For the Love of Shoes!

Did you ever think that you would be known as America's Shoe Expert?

Not so much. I have always loved shoes since I was little and always loved fashion. I just took my love for shoes and turned it into something greater. Before all of this, I worked in marketing for Deutsche Bank in NYC and a few years later I decided that I wanted to be a "Shoe lady" and be the person that everyone could come to when it came to their shoes. I started writing about my love for shoes by blogging and here I am now.

When did your manifestation for shoes develop?
I have been obsessed with shoes since I was five when I first saw a pair of baby blue wedge espadrilles with embroidery at KMART. It was at that moment that I knew I had to have those shoes. I remember begging my mother for those shoes until I had them.

You have written a fabulous book The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say About You, have you always known that you wanted to write a book about shoes?

Well...I have always enjoyed writing since I was 10. I am a published poet and fiction writer so I always knew that writing a book would come. I just decided to write a book about my obsession with shoes after my agent suggested that I write my love for shoes in a book. I told myself, why not?

Women can learn a few things or two about shoes in your book, what is the one thing that women should know before and after purchasing a shoe?

The one thing that I can suggest is to buy a shoe for fit. A woman can be three different sizes in a variety of shoes and the best way to buy a shoe is to be able to fit the shoe before anything.

Beyond acclaimed success with your book, you have also gained success with your television show Shoe Therapy and your podcasts series Shoe are You? Did you ever think that your love for shoes would become of such things as this?

I basically just created my own nitch and learned as much as possible as I could about shoes. With time, I was able to speak about the things that I know about shoes.

Who is your role model and why?

I have two sets of role models. The first are women such as Tyra Banks, Rachael Ray and Oprah because they are women whom have taken their creativity and their love for what they do to build their success and their lives. On the other end, it is my aunt Kit and my mom that pursued the things that they wanted to do. I have always been around women that lived by the saying "If you can dream it, then do it".

Cleary Knows Shoes!

Like I tell every woman, the best thing to do when wearing a stiletto or any other shoe is to take a minute before you wear your shoes and tailor them. Find the perfect fit shoe and break them in by walking around the house a couple of times before wearing them out to be comfortable.

Many women are planned to be married during these summer months, what advice can you give to the soon to be bride for her wedding day?

First off do not wear your bridal shoes for the first time on your wedding day. It will just ruin the day for the bride because you won't be able to be comfortable if your shoes are uncomfortable. The best thing to do is to walk in your shoes as soon as you purchase them to feel for fit and comfort. Also use Dr. Scholls For Her to prevent discomfort, blisters, and so forth by inserting the strips inside of the shoe.

Find out more about Meghan Cleary at her website, MissMeghan.com.