DON NEWBURY
Proverbial truisms typically go unchallenged, but an expression dating back to the sixteenth century has gone by the boards when its application is directed toward men’s footwear.
Historically, what men have worn on their feet has been basic, often dictated by comfort, durability and practicality. Long before Baskin-Robbins came along with 31 flavors that threatened the popularity of vanilla ice cream, women chose to go “hog wild” in the world of shoes, many of which are both uncomfortable and hazardous. Members of the fairer sex scoffed at the thought of being limited to only 31 choices.
But wait--dangers of going headlong in too many directions loom, because my intent is to suggest that men, too, are going to extremes in shoes. They are enhancing the probability that even though silk purses can’t be made of sows’ ears, shoes probably can be….