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[personal profile] devi
One of today's work experience kids is helping out in a shoe shop. He hadn't showed up yet when I arrived, so I wandered around idly examining shoes to pass the time. Every model of shoe had its own name. Some of these were what you'd expect as names for shoes, like 'Beth' and 'Napoli'. But I also found shoes called 'Creepy', 'Qualm' and 'Needy'.

('Qualm' were some little white shoes for kids with pink flowers on them.)

Why?!

Date: 2004-06-23 07:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] verlaine.livejournal.com
It's the shoe shop as a microcosm of the youth of today is what it is. You have jock shoes and you have nerd shoes and you have goth shoes, and then suddenly a couple of cheap plastic trainers go on a rampage pumping round after round of ammunitition into their better-branded compadres. I've seen it happen a dozen times.

Date: 2004-06-23 08:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bluedevi.livejournal.com
I think you've hit the nail on the head. The Needy shoes were all multicoloured and floral and over-enthusiastic; they've clearly been trying so hard to make friends that no one can stand their relentless bubbliness. I bet they'll be the first to go postal.

Creepy will probably just lose their white trim and bows, become slightly spikier, and find their true niche as goth shoes. They're like the one spooky-kid in a class full of cheerleaders and would much prefer to be in a Camden shop smelling of patchouli than the high-street shop they were in.

I don't even want to speculate about Qualm.

Date: 2004-06-23 08:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mooism.livejournal.com
Qualm marched against invading Iraq and has been thoroughly disillusioned. Voted for George Galloway at the Euros and lost all self-Respect. Losing itself in Euro2004 mania now England have won a couple of matches, will wake up cut, bruised and hungover the morning after England get knocked out, determined to emmigrate to the winner's country.

Will return after a soul destroying three weeks due to an inability to learn the local lingo.

Date: 2004-06-23 09:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bluedevi.livejournal.com
Qualm marched against invading Iraq

Oh, the mental image... down the streets of London marched the students, the crusties, the poi-spinners, the people who'd called in sick, the Archaeologists Against the War... and a pair of very small, white shoes.

Date: 2004-06-23 09:44 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mooism.livejournal.com
*smiles*

Date: 2004-06-23 08:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] absinthecity.livejournal.com
I guess the same principle didn't do Ikea any harm.

Date: 2004-06-23 08:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bluedevi.livejournal.com
Yeah, but I've never seen an Ikea product with a sinister or depressing name - just silly or whimsical ones, or weird ones (our cheese grater is called 'Idealisk').

I'm trying to think some up now, though - fancy an Ennui sofa? Or a Stalker dinner service? Or an Anhedonia table?

Date: 2004-06-23 08:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] huskyteer.livejournal.com
There is 'Jerker' the computer table. A real true Swedish name apparently; I'm thinking of wishing it on [livejournal.com profile] swedish_lars as a middle name.

Date: 2004-06-23 08:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] theflyingjackal.livejournal.com
Be warned that if I find out I'm never going to be able to look at him with a straight face again...

Date: 2004-06-23 08:11 am (UTC)
triskellian: (innocent)
From: [personal profile] triskellian
My wedding shoes are called 'Nirvana'. They're not remotely grungy, though ;-)

Date: 2004-06-23 08:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bluedevi.livejournal.com
Ooooh. Now I am imagining, and wanting, a pair of white brocade DMs...

(What are yours like?)

Date: 2004-06-23 09:05 am (UTC)
triskellian: (innocent)
From: [personal profile] triskellian
They're gold satin kitten heels with embroidery and sparkly bits, and as well as being not remotely grungy, they're not remotely like any other shoe I've ever worn. Which may be linked with the not being grungy, since I almost always wear Docs ;-)

But white brocade Docs sound yummy!

Date: 2004-06-23 08:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] class-worrier.livejournal.com
We now know what Chris Morris has been doing with his time.

Date: 2004-06-23 08:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mooism.livejournal.com
I don't expect shoes to have names.

Date: 2004-06-23 08:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] verlaine.livejournal.com
How do you tell yours apart??

Date: 2004-06-23 08:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mooism.livejournal.com
If I try to put them on the wrong feet, they don't fit.

Date: 2004-06-23 10:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] modalverben.livejournal.com
All my shoes are called 'Frank'.

Date: 2004-06-23 08:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stanleylieber.livejournal.com
Emotion words are marketing gold.

Date: 2004-06-23 09:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bluedevi.livejournal.com
Hey, maybe it's like the principle behind the Fnords! Make people nervous and edgy and fearful, and their response will be to comfort-shop!

Date: 2004-06-23 09:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stanleylieber.livejournal.com
I think you're onto something here.

Shoe names?

Date: 2004-06-23 09:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kagomeshuko.livejournal.com
Eeek! I knew shoe stores could be different in England, but I had no idea. Shoe names? We have brand names for shoes and they have styles, but I don't think I've ever seen anything as strange as you mention in this post.

We have Keds, Highlights, 9 to 5, Bass, and others. . .and then they each have styles - dress, sneakers, boots. . .but I've not heard of names for shoes like that!

Stein Auf!
Bridget

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