Kate Middleton's alleged high heels hack is absolute genius

 

It's no secret that Kate Middleton is a seemingly superhuman being. The Duchess of Cambridge juggles demanding royal duties, motherhood, and her third pregnancy with so much grace, we're doubtful that she's ever publicly displayed so much as a grimace on her face. After years of experience, we're certain that she has some tricks up her sleeve. And now, we *think* we've figured out how she manages to glide around in high heels without ever breaking a sweat.

No, Kate Middleton does not have superhuman feet immune to pain, nor does she simply stand and suffer in silence. According to Vanity Fair, the answer is leather sole inserts.

Vanity Fair‘s insiders claimed back in 2015 that Kate's leather shoe sole du choix is Alice Bow, crafted by British footwear designer Rachel Bowditch. The incredibly comfy shoe inserts reportedly turn all-day high heel wearing into an easy feat. If anyone should know how important that is, it's a Duchess whose job requires ample hiking in heels as part of her royal duties.

Kate has ordered a couple of packets, she thinks they are great,' the insider told VF of the soles, which are handmade in Britain from the finest Italian leather.

There has been talk of the Duchess wearing the insoles, but we cannot comment either way,” a spokesperson for Alice Bow said back in 2015. “We have seen a massive surge in site visits however.”

Considering Kate Middleton's affinity for L.K. Bennett pumps and Stuart Weitzman stilettos, we'd wager she still keeps those leather soles close by, too.

Sadly for us, the Duchess of Cambridge remains out of the public eye and resting at home in Kensington Palace as she battles Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a rare early-pregnancy condition that causes severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Meaning we won't be seeing much of the Duchess or her gorgeous royal shoe collection for a while. In the meantime, we're sending her all our well wishes, and hoping she takes this time to give her toes a rest, too.

Top 5 Stunning French Wedding Dress Designers

On my first visit to Paris, I found the women fascinating.  Cliche?  Probably.  But it's true – French women generally have an understated, effortless style about them that is just so right.  And trying to emulate it is difficult, so I instead embraced the tourist look; walking shoes, sun hat and camera slung about my neck.  Classy, me.

The same cool, clean elegance in a French woman's every day wardrobe can be found in their top wedding dress designers.  Often boho, always modern, usually understated.  Structure seems to be thrown out of the window, leaving me wondering if their dresses would look any good on anybody larger than slim.  After all, that's what structure and corsets are for – pulling all your bits and pieces into the right places.   I've been sifting through French designers and picking out my top 10 favourites.  So in no particular order, here they are:

1. Cymbeline

A list of French designers wouldn't be complete without France's most successful design house, Cymbeline.  You can buy Cymbeline all over the world, and its success is likely down to doing classic yet beautifully designed gowns that incorporate both modern styles with more traditional.

2. Stephanie Wolff

Ah, Stephanie Wolff.  Soft, pretty, feminine gowns that manage to be understated yet glorious in one fell swoop.

3. Missy Dress

If you're looking for a killer combination of sexy yet cool, Missy Dress may well be the designer you're after.  Lots of laser cut lace, separates, and loose flowing garments that ooze rock chick charm.

4. Delphine Manivet

Delphine Manivet encapsulates everything about great French wedding gown designers.  Endlessly tasteful, beautifully made, with an element of rock chick that screams coolness (in a good way).

5. Fabienne Alagama

Ah, love at first sight.  Fabienne Alagama mixes clean, immaculate design with a touch of French edge, and 'gasp', some structure! Wonders will never cease.  Her gowns remind me just a little of Jesus Peiro.
   

True Gault Launches Custom High Heel Creation App

The high tech shoe cobbler is in. Shoes are arguably one of the most difficult items to buy online. Finding the right style and fit can have people exchanging shoes back and forth for a while, which can be an annoyance.

New York-based startup company True Gault is pushing the boundaries for high heel shoe shopping with its latest launch. Founded by former Kodak and IBM employee Sandra Gault, the goal of the Google Accelerator program company is to help solve the online shoe shopping conundrum.

Through its iOS app for iPhone, True Gault's customers will be able to scan their feet and have a high heel built specifically for their foot shapes. Its patented 3-D measuring technology helps to capture all of the biomechanics of a foot — along with a few actual measurements — for these tailor-made shoe designs delivered from Spain.

In conjunction with its overall mission, True Gault shared, "Women can buy shoes online, but size doesn't guarantee fit — so we broke the mold of the shoe industry to redefine the relationship between women and their heels."

For $250 to $350 per pair, True Gault guarantees its high heels will fit and, if they do not, the company will strive to work the shoes into perfection. With more than 20 styles and 40 leather options, as well as multiple colors and heel heights, the customization for True Gault's high heels seems endless.

True Gault's new company advisor, creative director of monthly style magazine Marie Claire Nina Garcia, commented on how technology like True Gault is helping move the ball for the fashion industry.

"Today, everyone's lifestyle is infused with tech from the way you order groceries to how we get around town," said Garcia. "How we express ourselves through fashion should be no different. Shoe lovers no longer need to choose comfort or style, and they don't even need to choose from options on the market — aesthetic customization is very exciting."