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Fun Trivia: F : Footwear

Special Sub-Topic: There's No Business Like Shoe Business!


In ancient Roman times, who would have worn hipposandals?

    Horses. A hipposandal was a flat piece of metal with hooks and rings. Ties were drawn through the hooks and rings enabling the hipposandal to be secured to the horse's hoof.

Which British military hero is recalled when talking of PVC rubber boots used for wet weather and muddy ground?
    Duke of Wellington. The Duke of Wellington asked his shoemaker to alter the Hessian boot and create something practical and stylish. The original Wellington boot he created was made of calf-skin leather and he most likely used wax to provide waterproofing.

The Nike "swoosh" trademark was created by Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student. How much was she paid for her now world famous design in 1971?
    $35. After working for Nike after college, she left in 1983. A lunch in 1984 with Nike executives saw Carolyn presented with a gold ring with the logo and a diamond, and an amount of Nike stocks that can only be speculated about.

American writer Christopher Morley said "High heels were invented by a woman who had been kissed on the ...". What is the missing word?
    Forehead. Author Christopher Morley (1890-1957) was born in Pennsylvania. Ginger Rogers starred in a movie adaptation of his 1939 novel "Kitty Foyle".

Which shoemaker said "My shoes are special shoes for discerning feet"?
    Manolo Blahnik. When Manolo Blahnik showed his design portfolio to a fashion magazine editor he was told footwear should be his design focus. He took this advice and with a loan of £2,000, Blahnik established his first shoe shop in 1972.

In 1964 Patrick MacNee and Honor Blackman released a single inspired by the footwear worn on "The Avengers" in which they were starring. What was this single called?
    "Kinky Boots". "The Avengers" originally screened from 1961-1969. The British secret agent series featured Patrick Macnee as John Steed going on missions with his partner. Honor Blackman was his partner from 1962-64 playing Cathy Gale.

What are the shoes worn by women when Irish dancing?
    Gillies. Gillies (also spelt ghillies) are soft leather shoes which mould to the foot. Laces or elastic can be used to secure the shoe to the foot but laces are essential in competition.

Which French writer has given his name to shoe fetishism?
    Nicolas-Edme Rétif. Retifism is another name for shoe fetishism. Retifism ascribes erotic qualities to footwear. Nicolas-Edme Rétif (1734-1806) was also called Rétif de la Bretonne. He authored many works relying on his life and fantasy for subject matter.

You're having a shoe fitting. The retailer puts your foot onto a metal plate and moves a couple of slides along the device to attain an accurate shoe size for you. What is this device known as?
    Brannock Device. Charles F. Brannock developed his eponymous device over two years. With the device patented in 1926, Brannock then formed the Brannock Device Company.

What is an old term for a shoemaker?
    Cordwainer. Cordwainer is an old term for a shoemaker. The city of London still has a Cordwainer ward within its boundaries. Historically this is the area most cordwainers resided and worked. A chandler deals with supplies to the shipping and boating industry. A fletcher makes arrows and a cooper makes barrels.

You're having a shoe fitting. The retailer puts your foot onto a metal plate and moves a couple of slides along the device to attain an accurate shoe size for you. What is this device known as?
    Brannock Device. Charles F. Brannock worked for two years to develop a simple method of accurately sizing a foot for shoes. He patented his device in 1926 and formed the Brannock Device Company to manufacture and sell the devices to shoe retailers. Other models have been developed for specialist footwear.

Dr. Martens are a heavy duty boot made originally by Doctor Märtens in Germany. What was the doctor's first name?
    Klaus. Doctor Märtens was a doctor in the German army during World War II. In 1945 he injured his ankle and couldn't wear regulation army boots. This led him to design the boots bearing his name today once the war ended.

Henry McKinney was an advertising agent in 1917 when he came up with a new name for a type of shoe. What term did he invent?
    Sneaker. Henry Nelson McKinney came up with the term "sneaker" as the rubber sole made the shoe quiet when walking. "Keds" were the first brand of sneakers.

Which shoe company took its name from an African wild animal?
    Reebok. Reebok was started in England and took its name from an African reebok, a type of gazelle. A puma is a wild animal but native to the Americas. Fila takes its name from the brothers who started the company in Italy. Nike was the ancient Greek goddess of victory.

The "Swoosh" trademark associated with Nike was created by Carolyn Davidson. She was a graphic design student from Portland State University. How much was she paid for her now world famous design in 1971?
    $35. Carolyn Davidson invoiced the company for $35 and they duly paid. She then worked for Nike until the design requirements were more than one person could deal with and were handed over to an advertising agency. She left the company in 1983 but in 1984 she was invited to a company lunch. She received a golden swoosh ring with a diamond, a certificate, and an unknown quantity of Nike stocks.

In what year was the first "Air Jordan" released to the public by Nike?
    1985. The NBA originally banned this new shoe as it didn't match the league's dress code. Michael Jordan kept wearing them and received fines of up to $5,000 per game which Nike were only too happy to pay. This merely gave the shoe a higher profile, extensive publicity and more desirability.

In 1964 two stars of "The Avengers", Patrick MacNee and Honor Blackman, released a 45rpm single inspired by the fashions worn in the show. What was the single called?
    "Kinky Boots". "The Avengers" was originally on television from 1961-1969. It was a British secret agent series featuring Patrick Macnee as John Steed going on missions with his partner. Honor Blackman was his partner from 1962-64 playing Cathy Gale. The series has a futuristic and fantasy element which lead to a very modern and sexy wardrobe.

In the "Sex and the City" episode called "La Douleur Exquise!" a shoe salesman with a shoe and foot fetish was giving one of the girls expensive shoes for little or no cost. Which of the characters indulged her love of shoes until she realised the salesman's ulterior motive?
    Charlotte. Charlotte was given expensive shoes simply for allowing the salesman to fit shoes on her feet. He complimented her on her feet and offered reflexology. The relationship came to an end when Charlotte realised she had been getting discounts by allowing the salesman to indulge his foot and shoe fetish. In effect, she was selling her feet for shoes.

These lyrics are from the song "Lucy's Shoe". "Lucy's lost her shoe and she don't know where she put it, but I hope she'll find it some day". Who recorded "Lucy's Shoe" on their album "The Chinese Album"?
    Spagehog. Spacehog is a band made of Englishmen who met in New York, New York. They formed Spacehog in 1994 and have released three albums. First was "Resident Alien" in 1995 then "The Chinese Album" in 1998. The third album is called "The Hogyssey" and was released in 2001. Lucy still only has one shoe at the end of the song.

Which adult shoe size is the largest?
    UK size 8. Shoe sizes have originated via different methods and are slightly different. The shoe sizes of the UK are slightly bigger than equivalent sizes in different regions. US athletic shoe sizes are slightly smaller than regular sizes. The European continent and Japan formulate shoe sizes in a completely different fashion. A UK size 8 is equivalent to a European size 42 and a Japanese size 27.

Which wealthy woman who came from very humble origins has said "I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes."?
    Oprah Winfrey. Oprah Winfrey was born in rural poverty in Mississippi, moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and then to Nashville, Tennessee. While still in high school she got a job on radio. She moved to television in 1984 and "The Oprah Winfrey Show" went national in 1986.

In 1987, who said "I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty."
    Imelda Marcos. Imelda Marcos was the first lady of The Philippines from 1965 to 1986 when her husband's presidency was toppled by people power. Allegations of corruption flowed. Evidence of Imelda's shopping pursuits surfaced including stories of 3,000 pairs of shoes, 15 mink coats, over 500 gowns and 1000 handbags. "Win or lose, we go shopping after the election." is another quote from the wife of President Ferdinand Marcos.

Which actress said of shoes "I don't know who invented the high heel, but all men owe him a lot".
    Marilyn Monroe. When asked what she wore to bed Marilyn replied "Why, Chanel No. 5 of course."

American writer Christopher Morley said "High heels were invented by a woman who had been kissed on the ...". What is the missing word?
    Forehead. Christopher Morley (1890-1957) was a Pennsylvania born author of over 100 books of essays, poetry and novels. His 1939 novel "Kitty Foyle" was made into an Oscar winning movie starring Ginger Rogers.

Which shoemaker said "My shoes are special shoes for discerning feet."?
    Manolo Blahnik. Manolo Blahnik studied at the University of Geneva and then studied art in Paris. He showed his portfolio to an editor of "Vogue" magazine and was told he should only design footwear. With a loan of £2,000, Blahnik established his first shoe boutique in London in 1972. I'm sure the stars of "Sex and the City" agree with his opinion of his shoes.


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