Robin puts his success down to a brief encounter with a lorry driver on the M1. While hitch-hiking he got chatting about the difficulties of making shoes without leather. Canvas wasn’t practical for the British weather and plastic shoes lack ventilation. Making them uncomfortable and, let’s face it, pretty smelly. The lorry driver told him about a recently imported Italian material that was as strong, breathable and flexible as leather, but made from a mixture of polyester and polyurethane.

After this lucky break, Robin began making and selling shoes. Today business is booming. High profile customers include Paul McCartney, who wore a pair of Robin’s shoes on the front cover of his “Paul Is Live” album. Business is so good the Robin can now no longer just make one pair of shoes a day. Instead he sends his designs to factories , but is careful to keep them as people-friendly as possible. He refuses to use factories in less developed countries where labour and production costs are low. Instead Vegetarian Shoes only use factories in the UK and EC and are proud to include the oldest co-op in England as one supplier.

The environmental impact of clothing has not been forgotten. Some lines are 70% biodegradable and Vegetarian Shoes have recently brought out hemp skate shoes. These classic skater style trainers have hemp on the front and sides to “help ventilate the shoe and save the planet!”

But the best thing about Vegetarian Shoes are definitely the styles. From Dr Martins to Birkenstocks, high heeled boots to loafers a huge range of shoes are covered. The trainers come in old school, street and skate, as well as wombat shoes for a smarter look.

As for the future, Vegetarian shoes are looking into creating vegetarian football boots and more sports trainers to provide an alternative to the big brand’s exploitation of animals, people and the environment. For vegetarians it’s time to heave a sigh of relief – at last there is no need to compromise on comfort, style or ethics.

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When most people think of odd shoes or specialty shoes, they automatically think of the many hideous looking shoes that you find in junk mail coupon booklets that come in the mail. I will be the first to admit that I thought that way until I injured my left foot. For months I forced myself to wear uncomfortable shoes because I refused to wear specialty shoes. It got to the point that I had no other choice than to wear specialty shoes.

It defeats the purpose of wearing designer shoes if you can’t even walk in them. That’s when I discovered online specialty shoe exchanges such as OddShoe People like me who would never consider setting foot in a specialty shoe store can browse through an online shoe exchange and browse through a variety of styles and purchase comfortable shoes that are attractive.

The following are popular shoe brands to help sooth an injured foot or if you just want to wear more comfortable shoes:

A Birkenstock
B Newalk
C Alpro
D Tatmi
E Papillio
F Birkis
G Footprints

Today, there are more specialty shoe brands than ever before. The days of settling for a limited selection of specialty shoes from a specialty shoe store are long gone. In addition to a vast brand selection of specialty shoes, there is also a huge selection of styles and colors. Now you can finally wear comfortable shoes that compliment your wardrobe.

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Our feet are extremely valuable as they transport us to where we need to be whether to the bar to get a cold drink or walking to the summit off A mountain. In both events if we have not looked out for ourselves right through all the years we will discover that walking will become sore, awkward or even impracticable. Unfortunately after or feet get hurt or sore it’s very likely not probable to be able to undo the hurt. So it’s important to do some regular things in our normal routines to stop our feet becoming sore in later years. To keep our feet in a fit state here are two central things which we need to think off and do and these will be foot cleanliness and shoe choice.

Cleanliness – Getting into a day after day routine of foot hygiene is important to keeping your feet healthy and decrease the chance of any fungus infections which are very usual in uncared for feet. Cleaning your feet in lukewarm water at the beginning off every day is a requirement as well as putting on fresh socks or stockings they must by no means be put on for longer than one day. When bathing do not solely wipe the foot as this omits out the bits which bacteria will be generally likely to adhere in and that is sandwiched between the toes and around the tips off the nails. After washing ensure that they are dried completely doing this in detail plus checking between and round about the toes previous to putting on clean socks or stockings which must not be taut fitting as this will cause surplus pressure on the foot and cause sweating. Trim the nails frequently and as doing this try to circumvent trimming to small and maintain the snip square across rather than rounding as this hurts the nail.

Check them systematically and if they look dry start to make use of a foot moisturiser lotion otherwise you end up with sore difficult broken skin. If you see any fungal growth or staining on your feet take steps don’t delay believing that it will fix itself out. Get help from a skilled expert if needed rather than solely guessing what is incorrect as the choice of medications is huge and you require to make sure that you get the best one and only an expert will tell you correctly which to take advantage of.

Footwear – It is very crucial that as you look to get shoes the foremost feature must not be the style off the shoe but the fit to prevent hurting your feet. Women always like to look good-looking in skin-tight fitting or excessive heeled shoes this could look very good but is it helpful for you? The answer is thumbs down it’s not as constant wearing off these styles of footwear will cause serious and everlasting injury to the user. Most folks believe that after we cease growing in height our feet in addition end growing well this is to a degree reality as the feet will end growing but open out spreading as you grow older therefore your shoe size will vary as you get older. A down-to-earth test is if your shoe is sore it’s the incorrect size so take off and acquire a new pair.

Finally, if you suffer issues with moist feet or fungal growth dodge wearing fake footwear or the natural materials like canvas or leather as all these don’t let the feet breath appropriately and this produces sweating and smells try using rubber clogs at your job. If you suffer from sore feet wear a birkenstock soft footbed shoe like the sort made by alpro shoes as they will be individually curved to support the foot more.

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Shoes are just as important as the rest of the outfit that they accompany. However, the only tasks that many people perform with them is putting them on and taking them off. This is bad news because without proper care shoes will not last very long and can even cause injury to the feet. Care is especially important for sandals because more of the foot is exposed. By taking just a few moments to maintain your sandals you can ensure that they stay in good condition and continue to adequately protect your feet from the elements.

General Tips

All sandals are heat intolerant and must not come in contact with heat sources, such as a fireplace or radiator. During the warm months sandals should not be stored in places where there is no ventilation or the temperature is extreme, such as in a car with the windows rolled up. Unless the sandals are made of rubber, they should not connect with water. To remove stains that appear on waterproof beach sandals, all you need to use is lukewarm water and gentle soap. If this does not remove the stain, it is recommended that you seek a professional shoe repair service instead of trying different cleaners.

An extra step in caring for sandals is to allow them to air out. Sandals are made to absorb moisture to keep the feet cool; however, you should give them a chance to release the moisture. Wearing a pair of sport sandals, such as those made by Adidas, for an extended period can cause moisture and an unpleasant odor to accumulate. Some shoes, such as Birkenstock sandals, have removable soles that easily provide an opportunity for the sandals to breathe.

Special Materials

Sandals that are made of leather and suede require care beyond general maintenance. Leather is especially sensitive to water. A good example are leather NAOT sandals, which when they become wet, the chemicals that are used to hold the sandals together can soften and in a short amount of time render the shoes unfit for wearing. Salt water is especially dangerous to leather because it is caustic. If sandals that become in contact with salt water have metals parts, they should be rinsed. Only a polish that is intended for leather should be used to remove incidental scratches. Applying polish on a regular basis will also keep the sandals flexible.

The first step in caring for suede sandals is to apply a spray or dissolving cream that waterproofs the shoes. This product helps prevent shoes from staining in the event they become wet. Designer suede shoes, such as Birkenstock sandals, have their own cleaning and protective products. Gentle brushing is all that is needed to keep a pair of suede special occasion sandals free of dust.

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The story begins in the 70s when a tourist returned from a trip to Germany with a pair of Birkenstocks. The ‘ugly shoe’ proved to be one of the most comfortable shoes she had ever worn. After selling a few pairs to neighbors, she approached local stores with no success, but eventually convinced Birkenstock to make her their official U.S. distributor. That was over thirty years ago, and the ‘ugly shoe’ has become the healthy shoe, sparking an entire revolution in the way people view footwear.

Two of the major players in the healthy shoe market are Earth and Naot, makers of shoes that feel good on your feet. While the products of both companies have a lot in common, there are also a few key differences that make Earth sandals and Naot sandals distinctive and unique from each other. Those differences do not make one shoe a ‘better’ sandal than the other. “Better” is an individual decision that has a lot to do with the shape and needs of your own feet. The following is a rundown of the differences between Earth sandals and Naot sandals to help you decide which is better for your feet.

The Sole of the Shoe

What makes both Naot and Earth sandals unique is the construction of the sole. Both companies follow principles of design that are meant to stabilize the heel and ankle, maximize support of the foot and help your feet move the way that nature intended. The similarities are marked:

Extra width to give your feet the room they need to move naturally

Flexible, cushioned core materials which provides shock absorption while molding to the shape of your foot.

Wide toe beds allow the toes to grip naturally when walking.

Molded insoles to help stabilize and position the foot properly

Heel support to provide greater stability and allow natural movement

While those qualities make Earth and Naot sandals seem very similar, there are distinct differences in the way that they are executed and realized.

Naot sandals…

focus on the foot bed, building it from the inside out for comfort and stability

use a blend of natural latex and flakes of cork to build a footbed that is designed to absorb moisture and adapt to the shape of your foot as you wear them

are covered in high quality suede to pamper your feet and absorb moisture

include a layer of natural latex sponge to cushion your feet and absorb shocks when walking

hallux support provides stability for the front of your foot, preventing the big toe from slipping forward and helping your toes grip naturally with each step

are molded with an elevated central footbed to provide support and ease strain on the joints of the foot

support arches with a molded arch support that conforms to the unique shape of your foot

offer exceptional heel stability by indenting the heel bed to help hold the heel and ankles in the right position

feature replaceable heel beds so that you can keep your favorite shoes longer

Earth sandals…

incorporate Kalso Negative-heel technology to position the heel lower than the toes to position the body in a more ‘empowering’ stance

feature a gel insole made of Gelron 2000, a memory gel that shapes to your foot and retains the shape naturally, cushioning your foot in comfort

encourage a more natural posture that helps tone and firm calves and other muscles, translating to whole-body benefits

were designed by a Danish yoga instructor to encourage correct posture and movement

claim to increase the calories that your body burns in walking and doing every day things because the muscles are stretched further when wearing Earth sandals

are built to incline the foot so that the heels are 3.7 degrees lower than the toes

have just a few styles with footbeds designed to incline the heel. Most have the feature built into the sole

The Earth Company touts its sandals for their healthy difference, claiming that the slight change in positioning encourages the body to be more ‘empowered’. The degree of the incline is derived from a Yoga exercise that positions most of the weight of the body on the heels, which are meant to support that weight.

Naot, on the other hand, claims that the unique design of their footbed puts the foot into a more natural position, allows the toes to grip properly without slipping inside the shoe and relieves stress and tension on the joints. The more natural position encourages better posture, placing less strain on your joints, and the natural cushioning provides shock absorption to reduce damage caused by impact stress.

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Romancing the Crocs shoes

The point of the Romancing the Crocs Cayman Shoes is as a comfy shoe.

Pros : Are you having dreams about those long sunny days on the beach? Me, too! We sometimes refer to it as’barefoot season’ but we do not actually mean barefoot. We do mean that it’s time for those lovable tiny sexy sandals that show plenty of foot.

Blue and green rhinestones decorate the brushed gold thong and ankle straps of these South Beach stylish sandals and you’re going to just LOVE them! You can wear the Romancing the Crocs Shoes with those adorable small backless sundresses or with your swimsuit coverup! You’re going to love the look of smooth summer class provided by the Romancing the Crocs Shoes !

you need to note the Romancing the Crocs Shoes is available only in entire sizes and we recommend that you size up if you are a half-size.

good value : The Romancing the Crocs Shoes is top of the range and it’s a excellent value at the cost..

Where to buy : cheap crocs toddler

cheap crocs kids The Hottest New Summer Fashion Fad

You don?t have to even live near the beach to be able to enjoy and use this either. Back in the day you only had flip-flops or perhaps Birkenstocks to choose between. Now as well as the above you’ve got the newly introduced crocs shoes, a mess of sandals and more. Personally, I wear my Reef flip flops everywhere and nearly throughout the year. Since I live on an island in Northwest Florida I wear them all year, even in the winter! Mine have a bottle opener in the bottom which turns out to be handy when we?re are out running round the island.

Another style of beach shoe that I wear when I’m training on the beach is the mesh water shoes. I not only wear them for running on the beach, but also under my fins when I’m diving or snorkeling. These shoes are an excellent choice if you are going to be doing exercise in the water or on the beach. Another great thing about these shoes is they are very inexpensive.

crocs shoes are a very well liked new addition. I just recently had surgery to correct a torn bicep tendon and a significant percentage of the doctors and nurses at the hospital were wearing crocs shoes. I suspect that could be a very good indication of how snug they are since those people are on their feet most of the day. I wear mine as an alternative choice to my flip flops when it is raining, but you just have to remember I think of myself as a massive lover of flip flops.

Like other fashion apparel the sort of shoes that one wears can tell a lot about a person?s personality. For example my choice of my Reef flip flops tells you that I am most engaged with being cosy and having an excellent casual style and I don?t care in the slightest about impressing anyone with my fashion decisions. These flip flops are intensely favored by surfers like myself and nearly everyone I know owns a pair. The bottle opener on the bottom is a great conversation starter at parties. Everybody freaks out when I pull off my flip flop and open a bottle of beer.

On the other end of the range would be Birkenstocks. Those that wear these shoes are making a statement that they are into top quality and are not very interested in following any trends.

Just do not forget to consider what sort of activity you’re going to use the shoes for. For just all around general use you may wish to wear flip flops like I do. Whatever you select make sure to go with quality so that they last and you don?t have to replace them constantly.

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Comfort is normally associated with sandals. While you might not think someone would purposely buy a pair of uncomfortable shoes, it is very common for people to withstand agonizing foot pain for the sake of “looking good.” The idea of comfortable sandals is not new, but at one time there was a stigma associated with shoes that were labeled “comfortable”. Basically, these shoes tended to lack widespread appeal. That has now all changed. Brands of sandals that are well-known for comfort also pass the fashion test.

Dansko

Dansko’s philosophy, “We think about your feet so you don’t have to”, accurately sums up what has made this shoe company a major contender in brands of comfortable sandals. What was once a Danish clog has been redesigned into some of the most popular sandals for comfort and style. The typical Dansko sandal is lightweight, made to move naturally with the foot, and enhanced with natural materials. Many Dansko sandals have received a stamp of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association. Dansko, Inc. has only been in business since 1991, but ships its shoes to more than 3,000 stores. Dansko sandals all have the clog base, but are available in strappy, slides, and thong styles.

Born

Visit the Born website and you may feel that you’ve fallen into a Vogue magazine spread. The artistic edge of Born sandals is evident, but the shoe company doesn’t sacrifice style for comfort. What makes Born sandals so special in terms of comfort? The company developed a technique of making shoes called Opanka that results in sandals that are both soft and resilient. Each and every sandal that Born makes is built using some form of the Opanka technique. Adjustable straps are also a common comfort feature of Born sandals.

Birkenstock

The Birkenstock history spans from footbed insert making to being probably the oldest makers of comfortable sandals. Within the time that it has existed, the Birkenstock company has always made comfort a significant focus of its operation. The company entered the sandal market in the early 1980s when it developed and patented its first pair of thong sandals. With thick soles that are made of cork and natural latex and an adjustable two-strap buckle, Birkenstock sandals have a style that easily recognizable. In short, get to the “bottom” of this sandal and you will discover a sandal that is designed to take care of your feet.

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People wear shoes to keep their feet safe from sun rays, dust and many other things, which can be harmful to their feet. Moreover, shoes are helpful to increase the beauty of your new dress. There are numerous brands of shoes available in the shoe market, but EMU boots are different from all. These boots are famous among the wearers for the stylish look and they can be used with outfits like pants, short, or even skirts. Founded more than a decade ago in Australia, EMU boots are known for comfort and available in numerous styles, shapes and sizes to suit every style and taste of new fashion. They are considered as very trendy and have been ever since they first appear.

It is a fact that when people talk about wearing boots, they think that boots are only perfect and can be worn only during the winter season. The reason is that usually, boots are made of materials that keep your feet as well as legs warm. So if they are worn during the summer, the wearers will get uncomfortable with the warm and sweaty feeling that the boots bring. But this fact is not in favor of EMU boots because these boots is that they are helpful to give your feet more air because they have adjustable sides so you can lower it. Moreover, the sheepskin, which is used inside part of EMU boots, is capable to absorb the moisture quickly. 

Alternatively, these boots are good to wear in the low temperature because the sheepskin that is used inside the boot keeps your feet to feel cool rather than feeling warm. EMU boots are very fashionable and can be worn with anything for any occasion. Celebrities also use these boots because of stylish look and durability. It is a fact that these boots would never be out of fashion. These boots are available in an assortment of colors and sizes and can be used by men, women and children. These boots are also affordable in price compared to other types of shoes.

EMU boots can be purchased from any footwear store. Purchasing from online stores would be an advantage for you because online shopping is a way to save both time and money. There are numerous online footwear stores who offer you these boots at affordable rates. You just have to place your order and boots will be in your hand.

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These days, folks prefer to shop in the comfort of their homes. That’s why web shopping has become the simplest way that folks has become accustomed to in the decade or so. Whether you want to buy automobile products, gourmand food, lingerie, discount products, healthy products, brand shoes and bags, sun shades, portables and nearly anything under the sun, you’ll find them by simply turning your desktop computer on and read the Net. But folk also love shopping in a place where everything is found. It gives them convenience of saving time and effort. So, wouldn’t you want that in an internet shopping too?

of course you do! That’s why the single thing you have to do is find a website which has brought a large variety of purchaser’s products in one web shopping area. It is so good to find an avenue to buy discount Michelin tires when all of a sudden yours have gone busted and new branded Birkenstock shoes because yours have gone ruined too all at the same time. When your PC, that has been your companion in your daily career moves for a long time, has seen years, you can try buying a new replacement for that one too in one online shopping period.

You can bring your entire family together doing online shopping because your daughter can have an excellent time choosing from the top of the range brand shoes of Versace, Gucci, Prada. DKNY, Emilio Pucci or branded sunglasses like Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Christian Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Lorent, Realtor Max, Diesel, and Spike. Your boy would be thrilled that mobile phones and MP3 players are available as well with favored Nokia, Iphone, Samsung, Blackberry, Creative Zen, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, and Philips among the most well known brands in the gadget world.

he will be able to also find these innovative toys such as LEGO, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2 and three, PSP, Xbox 360, radio controlled autos, and a lot others. Your wife will even be thrilled that she’ll find a giant collection of gourmand foods, health and beauty products, home garden products, and jewelry all in one shopping. There’s a collection of products that folks of all areas of life will need in their daily wants, so from your needs to your whole family’s needs, the single thing wanted to do is open this website.

Think about this : you save a large amount of your effort and time, you save your gas, you save a large amount of money because discounted products are as well offered, and if you can not find the thing that you need, just type in the search box and the internet site will direct you where to find it. Life is really simple! And you ought to enjoy it because that’s what this web site meant for you to have!

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Are you planning on possibly starting a home business? It’s an exciting and liberating thing to do. But it has its pitfalls. My words of warning and caution are not at all intended to turn you away. We my husband and I began our own home-based business four years ago and it was the right decision. But it has been demanding and difficult as well as rewarding and exciting. What is rarely mentioned is the change involved. This article is mostly about that, and mostly about my husband’s transformation as we moved into our own home-based business.

The decision to start our business had been in my mind for about ten years. I had been a schoolteacher and my husband was an investment banker. However, my real interest was in creating dishware, crockery, and all the assorted items that go with a meal in a restaurant. I was especially interested in organic food and cooking and I worked at creating dishware for organic restaurants. That became my passion. I thought about and dreamed about it and hoped that one day I would start a home business.

My husband was not interested in the home business idea, although very supportive of my dream for myself. For years he thrived in the corporate world. He was the essence of the high achieving executive, and he loved it. Then the stress began to build. Then, our son went away to college. It seemed to be time for a change. Over and over we would repeat the pattern: I would suggest that he quite his job and join me in our own business. Again and again he said no.

Then he reached a point where the stress became serious and for the first time he talked about a business. He would market and I would create. We talked and let our imaginations work. We would makeover the house and turn part of it into a set of offices and what I called “creation” rooms. We talked on and off for days. Finally, he said yes. That was how we began; it has been six years since that decision.

My husband left his investment career and we invested a large portion of our savings into a renovation of the house, the creation of offices and the renting of warehouse space.

We were looking at a complete change of life. Not every business involves that level of commitment, but for us, our savings and our future were wrapped up in our business, as well as our dreams of independence. We had cut many ties to our old life and we had to accept the demands involved in entering a new world. But the demands are as exciting as they were difficult. For us, nothing in the work world can compare with creating and selling products that we have made and we are responsible for.

Our new company transformed me into the “creative person”, surrounded by mountains of material and working day and sometimes night to meet deadlines, make changes, create new items and attempt to provide what the customer wants. For me, however, it really has been a dream that has come true. I mean that literally. I have always loved creating these items and I had often daydreamed about selling them. That has come true.

My husband is the “nuts and bolts” person. We soon realized that marketing would not be his only job; all the pickup of materials and all the deliveries, which are often all the same job, went with it. He goes to the warehouse. He stocks the truck. He delivers everything to our customers. He sells and delivers – our product to small stores, restaurants, gift shops and individuals.

We also soon realized that we would have to work very hard to sell products to a specific niche market. The type of person who will items related to organic food is not the type of person my husband worked with in his previous work. The type of company he deals with is very different as well. He spends a lot of time meeting and talking with potential buyers and following up with current customers.

We both do presentations, which are often in our home. We are also both responsible for covering orders that come in over the web, phone and mail.

Now I will describe the beginning of real changes that took place in my husband. It really began with his attempts to sell our products to the organic food market. His first trip to a store owned by self-described “former hippies” was met with distrust and silence. They liked the material but didn’t like my husband’s appearance and manner. He was much too corporate and much too clean cut. They were not impressed with the image that had worked so well for him for so many years.

This happened again, and then again. It was clear that some radical change had to take place. My husband fought it but finally, grudgingly accepted it; unless he made a dramatic change in his appearance, manner and style, we would never build client relationships. So he gathered up his courage and went about transforming himself.

Now, we didn’t plan on that big a change when we started. But the work does require manual labor, and it does require that he work out of our home. It also requires constant contact with people who wear very casual clothes, often have long hair, shaved heards, earrings and beards, and live lives outside the mainstream. As our public relations person, my husband finished changing an image that was already changing. We had to face the fact that in the world of small business, people will relate to and feel comfortable with others who can understand them.

How can I explain the details of the transformation of my husband? I will try to describe the physical change and also the impact on him. There is some humor in it, but it also describes what really happened.

First, picture to yourself a tall, dignified, impeccably dressed and groomed 40-something corporate executive; every hair is in place and he is dressed to the nines, briefcase in hand, and his overcoat is over his arm. He has left his office, and is standing in front of a glass and chrome financial office building. Seveal execs stand there smiling. He pulls out his keys and is ready to get into his Porsche. He is standing in front of the car; it is sleek, dazzling and new.

Do you have that picture in your mind? Good…

Now…snap your fingers. The beautiful office building is gone; in its place is a rundown warehouse. The executive is in shock. He shakes his head in disbelief. He then rushes to get into the safety of his Porsche and its leather seat.

Snap again. The Porsche disappears; it has been replaced by a used and not very clean pickup truck.

Our executive recoils and looks around him, stunned and speechless. Take the opportunity to reach over and take the keys to the car and his office out of his hand and replace them with the keys to the warehouse and truck.

As this happens, the executives wander away. They are replaced by a growing band of people in tee shirts, jeans, sandals and long hair. The men are bearded. The gather around and watch him. The executive looks at them in bewilderment.

Oh, and while he’s preoccupied, slide his wallet out of his pocket: remove all the business cards with the title “Investment Banker”; take his frequent flyer miles card, his American Express corporate card, and then his driver’s license. Replace the license with a truck driving license.

Now, it gets really interesting; unfortunately we have to use more intense shock therapy to recreate the glassy-eyed, shell-shocked look that my husband had for quite a while.

Now, we happen to know that this particular executive places special importance on perfectly-polished and carefully maintained leather shoes. But we’ve got a makeover to do. So…Quickly grab his ankles and just as quickly untie and pull off his gleaming, mirror-shined $700 Ferragamo hand-crafted wingtips, and be sure to snatch those Armani dress socks off him as well. Yes, it has to be sudden, because the look on his face reflects reality (And yes, he wore Armani socks. He was a very dapper man).

As he stands looking at his bare feet, snap your fingers: the monogrammed cufflinks and the tiepin vanish. Snap: his silk pocket square is gone. Another snap: his Cartier wristwatch is replaced with a Timex.

Snap: the Burberry overcoat over his arm is gone, and a polyester jacket with his name on the pocket has taken its place.

Now, you should know that this executive is the poster-man for “suits”. He has not worked a day a job since graduation without a suit. Sorry, makeover time….

Strip that $1600 pinstriped Armani business suit off him, along with the attached paisley braces, and drag off the perfectly knotted Hermes necktie and the starched white Brooks Brothers shirt. Snap your fingers. He is now wearing a tie-dyed tee shirt, battered jeans, and on his feet, his toes poke out through old birkenstock sandals without socks.

Steal his razor and don’t allow him to visit the barber. Snap your fingers again. A scruffy stubble appears on his clean shaven face. His perfect yuppie haircut grows into a straggly ponytail. Add a little dirt under his impeccable fingernails and his palms.

And now the final touch: snap your fingers again. His $1200 briefcase is replaced by a cardboard box; it is full of materials for delivery. He is the deliveryman.

That was and now is my husband. Is this description an exaggeration? Only in terms of the time it took. Every other detail of the transformation is accurate. The change was partly the result of the job itself and partly the result of customer demand. His transformation has not been an easy one for him, and it has been jolt for me as well. It has come in stages, but it is now complete and it has produced excellent results for our business. The same people who turned us down are now our best clients.

Our willingness to change has been combined with perseverance and (we hope) a good product. Our revenues are increasing and we are talking about hiring a person part-time. Our customer list is growing. Our reputation is as well, as we are introducing a new product line soon.

For a long time I wondered what my husband really thought of his metamorphosis from an always dignified, distinguished, dapperly attired, suit-and-tie, shiny-shoed executive into a bushy haired, bearded and often barefoot blue-collar working man with dirt under his nails and a pickup in the driveway. I had been the one to push the idea, and he had long resisted it. He had thrown himself into the work, but I wondered if he missed the life of a corporate high-flyer. We were both so busy that we rarely talked about the changes as they were happening, and he is a very reserved man. Three months ago, I was given a clue.

A man from a charity for the homeless appeared at our door one day. My husband had called him. He met him at the door with a box containing all twelve pairs of mirror-shined leather dress shoes, from Brooks Brothers to Gucci, and a bag containing eighteen pairs of black dress socks; every pair he owned.

I whispered to him: What he would wear if he needed dress shoes? He grinned and said he would buy a pair at Walmart. Now it was my turn to be stunned! The precise and controlled man whose shoes used to gleam like diamonds! Walmart!

The young charity worker looked surprised, and disbelieving, when I mentioned that my husband used to wear those shoes to work every day. He could not connect the shoes with the man. Then my husband produced another bag: all of his white dress shirts, starched and on hangers. Finally, he brought up his suits every one. His suits!

What had happened to my husband? Was this a real inner change to match the outer change? He talked for several minutes, and mentioned to the young man that he had been an executive, a banker, for many years but the blue-collar voice had taken over and he now wanted to get rid of his old life.

The young man laughed, picked up a pair of Italian wingtips and said “You used to have an office, and wear these suits and shoes and now you’re barefoot in the kitchen?”

I glanced at my husband. To my relief, he nodded – and laughed.

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