Emergency shoes' emergence

British entrepreneur Matt Horan calls himself a modern day Prince Charming who helps danced-out Cinderellas make it back to their carriages. In the past year, he has helped some 60,000 Cinderellas — but not, obviously, as a personal escort.

Mr. Horan has done it with his brainchild, Rollasole. For about $8, someone with dog-tired dogs can get a foldable pair of ballet flats (silver, gold or black) from one of his vending machines. The offending stilettos? No worries. The soft, comfortable flats (available in three sizes) come with a drawstring bag roomy enough to hold the painful pair.

Rollasoles have been walking out of clubs across England, and now they are being offered in New York and Los Angeles.

He is also producing Rollasoles for special occasions. According to the London Evening Standard, Welsh lingerie model Danielle Bux and her fiance, Gary Lineker, a BBC sports broadcaster, plan to give guests personalized Rollasoles at their wedding later this year.

Mr. Horan, 27, previously worked as an events coordinator on a cruise ship. The idea for Rollasoles came to him because a stiletto-loving girlfriend complained about her feet every time they went out. Now she can walk into a club looking stylish in her stilettos and walk out without limping.

We can only wonder: Would Cinderella have kept on those glass slippers if Prince Charming had offered her a pair of Rollasoles?