After thinking about it for years I had to admit these postings made me question when it all started? I always thought it was puberty but really It started in 3rd grade in the library of my school. My best childhood friend joked about girls stinky shoes. None of us were shoe fetishists then, and I don't know if my friend ever became one or not. However from that point I got curious and started smelling shoes. I not only liked it I loved it. My shoes at first and later the stilettoes and random women's shoes in the house. Nothing happened except I enjoyed the smell but I did start tying the shoes over my face and fell asleep with them on my face on and off for several years until puberty. I guess the future progression was just natural.