The Shoeux Lady
As we dredge through the fall semester, I’ve focused on the one portion of our academic year that we all seemingly agree is the best part: Mardi Gras. And what better way to look forward than taking a look at the process of making one of the most coveted throws of carnival season– none other than the Muses high heel. Most notably identified by their classic glittery exterior and often intricate details, I enjoyed chatting with Alysia Loshbaugh, a seasoned Muses Krewe member, Chief Business Officer at the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane, and more specifically, a Muse's shoemaker of over 10 years.
Muses tHERsday last year at Mardi Gras!
I first asked Alysia to walk me through what the normal process of shoe-making looks like for her. “It honestly depends on the style of the shoe”, and she goes on to describe the specifics of the base layer, dry time, and the specific glitter used for her shoes in particular. Sourcing the shoes is typically through thrifting, gifting, or if she has a specific idea in mind, she goes out and purchases the shoes herself. She spoke particularly of an older member of the self-proclaimed “glitter community”, who calls her if she has a shoe that may fit within the parameters of what she usually designs.
When it comes down to making the shoe, she generally has themes/ motifs that she bases her shoes on, her most notable or favored themes being Star Wars, describing her general shoe vibe as fantastical, drawing inspiration from her self-purported “geeky” interests. Each shoe generally takes anywhere between 3-4 sessions, and Alysia reported that in an average year, she produces about 30 shoes, but also states that the number can shift anywhere between 20 to 50.
”This is a passion for me, certainly, and I think to enjoy it to the extent that I do, it has to be a passion”, recalling me with the introduction of a dehydrator in her basement, all with the singular purpose of making the base coat of the shoes dry quicker so that she can continue to work on it. “At the end of the day, being a part of the krewe and more specifically, making the shoes, allows me to engage my own creative and artistic abilities that my day job doesn’t necessarily ask of me”.
Towards the end of our chat, I asked her about her strategy for choosing who to throw her shoes to. She describes her process in beautiful detail, and like the attention and care she puts into making her shoes, you better believe she is presenting the same care when finding people to give them to. She generally gives more particular interest in finding people who may appear to truly appreciate the shoe, whether it's wearing a color that matches the glitter on the shoe, or wearing something that particularly resonates with the motif she’s gone with that year, she truly has a process from beginning to end that reflects an attention to detail and regard for what she creates, and its something to be appreciated as we creep closer to carnival season.
If you’d like to see more of her creations, her Instagram handle is @theshoeuxlady ;)
