With the sudden death of his father, Charlie Price takes up the reins of the family's traditional Northampton shoe business, quickly discovering that bankruptcy looms. As a sceptical workforce debates their novice manager, Charlie looks to London for solutions, and discovers sassy cabaret star, Lola, whose Soho world of outrageous fashion and stylish, erotic boots for men, opens his eyes to an intriguing niche market, a long way from men's classic brogues.

With trepidation, Charlie enlists Lola's help to diversify and make erotic women's boots for a male market. But Lola's arrival at the provincial factory is greeted with ridicule and animosity. The hapless but lovable Charlie ploughs ahead with Lola who, hiding her own insecurities, takes charge of design and employs some of her show-stopping bravado to help win over the fractured workforce and bring the boots to life.

With only weeks to go until the crucial Milan Shoe Fair, the factory is in full swing with leopard skins and PVC, but it is now Charlie's drive for perfection and success which threatens the production line and Milan. Finally the pressure gets to Charlie and he turns on Lola, losing his biggest asset and ally on the eve of the Milan Shoe Fair.