to hiding their haul from their spouses. However, this may have been a sensible decision as it was also found that four per cent of those polled had claimed their other halves had walked out on them once their secret splurging was unveiled. And according to the research, 76 per cent of women admitted to forbidden spending on shoes and clothes, while 11 per cent could not say no to jewellery and four per cent had a weakness for bags.

Commenting on the findings, the South African Times features editor Aspasia Karras, writing for her online blog the Frock Report, said: I know I have been sorely tempted to go in for a little cloak and dagger shopping operation - explanations to one'ss significant other can be very trying for a girl'ss psyche. Meanwhile, the first secret splurge for fashion-conscious women may be the Shoe-Boot - a key look this season.

A patented evening look:

Patent knee high boots can give a sophisticated but practical edge to a working wardrobe, but also look glamorous when hitting the tiles for a night out. Writing on the online fashion resource Shoewawa, Amber McNaught said that boots that have been given a shiny finish can be left on for a night out, without dragging down the sexy look of an outfit in the way that more sturdy footwear sometimes can. In particular, shoppers should keep a lookout for boots with a round toe - a key trend for the winter - and a heel that is high enough to add some inches to those legs but also low enough to be able to comfortably walk around in at work. Meanwhile, with Christmas approaching, girls should start channelling the Wizard of Oz and invest in a fun pair of glittery shoes. When worn with a classic little black dress, such heels are sure to inject a bit of sparkle into any festive function.

Heels versus flats:

Two shoe lovers have been putting across their arguments for the ultimate trend in footwear for a recent article. According to The Age, 27-year-old Anna Kelly, an advertising account manager, is a devotee of the high heel. She explained that she is committed to super-high heels which make her feel equally happy whether she has splashed out on a designer pair or come across them on the shelves of a high street store. Ms Kelly also claimed that she would have little problem running or cycling in them if needed. I like to think that every day is enough of a special occasion to deserve high heels, she explained. Meanwhile, 33-year-old Rebekka Power, a business writer, editor and blogger, noted that it was flats that had always held her heart, adding that the last time she wore a pair of heels was a decade ago. She added that she loved cute, girly shoes but that it could be hard to find these and know that they would be comfortable as well. Whatever a girl'ss shoe needs, Barratts has footwear for every palate, whether it be peep-toe blue satin stilettos or quilted turquoise ballerina slippers.

Resources:

With over 168 high-street stores and 30 concessions within Bay Trading, Barratts is the second largest independent shoe retailer in the UK. Barratts philosophy is to offer an extensive range of footwear for the whole family, combining leading-edge fashion with exceptional value for money. Thanks to over 85 years experience in shoe retailing Barratts offers extensive collection of boots (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_18464_-1_10553) including cowboy boots (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_18467_-1_10553), ladies boots (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_10804_-1_10553) and Caterpillar boots (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_22483_-1_10553), kickers (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_22492_-1_10553), small shoes (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_22531__10553).

Through it'ss own labels Barratts has developed great ranges of shoes and accessories for all ages with a focus on style, quality and value. Barratts also has an impressive range of branded products, from famous labels including Hush Puppies (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_22487_-1_10553), Caterpillar, Kickers, Ben Sherman, Skechers (http://www.barratts.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MCategory_10055_22481_-1_10553), and Rocket Dog.

Barratts is a trading name of Stylo Barratt Shoes Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Stylo PLC based in Apperley Bridge, Bradford, West Yorkshire. For more details please visit the company'ss website on http://www.barratts.co.uk/.





Barratts Shoes Buzz and News November 2008