Scott Davis

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SHOES’ CLUES
When asked about her worldwide
celebrity and jaw-dropping wealth,
Oprah Winfrey quipped, “I still
have my feet on the ground; I just
wear better shoes.” Recently, this column discussed
dressing for success, but if shoes make the man
(or woman), it seems that working professionals
would do well to pay as much attention to what is
below their ankles as to what is above.
Windows to the sole?
Based on primitive cave drawings, foot coverings
were one of the first things developed by early
man. The main function in the beginning was to
protect early man’s feet from burning sand and
sharp rocks while he went about the business of
hunting and gathering. It wasn’t long, however
until the extravagance and style of the shoe began
to denote the social standing of the wearer.
Shoes offer others a quick insight into the kind
of person you are. Researchers at the University of
Kansas and Wellesley College say that people can
accurately judge 90 percent of a stranger’s personality
simply by looking at his shoes. They posit,
“Shoes correlate with the owner’s personal characteristics.
Age, gender, income and even psychological
traits such as agreeableness and insecurity can
be accurately judged from a picture of a person’s
shoe.” For example, they say that wearers of drab,
newish shoes are likely to be insecure about their
relationships with other people while bright, well-
24 | THECITYMAG.COM | APRIL 2013
worn shoes signaled confidence regarding relationships.
Best foot forward
According to the National Shoe Retailers
Association, the annual revenue of the footwear
industry is $48 billion worldwide with the annual
consumer footwear spending in the United States
ringing in at an astounding $20 billion. Women’s
footwear accounts for 40 percent of U.S. sales,
men’s 35 percent.
Since the shoes are one of the most important
influence items in your wardrobe, it’s vital that
you buy well-made shoes and treat them right.
Wearing shoes that are cracked, scuffed or falling
apart conveys a negative impression, just as would
a stained tie or wrinkled suit jacket. “Well heeled”
means wealthy, and wealth implies success. Most
of us have clothes for important meetings, clothes
for interviews and clothes for casual Friday, but
consider what your shoes may be saying about you.
If you are reading this at work, take a quick peek at
your shoes. Are they shouting whimsical, frumpy,
trendy, or polished, professional and ready to be
promoted?
Debora Dragseth, P.D. is a professor of business at Dickinson
State University. Her column provides common sense answers to
common workplace issues. If you have a question you would like
Dr. Dragseth to consider for her column, you may e-mail her at
dr.dragseth@gmail.com.
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