Fashion

Shoe control: best foot forward By Arina Birstein

Issue 1 November - December 2003

It’s no secret that the shoes you wear to a nightclub can be the deciding factor in passing face control. No need to fret — our insider’s guide to “shoe control” will help you appease the surly Cerberus at the club’s gates and put your feet at ease among the well-heeled club-goers.

The cynically purposeful, 30ish socialites are definitely Shambala’s target audience. Men don’t fool around with these types unless they are wealthy and successful “society lions” looking for an ambitious soul mate. The rest of the ladies are considered mere one-night stands. So as not to risk being taken for an after-dinner snack, best to stick to the convincing Miu Miu leather boots. At least the society lions know they are pricey.

Shambala Dj Bar
3 Kuznetsky Most, Building 2 (M. Kuznetsky Most)
927-8727, Wed.-Sun. 10pm-6am

The old-school Adidas sneaker has faithfully served at least two generations of clubbers — and even now Propaganda’s door controllers will greet you with a smile.

Propaganda
7 Bolshoi Zlatoustinsky Per. (M. Kitai-Gorod)
923-3494, noon-6am, Thu.-Sat. noon-7am

If you see the reflection of an over-20, suntanned Barbie in the mirror and your wardrobe is full of pastel waist-length coats with dyed fur collars, then you are definitely in form for Ministerstvo. High boots from Giuseppe Zanotti will complete your sex-bomb image and impress the middle-aged face controller standing guard on the club’s brightly lit porch.

Ministerstvo
24 Malaya Nikitskaya Ul. (in the left wing of the Communications Ministry) (M. Barrikadnaya)
222-0158, Fri. & Sat. 11pm-6am

These extravagant, though cheerful, Prada boots will certainly appeal to Zeppelin’s trim and toned regulars and their wealthy boyfriends. Keep in mind that not only your footwear, but also your car, haircut, eye-candy escort and that certain lack of intellect in your eyes will definitely be deemed de rigueur by some of the capital’s strictest selectors.

Zeppelin
7 Prospekt Mira (M. Sukharevskaya)
Bldg. 3 (entrance from Ul. Gilyarovskogo), 207-4305/ 2392, Sun.-Wed. noon-midnight, Thu. noon-3am, Fri. & Sat. noon-6am

You want to be first at First? No hassle if you are sophisticated — and solvent enough — to choose a pair of boots by Marc Jacobs. Remember that your handbag, nails and lips should all be a matching color, so these ones might spoil your fresh complexion.

First
34 Sofiiskaya Nab. (M. Borovitskaya)
951-3598, restaurant noon-midnight, club Fri. & Sat. noon-6am

Ministerstvo
24 Malaya Nikitskaya Ul. (in the left wing of the Communications Ministry) (M. Barrikadnaya)
222-0158, Fri. & Sat. 11pm-6am

Propaganda
7 Bolshoi Zlatoustinsky Per. (M. Kitai-Gorod)
923-3494, noon-6am, Thu.-Sat. noon-7am

Shambala Dj Bar
3 Kuznetsky Most, Building 2 (M. Kuznetsky Most)
927-8727, Wed.-Sun. 10pm-6am

Zeppelin
7 Prospekt Mira (M. Sukharevskaya)
Bldg. 3 (entrance from Ul. Gilyarovskogo), 207-4305/ 2392, Sun.-Wed. noon-midnight, Thu. noon-3am, Fri. & Sat. noon-6am