KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 ― Coveting a new pair of shoes has never been more on trend, with 81 per cent of Malaysian women spending an average of two weeks a year looking for their sole mates. The survey of 1,000 women across Malaysia & Singapore was commissioned by Chic Outlet Shopping, the Collection of nine shopping Villages across Europe in celebration of their Spring shoe campaign “The Secret of Shoes”, dedicated to the craftsmanship and memories that the designer heel holds for many of us.

An appetite for shoes

Showing their appetite for a designer purchase, 77 per cent of respondents admitted to topping up a secret designer shoe fund every month, saving up to RM1200. Over a lifetime, the survey indicates women in Malaysia spend up to RM130,000, with RM85,000 reserved for designer shoes.

A nation of dedicated shoe shoppers, one in four respondees buy several pairs of the same shoe or one in every colour once they’ve found their perfect pair. In stark contrast, 87 per cent admit to owning shoes they’ve worn less than five times, with one in five owning shoes they’ve never worn at all.

“From timeless silhouettes to innovative new designs, shoes have always been a symbol of style and elegance, resonating with fashion-forward women across the world and are a great indicator of how people are feeling both emotionally and financially,” commented international style expert Tamu McPherson, who is hosting shoe styling sessions this spring at Fidenza Village near Milan, one of the Villages in Europe.

Have heels, will travel

With so much time invested searching for the perfect shoe, it’s no surprise that 60 per cent of women admit to going to great lengths to travel with their new purchases. While one in four have bought an extra suitcase to bring their new shoes home and even confess to wearing a pair of designer shoes on the plane to save on luggage allowance.

Shoes, the unlikely social barometer

Showing just how closely linked our feelings are to our annual spend, the survey reveals over a third of women in Malaysia buy shoes to celebrate a success, while 40 per cent rush out to buy a pair of shoes when their pay cheque arrives.

First impressions count

A good shoe speaks volumes about who you are and the image you want to portray according to the Chic Outlet Shopping survey. While nearly one in three women in Malaysia wear up to a two inch heel, nearly half go higher for a job interview, while 36per cent increase their height to supermodel proportions for a date. Is it worth it? Yes. A quarter of respondents admit to forming their first impression of someone based on their shoes.