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Clients also ask for personal advice, because a good shoe salesman is a bartender and shoes are the rich woman's whiskey. "You become their psychologist. You get to know who is getting a divorce and who is having an affair," he says. Since many of them go to the same charity functions, he has to steer them away from the same shoes, especially when relationships become entangled. And like a bartender, he's glad to push his wares on those in need. "When they say, 'I just bought these to pick myself up,' that feels good. That's how it should be," he says.
By my second day of hanging with Evidente at the sale--of staring at cross-laced calves, of seeing tight snakeskin squeeze against an ankle, of telling women that even though the heel may be a little high to walk in all night, yes, I think it's worth it--I no longer see shoes. I see sex. This happens to me with most things I can't eat, but still, I'm impressed that Ben has done this to me. I'm even more impressed that I have somehow handed him my American Express card and have bought my wife a pair of shoes that he insists really are on sale for $380. And are very important. And, as I discover when I get home, he is right.