THE NEW YORK TIMES
SundayStyles

THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2000

The Right Stuffers

Last year, Jimmy Choo came out with million-dollar diamond-studded shoes, and now shoe fanciers can buy equally extravagant shoe stuffers.

This month, Jeffrey will introduce Gutzees, a line of unusually high-end shoe stuffers, the small triangular wedges designed to maintain the shape of fine footwear. A far cry from crumpled tissue paper jammed into the shoe's toe with a stick, the stuffers are made in an array of luxury fabrics.

Choices include velvet ($75), shirred beaver ($500) and mink ($700). All have satin pull cords. The stuffers come in matching draw-string shoe bags, used for travel or simply to accessorize a well-appointed closet. (Gutzees can also be ordered: 1.877-488-9337.)

Jacqui Forman and Denise Fleischman, two friends from Englewood, N.J., thought up Gutzees after seeing an exhibition on Edwardian designs at the Costume Institute in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring a pair of hand-embroidered silk shoe shapers.

Next in store, boot trees inspired by a visit to botanical gardens? - ELLEN TIEN

David Corio for the New York Times