Confessions of a Shoe Lover
I’ve often wondered if I have a problem with shoes. Well, not exactly with shoes, but with buying too many pairs of shoes. I have loved shoes for as long as I can remember. I’m pretty sure I come by it honestly, as both my mom and my maternal grandmother had lots of beautiful shoes. Since I’m taking a deep dive into figuring out my style, in spite of my aching feet, here are the confessions of a shoe lover.
Earliest Shoe Memories
I can remember an adorable pair of red patent-leather shoes that I had when I was 4. I remember standing at the steps of the Montessori school I attended before I was old enough for traditional kindergarten, and I was waiving goodbye to someone, presumably my mom. I have this distinct memory of how the shoes felt on my feet, the smoothness of the leather sole on the painted concrete porch, and how I wanted to spin and spin in these shoes. I was heartbroken when the toes became scuffed and couldn’t be polished back to their glorious shine.
Hippie Fashion
By the late 1960’s, the hippie movement was in full bloom with flower power, peace symbols, and their own distinct fashion. I had a pair of moccasins that were black and white pony with a large silver button on the side. Those shoes were the most comfortable of any I can remember. I wore them until I wore the soles clean through. I was 8 or 9 when I had them. I’ve had a pair of moccasins ever since, always replacing them when they wear out. But I’ve never loved a pair as much as those. I haven’t actually worn them in decades, other than for costumes parties. Everyone should have a great hippie costume in their closet.
High Heels
When I was about 10, in 5th grade, I remember watching The Mary Tyler Moore Show. That woman had style! I swore that I was going to grow up to be a career woman and wear beautiful suits and shoes just like Mary Tyler Moore! And you know what? I did! I loved the pointed toe pumps, go-go boots, and later her square toe and square heeled loafers. She always wore the perfect shoes with every outfit.
That same year, my feet grew to the same size as my mom’s, and I got to wear her gorgeous white high (to me) heeled sandals with my long yellow gown to my piano recital. I learned to walk like a lady in those babies before I ever got to that stage. I did not want to look like a rookie in heels. I can’t even remember if I stumbled, what song I played, or anything else but that fabulous outfit. I felt so grown up.
Boots – the long and short of it
I own 20 pairs of boots. There are short ones, tall ones, open toed ones, animal print, leather, and suede. I have several different styles of black and brown, then there are grey, tan, and burgundy. When I was in my 20’s I found a pair of fuchsia suede knee-high pointed toe boots. I wore them until they fell apart.
A few years ago, I fell in love with a pair of flat heeled thigh-high burgundy suede boots when we visited Paris several years ago. I priced them in France and England, then decided I didn’t want to spend the Euros for them, or figure out how to transport them home in my already full luggage.
When I got home, I found the same boots at Nordstrom and used Nordy Club points that I’d saved all year and a rare triple points day to buy them (which earned me more Nordy points). I just had to have them. And they are so classic in style that I will wear them when I’m 80! The one style I don’t have are cowgirl boots. I have always wanted a pair of red fringe cowgirl boots. If I ever find them in my size, I’m buying them!
Sandals – True Confessions of a shoe lover
I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I have 52 pairs of sandals. This includes flats and heels. These are not flipflops. I have another 12 pairs of those. Having lived the majority of my life within 3 miles of the coast, and now in Arizona I wear sandals 10 months out of the year. Also, I have a hard-to-fit foot and sandals are the easiest shoes to adjust and wear comfortably.
Comfort First
As I’ve aged, my feet have become such big babies! I used to wear heels to work every day, and just the walk from the parking structure to my office on the 11th floor was a pretty big hike. If I was running a training class, or another big meeting where I would be standing all day, comfort was even more important. I started choosing my shoes for structure in addition to style. Those with the cushiest insoles won a trip to my closet, bonus points if the heel was under 3 inches, but still sassy looking.
Sometime over the past 5 years, or so, I started getting cramps in my feet at night. I’d change clothes after work and put my feet up after dinner. Some time mid-evening, my feet would involuntarily curl up and cause me the most excruciating pain! I’d have to jump up and walk around the house in my bare feet until the cramping subsided. I tried everything, more water, more potassium rich foods, supplements, you name it. I couldn’t get rid of the nightly cramping.
Recently I realized that it’s been nearly a year since my feet cramped up on me. Do you know what was the difference? I haven’t worn heels for more than dinner out, in all that time! Heels gave me foot cramps. I never would have guessed. So now I’m thinking I need to pair back my collection even further.
Dress for the Event
Honestly, the time is right. It’s been nearly a year since I retired from my corporate position, and the truth is my life has changed a lot. I won’t be wearing what I used to wear, ever, if at all. I need to be selecting cute, but comfortable shoes to accent my current lifestyle.
Flat shoes don’t even really help. They have to have enough cush in the sole, and great arch support, to provide all-day comfort. I do love a pointed toe flat, but these can cause foot pain if worn for too long in one shot. Depending on what I’m planning for the day, I might not choose a pointy toed flat.
My Aching Feet – Comfort over Cute
I’ve never been a big sneaker or athletic shoe fan. As I mentioned, I have a hard-to-fit foot, and it’s difficult to find a super comfortable closed-toed shoe that doesn’t slip, has proper arch support in the proper position of my foot, and also cushy enough to be comfortable all day. Sneakers are just too hot on my feet, and I really dislike having my feet feel blazing hot and sweaty. But the main reason is they aren’t cute enough to bring my outfit to life. Europeans used to say they could always tell the Americans by their big white trainers. I’ve never wanted to be that person! No offense to any of you who wear athletic shoes with every outfit. It’s just not me.
I will admit there are times when comfort wins out over cute. One year I was struggling to find the right shoes for sightseeing and Disneyland, and the like. Times when we’d be walking all day. A dear family friend had given me a pair of her favorite Birkenstocks for my 30’s birthday. I think the gift was a bit of an inside joke, but she wore hers constantly, and swore by their comfort. One day I put together an outfit for a day trip with my daughter, that included the Birkenstocks. Karen looked at my feet, then looked back up at me and said, “Mom, at what age does comfort win out over cute?” Hahahaha….🤣
Oh, my aching feet. I’m still pondering that one…
You Can’t Be in Fashion…
My favorite shoe manufacturer when I was in my late teens was Hippopotamus shoes. They were really stylish, relatively inexpensive, and their slogan was my personal motto: You can’t be in fashion if your shoes aren’t smashin’.
Next week I’ll be doing a full closet cleanout and sharing the winners who made the difficult cut to stay in my closet, along with my favorite shoes and clothing. I have 139 pairs of various shoes and another 14 pairs of dance shoes (ballet, jazz, tap, and ballroom). In the meantime, you might enjoy reading my post, Don’t Dress Your Age, right here.
What are your favorite shoes in your wardrobe? Which ones do you gravitate to time and again?
