A few days ago, I posted a picture of a shoe on my Facebook. In fact, it was this one, from the Givenchy resort collection that just landed at Barney’s New York:
While I find Carrie Bradshaw an embarrassing example of idealized womanhood, I will admit to having a small shoe obsession. It's not about a particular style - I have high heeled boots and flat hiking boots, pumps and slippers, 2" ankle boots and killer Cuban heels...
But they're all beautifully made, and with resoling or new heels will last me a decade or more. I might buy a cheap sweater or an inexpensive skirt, but my shoes (and sneakers) are built to last. I'll pay $$$ for comfort and style in tandem.
And I can both stride and do a 20 yard dash in all of them without a wobble. As I said to my mother when she exclaimed about the 5" heels - "do you really think I'd buy shoes I wasn't comfortable in?" Her: " ..No."
Why do I wear 2-5" heels? It's sometimes about sexuality, it's sometimes about evening out social power struggles (I'm also 5'4" and those extra few inches can make the difference dealing with both men and women on an equal eye-level), and it's sometimes just, well, heels are FUN to wear.
The trick, for me, is having variety. And that includes both sneakers, and going barefoot whenever possible.
There are certainly many reasons to love shoes; I just got a Rochas pair, and they are just so beautiful and well made. I just object to the notion that wearing them makes me into a scion of patriarchy.
The assumption that we dress up (heels/dresses/hats/nails/hair/makeup) for men is way too much widespread. Perhaps they should try dressing more often (heels/dresses/hats/nails/hair/makeup) to feel the difference.
But they're all beautifully made, and with resoling or new heels will last me a decade or more. I might buy a cheap sweater or an inexpensive skirt, but my shoes (and sneakers) are built to last. I'll pay $$$ for comfort and style in tandem.
And I can both stride and do a 20 yard dash in all of them without a wobble. As I said to my mother when she exclaimed about the 5" heels - "do you really think I'd buy shoes I wasn't comfortable in?" Her: " ..No."
Why do I wear 2-5" heels? It's sometimes about sexuality, it's sometimes about evening out social power struggles (I'm also 5'4" and those extra few inches can make the difference dealing with both men and women on an equal eye-level), and it's sometimes just, well, heels are FUN to wear.
The trick, for me, is having variety. And that includes both sneakers, and going barefoot whenever possible.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Yep. I wear the shoes I like to wear because they make me feel good. End of story.
(and a guy who says "those shoes make you too tall" because he can't tower over me can... bite my heels.)
Reply
Leave a comment