“There are nine million bicycles in Beijing,” claimed middle-of-the-road songstress Katie Melua in 2006. If she fancies converting another eyebrow-raising numerical fact into a hit song in 2012, she might consider “There are 144,000 shoes in Selfridges”.
And before you query that statistic, believe us – it’s correct. How can we be sure? Well, Thursday 1 November sees Selfridges launch its latest groundbreaking retail development in the form of the largest men’s shoe department on the planet.
Housed inside the store’s flagship Oxford Street branch, the new department will stock 72,000 pairs of shoes (hence 144,000 singles) and measures 10,000 sq ft (no pun intended).
Among the scores of casual, luxury and high-street brands, there will also be more than 120 exclusive styles on offer. These include bespoke Prada brogues and creations you won’t find anywhere else such as Kurt Geiger’s London Paul boot (pictured). What’s more, the design of the entire department is even themed accordingly – for example, the section containing driving shoes is housed in a space inspired by the bodywork of vintage Ferraris, containing leather seats and authentic chrome detailing.
A rewarding experience for your eyes and feet alike.
