Being raised in the slums with very little spare cash at any given time, 'real' leather shoes were something of a luxury item and if any family members actually owned a pair, they were usually hand-me-downs or picked up for peanuts at a local bazaar. But with so many synthetic fabrics around, and big advances in technology, why is it that leather shoes are such sought after items of footwear for so many?

For starters, natural leather interiors absorb foot moisture better than synthetics and that can only be good for your feet. In fact a good quality pair of leather shoes are fully lined from front to back. Well maintained and polished leather shoes also resist dirt very well and so look good even when they are old.

Leather lasts. Leather is a material that's got through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, and when we refer to leather footwear, we're usually referring to shoes from cow hide. Would you believe I have a pair of men's dress shoes with leather uppers and lowers that are now 14 years old, and they still look and feel just fantastic.

Leather lowers do tend to wear out quicker than man made soles, and as a consequence many opt for the leather upper only, but even so, a good quality upper really does make a better shoe than alternative cheaper options. Leather outsoles are found with the more expensive shoes. Leather definitely gives a more supportive fit overall and this is because it adjusts to the natural shape of your foot

Man made Italian shoes are synonymous with quality footwear and have a reputation that spans back as far as the history of shoes as we know it. Recent times have seen quite a demand in the black and white slip on shoe in particular, and as they are made from such soft leather it means that they are incredibly comfortable to wear too. One proud owner of such a pair at our local gentleman's club said they were like a natural extension to the feet!

There is a downside to leather footwear though and that is once it gets wet, it can take a good while to dry out, but that aside, the pros for leather shoes and boots well outweigh the cons by a long way.

Foot care should be on the forefront of everyone's mind when shopping for new shoes and leather should certainly be a consideration with everyday and smart dress footwear. This way, you'll not only enjoy the comfort of leather, but over time you will save on the initial expense too, as in my case above. Think how many pairs of cheap shoes you could get through in 14 years, and mine still have plenty of mileage left in them!

Read more on today's hip and trendy shoes and boots including the fun footwear for kids Heelys Shoes. Read more at http://www.hipfootwear.com. There's also a take on the popular Danish Dansko Clogs. All this plus more at Hip Footwear dot com

Becoming a Model

Ross Bainbridge

http://www.models-ontheweb.com/

The answer is "EVERYONE." It's a fact! They may not admit it but deep inside every one desires be a model. A career in modeling can be financially satisfying and can offer several opportunities for you to blossom as a perfectionist. The key to success in the modeling industry is to have confidence in one's self.

Who wants to be a model? The answer is "EVERYONE." It's a fact! They may not admit it but deep inside every one desires be a model. A career in modeling can be financially satisfying and can offer several opportunities for you to blossom as a perfectionist. The key to success in the modeling industry is to have confidence in one's self. There are a lot of doubts that arise before someone enters this profession. For example; "can I really become a model?" or "why do I wish to become a model in the first place?" The answer to the second one may be fame, money or may be a childhood fantasy. It may be just anything but that reason has to be embraced and used as a motivational force to be successful in this industry.

To become a model, your look has to be marketable. A firm would have to trust that your face or body on their product would help them increase their sales. If you think you can handle the pressure of constant rejections then you are ready and you have crossed the first hurdle of this glamorous world. There are different types of modeling for e.g. fashion, commercial or specialty. Fashion modeling includes ramp walks, clothing campaigns, or posing for magazines, catalogues and showroom displays.

Fashion agencies usually have very specific requirements in terms of height, weight and age. These are strict due to industry standard for clothing samples. Rarely would an agency accept people, who fall short on these requirements even if the latter have unusually beautiful looks. Commercial modeling is employing models to sell products for household or industrial use. These comprise of cars, hair products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, household appliances, industrial appliances, machinery etc. Commercial agencies usually have no physical limitations and they are open to hiring people of all ages, sizes and ethnic backgrounds. Specialty agencies generally represent talent with special bodies or faces. These may include full figured models, bodybuilders, athletic builds or even body part modeling.

It is very important to find the right agency that may be interested in promoting you as a model. First you should call up the agencies and then send them some of your finest pictures. Also you must give about 4-6 weeks for them to reply. If an agency is interested in you they will definitely call you, however if chasing them with phone calls might just put them off. You need patience before you reach the glamour and publicity levels. Modeling profession is really hard work and can be surprisingly boring, tedious and even emotionally stressful.

If you are tall, slim and have the confidence to face the camera anywhere then modeling is the career for you. You are also required to have the tenancy, tolerance, aptitude, interpersonal skills, determination and business sense. Modeling can be a fun, exciting, and courageous experience, however, the chances of becoming a successful or famous model are not many due to tough competition. Agencies that provide you with work make a commission on your fee (15 to 20%), so beware of agencies that ask for money before even starting the work. Also it is important to check and see if they are reputable and real. One must keep copies of all-important papers such as contracts etc as they may be needed in case of a dispute. It is wise to remain with a reputable agency, as constantly switching agencies may give you a status of being unprofessional.

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