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OAK RIDGE -- Princess Poochie knows a thing or two about shoes.

She ought to. She has about 200 pairs.

Manolos. Dolce & Gabbana. Christian Louboutin. Nine West.

Mary Janes. Espadrilles. Custom-made vintage heels from the 1950s and '60s.

She dreams about shoes and constantly trolls the Internet for them.

About a year ago, she started blogging about them, too.

Her blog, shoedaydreams.com, is devoted mostly -- but not entirely -- to shoes. Shoes she owns, or would like to own. Her recent purchases or online discoveries.

Her blog could even be considered a service to shoe shoppers. Perhaps you covet a pair of white tailored Gucci pumps but can't afford them. Poochie's blog alerts you to a similar style, available in four colors at Target -- for about $35.

Poochie, who asked that her pseudonym be used to maintain her anonymity for the blog, shares her daily ensembles, recent purchases and links to other fashion or shoe-related blogs.

She marked her 500th post and first year anniversary in July. To celebrate, she offered her regular blog visitors a prize for their best shoe or fashion story. The prize: a gift certificate to an online shoe store or two Manolo Blahnik books.

Shoes have always been her passion, but once she started the blog, her interest and knowledge expanded.

She frequently searches the Internet for shoe-related tidbits to update her blog, which gets a couple of hundred hits daily. She shares information on trends and sales and offers her opinion about the design of a particular shoe.

She says the blog has connected her to a community of shoe enthusiasts throughout the world. A Web site for a television station in Israel even had a link to her shoe blog. Other shoe bloggers have turned her on to new designers and other Web sites.

"You see people with all different types of styles and influences. ... You get exposed to things you might not get to see," she says. "It kind of broadens your horizons a little."

Shoe appeal

Poochie regularly posts her "Ensemble du Jour" -- her outfit of the day.

An argyle sweater and skirt from Target with brown linen Manolo Blahniks.

Gap denim skirt with a striped Rugby shirt and Chuck Taylors.

She posts pictures of the pieces, along with musings about her mood that day or the inspiration behind putting together the ensemble.

Some fashionistas focus on their clothing, but Poochie devotes most of her wardrobe dollars -- anywhere from $500 to $800 monthly -- to shoes.

Her love of shoes goes back to when she bought her first pair of red suede flats when she was about 12. She was so excited, she wanted to walk home in them, but her father persuaded her otherwise.

Shoes are special because a well-made pair of shoes will withstand changing trends, she says. She favors classic styles with unique details, such as Christian Louboutin's signature red sole.

"I'm the type of person who prefers simpler clothing, saving the funkier styles for accessories," she says.

She also loves the craftsmanship that goes into shoemaking.

Shoes differ from clothing in that, if cared for, they can last a lot longer.

Her footwear remains wrapped in tissue and stored in the original boxes. Some even have shoe sticks wedged between the heel and toe areas to maintain their shape.

She also wears moccasins when she drives because using the clutch wears out the heels and car mats and pedals can stain shoes.

When she travels, Poochie packs her shoes in her carry-on. That way she doesn't lose them if her luggage is lost.

What's in Poochie's closet?

Poochie lives in a 110-year-old house.

That means her closets are about the size of an office cubicle. Her dream is to convert an entire bedroom into a closet and dressing room. For now, she has laid claim to three of the four upstairs closets.

One closet holds formal, off-season and unique clothes, joined by boots, casual and formal footwear.

Most of her shoes are organized by color, so she has a closet for white, pink, cream and floral-patterned shoes.

The main closet in her master bedroom contains most of her everyday shoes. The boxes line the walls and rise about 5 feet high. Vintage shoes won on eBay are kept behind the door, stored in labeled photo boxes.

New shoe purchases are separated, held in what Poochie calls "staging mode." Once they are worn, they join "the rest of the herd" in the appropriate closet.

There is no full-length mirror in Poochie's bedroom. Instead, a small, white vanity mirror stands on the floor next to her main closet. It's just big enough to show the ankle and part of the calf.

"I can amuse myself for hours just trying on shoes," she says. "Is that a sickness? It might be."

The collection

Fifteen Manolos.

Her favorite: the pale camouflage satin heels with the crystal buckles across the toes.

Eleven Jimmy Choos.

Her mother-in-law bought her a pair of Jimmy Choos about two years ago. This is a frugal woman who owns mostly sensible shoes. But for her daughter-in-law, she threw down about $250 for a pair of glittery, champagne Jimmy Choo sandals.

Seven Christian Louboutins.

She has a nude pump with sparkling Swarovski crystals. Cameron Diaz wore a similar pair during a guest appearance on a talk show.

"I hunted these down like a dog," Poochie says.

She finally found them at a boutique in Beverly Hills. The price tag? Her husband thinks they were about $800.

Hetty Rose.

She's a designer from the United Kingdom, whose shoes are made with vintage kimono fabric. Clients trace their feet and select the fabrics they want for truly one-of-a-kind, custom-made shoes. They start at about $400. Poochie owns two pairs.

Joseph LaRose.

He designed shoes for movie stars of the 1950s and '60s. They were sold only in his store in Florida. When he died, he left behind a warehouse containing about 300,000 pairs of his shoes. Poochie has four pairs.

Other vintage heels from her collection include some from an eBay estate auction. None of the three pairs she won had ever been worn.

That's another thing about Princess Poochie. She doesn't collect shoes just to display them. She actually wears them.

"People tend to save things for a special occasion, but how many of those are you going to have? You're the special occasion."

Some people collect things just to have a lot of something, her husband, Steven, says. Not Poochie. She often returns purchases, especially if they aren't comfortable.

"There are plenty of other shoes out there that I'd love to have and that will fit better," she says. "I don't want to have them lingering unworn in my closet, no matter how pretty they are."

It's an attitude, baby

Some women wear heels because they make them taller.

Or to feel sexy.

They can also reflect facets of a woman's personality that otherwise wouldn't be outwardly apparent.

Poochie wears heels because the artistry of a beautiful pair of shoes makes her feel more beautiful.

"I like how I stand in them and how I walk in them. I like when they garner attention," she says. "Sometimes they can make me feel sexier, but just having a cute, pretty, noticeable pair of shoes on gives me confidence."

People also feel safe complimenting women on their shoes. Her shoes often spark conversations, she says.

"A cool shoe creates an opening for conversation," she says. "It's happened time and time again ... or maybe it just makes me feel happier, which I reflect outward, which makes me more approachable."

Contact Tina Firesheets at 373-3498 or tina.firesheets@news-record.com