Shoe Stopper

“I believe that just like people fall under different Zodiac signs,footwear has to complement as well,” says Mehrotra,sporting knee-high boots. The collection comprises shoes that best suit a person’s sun sign. “For instance,the shoes for Cancerians are in white,keeping in mind the fact that their lucky stone is pearl. On the other hand,the shoes for Leos are flamboyant and in shades of gold,to suit their fiery personality,” says the designer. At Soh-Koh,she is also offering customised footwear. “It’s my range of Astro shoes. We look at a client’s birth chart and design shoes in the colour and fabric that is good for them,” adds Mehrotra.

Interestingly,her Astro shoes,priced Rs 8,000 upwards,come with wooden heels and platforms. “In ancient times,people wore wooden slippers or Khadau. Astrologically,certain types of wood can be great to boost the energy level,” explains Mehrotra,who has formally trained in footwear design and has a team of astrologers working with her.

While it is difficult to predict whether walking in astro shoes can alter your destiny,the shoes are funky and do draw attention instantly. Through her work,the designer is also addressing certain problem areas. “For short men I have shoes with invisible heels. It’s a big hit,” she quips.

In the designer circuit,Mehrotra has created footwear to go with the collection of JJ Vallaya,Zubair Khirmani,Koga and Ashima Leena for the Wills India Fashion Week. Speaking about her next collection,she states,“The focus is on wedding wear,but I am also designing strappy numbers that go well with Indo-Westerns.”

In Chandigarh,she is showcasing a collection that comprises embellished boots in fabrics such as denim and brocade,and strappy Gladiators. “Internationally,wedges are popular right now. Since I have customised shoes,the design options are limitless,” says the designer who frets each time she comes across women wearing strappy heels with socks. “In my list it’s the biggest faux pas,” says the Salvatore Ferragamo fan.