What year did Coco Channel design her first shoe? According to THIS article from Vogue.com, the designer broke with convention once more and the two-tone, toe-dipped sling-back slipper was formed in 1957. “The black, slightly square toe shortened the foot,” explains Monsieur Massaro, the house shoemaker at the time. “The beige melted into the whole and lengthened the leg. It was a very pure design, accentuated by the fineness of the straps. We rejected the idea of a buckle, which looked a little bit old-fashioned, preferring instead to add a little elastic on the low-cut inner side. This elastic adapted to the shape of the foot, adjusting its every tension and following its movement.”

What age does the cartilage in your feet completely harden? The cartilage in a child’s foot does not completely harden until age 18 or later, which is why it is very important that children’s shoes fit well. –Source: www.hopscotch-shoes.co.uk

Brooks Running is a subsidiary of what company? According to the Brooks website, they are “a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Brooks was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Bothell, Wash., near Seattle. Brooks is a market-driven company with a specialty dealer channel strategy focused entirely on meeting runners’ specific needs.”

What is the average lifespan of a typical shoe? I did a bit of research on this and from what I can tell the average shoe can last from 2 to 5 years. Of course it depends on the person wearing them. For me personally I have certain shoes that I have had for years, while my favorites only make it through one season.

Who is credited with the development of the first “tap” shoes? His name was Bill Robinson or “Bojangles” and he began dancing in the late 1800’s. The original tap shoes were leather soled until about 1911 when they began adding thin metal plates to the bottom. Read the full article HERE.