It's Cliche, but True ... I am a Girl who loves her shoes!

[seraphcelene]

diachrony asked me to talk about my love for my skivvies and my shoes.

Yeah, so I've got a deep down yen for girly panties and stiletto heels. Two great tastes that definitely taste great together. Not that that is what my love is about. No, no, not at all. They're seperate passions and only occasionally come together for rollicking good times.

Why do I love these things, you ask? Well, let me tell you about it.

There is an exchange from the movie In Her Shoes, which I assume is also in the book but which I haven't read, between the main protagonists who happen to be sisters. Cameron Diaz, tall, svelte, gorgeous plays Maggie and her sister, the shorter, curvier, plainer Rose is played by Toni Collette. Rose comes home and catches Maggie plundering her shoe collection:

Maggie Feller: Shoes like these should not be locked in a closet! They should be living a life of scandal, and passion and getting screwed in an alleyway by a billionaire while his frigid wife waits in the limo thinking that he just went back into the bar to get his cellphone. These are cute too.

Rose Feller: Please tell me you just made that up.

Maggie Feller: Look, if you're not going to wear them... don't buy them! Leave them for someone who's going to get something out of them.

Rose Feller: I get something out of them! When I feel bad I like to treat myself. Clothes never look any good... food just makes me fatter... shoes always fit.

And that it, right there! Shoes always fit. When I go shopping and I can't find anything that I like, when I'm convinced that I'm fat and ugly and evil and who could possibly want me, when I'm despondent and depressed or just in a particularly foul mood, shoes ALWAYS perk me right on up. They ALWAYS fit. Sure, there is sometimes a little haggling to be done -- depending on the manufacturer and the style I can go from a 7 to a 7 1/2 -- but shoes work for me.



I have great legs, my mother's legs. They're curvy and heavy thighed, thick calved and carry muscle very, very well. That may sound odd, but who the hell wants chicken legs. My thighs have touched for as long as I can remember. When I'm sweating in my weight training class and sit down on the plastic step, I leave a heart-shaped print of my ass behind. What all of that curviness translates to is gorgeous legs in a pair of heels. They may not be especially long, but when you stretch out the fat and the muscle, wham bam!!!!! Look out!! Legs, and with a very nice ass on top of it all.

Having my father's narrow feet also helps because they're kinda small and dainty looking. Everything but a super clunky shoe looks great on my feet (of course a super clunky shoe really doesn't look good on ANYONE'S feet).

So, shoes make me feel good.

Shoes have Personality. They can convey mood and intent. And shoes can TOTALLY make the outfit.

I've got a sassy pair of strappy Nine West sandels that are just about my favorite shoe right now. They're uncomfortable as all hell, definitely not a shoe for dancing, but in a mini-skirt my legs look HOT. Plus, there's nothing like the sight of my neatly polished toenails in Revlon's Cherry in the Snow or Pink Frieze peeking out at the world in those shoes.

Those shoes are my come hither shoes, not unlike a lot of what's in my closet. They're CFM shoes, Come Fuck Me Shoes. Like the saucy pair of Chinese Laundry Stiletto Sandals or the Steve Madden open-toe slides. Anything with a tall, thin heel could be identified as a CFM shoe. They're for looks. They're date shoes. You go from the car to the dinner table and back again. And they make your legs look like a million bucks.

Of course work shoes get to be cute, too. Like my Unlisted Peep-Toe Pumps with the gorgeous red soles. And the brown peep-toes with the bronze buckle on the toe. I've got ankle boots and kick ass knee high Sketcher's boots with a thick 3 1/2 inch heel. There's even a totally sweet, yet bomb ass pair of dark red Mary Janes with a kitten heel.

But then we could also talk about my love for the wedge/espadrille cause I am a girl who adores being comfortable. My feet more than anything else, only problem is that a shoe fetish like mine doesn't really go for comfort. Until, of course, I fell for the platform espadrille. A shoe that's tall and arched and built to keep a girl standing and comfortable all day. These too can make your legs look damn good. The key is just the right amount of dip from the heel to the ball of the foot.

My latest acquisition in the way of wedges is a version of the Nine West Jennabel (only the wedge on my pair is ALL wood which I think may have been a production flaw because I can't find it ANYWHERE and I bought them at Ross, to boot).

It's not all high shoes and sex-ay games in my closet. I have the most adorable pair of uber flat light pink leather thongs. Then there are my adorable brown ballet flats with the bows on the toe that I just LOVE (In fact I wore them today). I've got flat, furry, slouchy boots and my man-stomping construction boots. And fat platform Air Walk thongs because NO SoCal girl's wardrobe is complete without a pair of platform thongs.

The only thing that I DON'T do too much of in the way of shoes is color. And that is a sad thing. The reason that I don't go buckwild with color is that I always pick up fabulous, boldly colored shoes and think, I don't have anthing that matches this. I've turned down many a blue shoe on account of that. Of course, my recent infatuation with TLC's What Not to Wear has taught me much about color, cut and assembling outfits, so I no longer fear the brightly colored shoe. YAY! Hooray!!

Now, I had to learn to curb my love for the shoe, much like I've done with underwear, make-up and books. So, I've learned NOT to check the shoe section at ANY major department store. I especially am not allowed to go look at the shoes at Ross unless I'm budgeted to do so. Cause, dude, no matter what my body looks like, no matter what size or shape that I'm in, shoes always fit and they always look good and I ALWAYS want to buy them.

Now, if I ever fall into a lot o' cash, I could do some serious damage in the shoe department. I'd buy things like these Miu Miu Tea Cup pumps or these or these or these or these or these orthese.

I have to shop cheap, so Ross and TJ Maxx are my hot spots with occasional trips to Payless because some of my favorite and longest lasting shoes continue to be purchased there. Now, until I can blithly purchase $40 shoes and splurge out of my mind on $400 dollar shoes, I will pick up the $15 super discounted designer shoes and that's fine by me. In the meantime and because it's a special occasion, I will be getting this shoe to go with the bridesmaid dress for Sin's wedding.

Comments

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

I have a shoe fetish as well. Have been told I have too many shoes. But I love them. I have a tendency to spend too much at Nordstrom's Rack, which designer shoes usually under $80.

Ah, shoes...

[seraphcelene]

Yeah, Nordstrom's Rack can be a dangerous place. I bought the most adorable pair of Red Italian leather wedge flip-flips there. Everyone LOVED them. Very stylish and very cute! Plus, $20 ... OMG!

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

Oh my! You've linked to some seriously hot shoes.

I have a problem balancing in heels - my balance problem got scary enough that I totally quit even trying to wear them years ago. But now in dance class we're doing a lot of moves on our toes and I'm forced to get serious about strengthening my ankles & arches, so my heel phobia might change. Although I cringe at the memory of the pain I used to endure.

And speaking of pain, that makes me wonder ... what do you wear when you plan to be dancing?

[seraphcelene]

A huge thing with heels is also posture. You have to have good posture which means balance. Core work also really helps with balance. It's funny really because the problem with heels, of course, is that your balance is TOTALLY off, everything is re-distributed into the wrong areas, so you're constantly over compensating.

It's kinda worth it though.

When it comes to nights out dancing, the key is to find shoes that you can dance in. The wedges that I bought recently are uber comfortable. I can wear them all night and dance up a storm. Same for my heeled Sketcher boots. The strappy Nine West and my Chinese Laundry are definitely a big fat NO if I know that we're going to be busting a move. A lot of time I'll wear cute flates or espadrilles because the majority of the times we go out near the beach and that's a lot more casual then Hollywood or L.A. clubs. SO, you get away with alot more.

[diachrony.livejournal.com]

Funny thing is I do have good posture - last week in dance class I demonstrated for the other (newbie) students because teacher was pointing out my posture & so forth as what they were supposed to aim for. I have surprisingly good balance for doing turns & spins as well, but ... I have trouble keeping to a straight line when walking on my toes. So far, anyway.

I have also noticed I didn't have any trouble walking around my bedroom or my house in heels, and I used to be fine at the office - it's when I go out in public and there are other people moving about next to me, like at parties - their movement seemed to throw me right off. There was some sort of strange vertigo going on. (Possibly something to do with being deaf? I don't know.)

Ever tried stripper shoes? In spite of the heel height, the platform sole makes them surprisingly comfortable. The thickness of the sole makes a big difference in the comfort.

I hope you're planning to link us to some cute, SeraC approved skivvies eventually, as well. ;-)

[seraphcelene]

ha! I am behind on many things. I'll see about getting the under-roo's post together.

I hope that you get the balance thing under control and are able to go fab in heels IN public. Let the people see you strut your stuff.

As for stripper shoes, it makes sense about the heel/platform ratio making them more comfortable. Unfortunately, I think that they are insanely ugly shoes. It's just TOO MUCH shoe for the foot. As much as a good looking shoe is meant to be shown off, it's got to complement the foot and stripper shoes are just too big and clunky to be all that complementary. Alas! I will not be sporting them. Unless it's for a Vicars and Tarts party or something. :)

[my_daroga]

I love reading posts from points of view I just don't understand. I've never been a shoe person, and my general rule is "if I can't run away in them, I'm not wearing them." Not that I've ever run away from anyone. I also don't like making noise when I walk. Ideally, I buy one pair of shoes--something sneakery that doesn't look quite athletic--and wear them ALL THE TIME.

I am your opposite, I think.

But I'm commenting because it's good to read about why shoes make you (and people not me) happy and I could definitely do with making my legs look better--but since I'm always wearing jeans anyway (I buy skirts and dresses but never wear them because then I can't be all indecent and sit cross-legged).

Now that I look at this, it looks like I'm trying to be invisible, or something. Walk silently, not attract attention, run away? Jeez!

[seraphcelene]

That *is* very interesting. We are definitely opposite, it would seem. I love the click clack of my heels against the pavement and the smack of flip-flops agianst my heels. I've been known to walk just so I can hear that loud crack as I walk.

Heels in jeans are super fab, I am a big fan of the look because I, too, don't wear a whole heck of a lot of dresses. I love them to death, but finding something that fits my body type easily and well is hard. Usually things will fit my hips but not my waist or my boobs but not my hips. Jeans are, mostly, easy. Besides, there's definitely something to be said for the shock of a gorgeous heel peeking out from under the hem of dark-washed straight leg jeans.

And who says you can't cross your legs in skirts!! I love it. A little bit o' leg (or thigh for that matter) never hurt nobody.

So, what article of clothing do you love?

[my_daroga]

Oh, I can't wear flip flops, for that reason! Too much noise. I'm not sure why I feel like I have to be silent/fast when I'm out and about--I honestly think it has more to do with reading lots of woodsy survival and fantasy stories as a kid than with some sort of urban anxiety. And detective stories with stealthy rubber soles.

I think I don't wear skirts a lot because the ones I like aren't long, and I tend to curl up or perch or be otherwise forgetful of my limbs when I sit or move about and I always look at my clothes and think, "Do I want to have to think about that, getting out of the car, etc?" When I do dress up, it looks nice, but I tend to pair skirts with less-dressy shoes, as if to mitigate the dressiness.

My favorite fun outfit it probably this, with jeans:



But you know, I'm pretty fond of funky, tightish t-shirts. And pigtails. And I like tight pants with a little flare, because I'm a little bottom-heavy and I feel like the flared leg evens me out a bit.