Shoes, shoes, SHOES!

Hi.

So I realized that since my life is still in a bit of a state of upheaval, I won't be quite as dedicated to writing as I'd like. That sort of stability allows me to think of other things aside from the constant "what am I doing with my life" dilemma that goes rampaging through my head all the time. I have a plan for plans, but we'll see how it goes. The fact that I have a goal I'm working towards definitely helps, but of course nothing likes to go smoothly for me (I'm often just plain surprised when most things happen). So to avoid the process of updating my resume after a meeting I had today, I shall willfully distract myself writing about a constant joy, vice, and passion in my life: Shoes. ^_^

Shoes are beautiful little luxuries to me. And that includes any type of shoe (not just pretty little shoes). Depending on the shoe, my interests vary. They could be flamboyant; they could be classy; they could be ridiculous. The bottom line for me is that they make a statement that in someway says ME. And trust me, there are a lot of ways to say me - or at least I like to think so.

I haven't always been quite as much of a shoe lover in the past. In fact, I do think I could have cared less what I had on my feet, as long as they didn't stand out too much. I do remember this pair of red, Nike shoes... *shudder*... They were these slip on sports shoes, and man were they garish. I would just never wear them. Maybe also because my mother bought me them, and at the time, I don't believe I liked her fashion choices. So I chose to rebel against anything she bought buy wearing baggy clothing for boys... It wasn't a pretty time... But around the time of late middle school (my shoe size was the same as my mother's at this point), I became intrigued with the sets of heels that were in my mother's closet. Why, you might ask? Because they were forbidden to me. Sure, I didn't want to break my ankle trying to wear them, but seriously, they were just so fascinating!

So eventually after pushing and pushing and pushing, I manage to purchase my first pair of heels (at this point, my shoe size was larger than my mother's, so no shoe sharing could occur). They were quite the clunky things, bought from the sale rack in Walmart, that were slightly big for my feet. And so, I was first introduced to the world of uncomfortable footwear. Now it was my very first heeled shoe of my choosing, so I learned to ignore the bad fit of the shoe just to prove I could handle heels. I gained two important things after the purchase of the shoe: a) I earned the permission to buy other heeled shoes (not more than 2 inches though) and b) I learned the importance of shoe fit. Though both are important, I tend to think that the second has the longer lived use. Without a snug fit, a heel is more likely to be a hazard to the wearer, if not an encumbrance to any standing or movement. I have also discovered that there are sometimes ways to work around a bad fit that work quite comfortably. But of course those are tedious details that I'd rather not get into ^_^.

Essentially, this pair of black shoes led to the purchase of ankle boots (clunky things with 2.5" heels), a strap-y pair of low black heels, a pair of slip-on loafers, a few sandals and a pair of silver heels from India, and a pair of Sketchers athletic wear almost immediately after. These lasted me pretty much through the rest of highschool. I wasn't very fashion forward, and the restriction on the height of my shoe heel was a large deterrent. Whenever we would end up shopping at a department store and my mother decided to browse for shoes, I would make my way to the clearance racks where I could secretly try on the "ridiculously high" heels available. There never really was a great selection of shoes in this area. That and the rushed nature with which I would have to peruse the shoes, I was often left with a bereft feeling, leading to an increased yearning to wear the "pretty" shoes. With the continuous discouragement of high heels, this passion ever remained a secretive desire that was never voiced.

As I moved on into college, I had expanded my collection of shoes a bit, including flip-flops, some dressy sandals, a few other sneakers, and a few basic heels - nothing to fancy or over the top. But come sophomore year, my inner shoe-a-holic slowly emerged. Not only had I discovered how to get to shopping malls near the university and the people who'd go with me, but my mother had also found her own unique sense of fashion that was no longer dictated by the fashion sense of the 80s and 90s (which means it was easier to shop with her). It was also the year I received my most expensive shoes to this day: a beautiful pair of delicate, crushed red leather Jimmy Choos. If you know much about shoes, you would know that these are some of the most coveted, upper-tier shoe brands out there.

Now, in the time this happened, my mother and I had been enjoying the post Christmas and holiday sales (given that we didn't need to buy gifts for Christmas). In those few days, I had already received a pair of really nice boots and flats. So when I got these shoes on top of that, I definitely know that the shoe lover in me just broke free of any remaining bonds I had in place. Think about it: 3 pairs of shoes in 4 days - when most people are satisfied with just one pair almost their entire life! The thing that was also special about these purchases, is that it was a green light for me to delve into the arena of pretty heels (regardless of the height). But of course, so as not to alarm my mother, many of the purchases were made under the radar. What she didn't know wouldn't alarm her (though when she notices, I confess ^_^). So of course, my shoe collection only grew rapidly from there.

Before you make the assumption that I buy shoes in any way I can, I would like to let you know that I only buy shoes in person. Each shoe company has different sizing, and even within a single brand you may require different sizes for different shoes. This is why my shoe size varies from a 6.5-8 (US sizing). Some companies, like Aldo, only deal in European sizes, which just adds an additional headache if you try to shop online. Fortunately for me, I have reached a point where I can understand a few of the trends in shoe sizing, which gives me a bit of lee-way. However, my primary reason for shopping in person is that shoe shopping is a pleasure/leisure activity for me. I have built my collection of shoes enough that I no longer need to shop for a type of shoe (unless it's to replace rain boots, tennis shoes, or anything falling apart). This means that I can take my time expanding my shoe collection. I also know that the stress of searching for a specific shoe is a major headache and often yields no results. The success rate of random shoe shopping is much higher for me. It's usually because shoe styles are more likely to surprise me then. The process of finding a shoe I have envisioned in my mind is a vastly more expensive venture. So by giving it time, I am able to find shoes on sale or even clearance that meet my specifications. Shopping in person also allows me to employ other selection filtering processes.

Despite any lust I may feel for certain shoes, I filter out those that resemble any shoes in my current collection. This means that I will ultimately have a larger shoe collection in the end. This also means that I do not buy a shoe that isn't wearable. This means that the shoe follows these guidelines: I can stand long hours in it; I can walk in them after long hours; I don't feel like I'm falling in them. If it is uncomfortable to wear, I will not wear the shoe in the future. It then joins the category consisting of a few lonely shoes that I never wear. I most definitely don't need any more of those. Keep in mind that this doesn't necessary cut out the ridiculous 9" heels out there.

I also place a monetary limit on how much I'd pay for my shoes (with some exceptions: i.e. shoes with quality that never come down in price). With my love for them, I could easily go broke if I placed no restrictions on my spending >.<. Since I have a lust for buying shoes, and they do not have a long term security, I prefer to buy shoes with my own money instead of burdening my parents with that additional weight. It gives me the opportunity to buy shoes without needing to explain a purchase made on my credit card. So since I have much more limited funds, I am able to control the number of shoes I have - a great idea when you have limited space (Especially at home where my mother's shoes are all over the place... maybe I got my shoe fever from her... ya, I probably did).

What I've realized is that shoes make me feel good when I wear them. Yes, I do have a large number of shoes. But I wear them ALL (just ask my roommate). I also realize when it is the appropriate time to retire them. When you use them, you wear them out. It's just a fact of footwear in general. But when I buy a shoe, I buy it because it makes me feel a little special when I walk out of the house that day. Some days I even plan my outfits around the shoe I want to wear. And the beauty of investing in shoes is that I use them for both my Indian and American clothing. Each outfit has a certain character, and the shoes you wear with them can either make or break that attitude. There are people out there who are satisfied with the one or two pairs of sneakers, and that works for them. There are other people who are mostly ignorant about fashion and insist that they only need one clunky pair of shoes for everything. I'm not saying any of these people are wrong; that's their opinion. I just don't appreciate it when they turn that judgement onto me.

Which is why nothing makes me happier than when someone takes the time to compliment me on my shoes. It feels good because I've taken the care to pick them out, and I usually find them at a great bargain too. Yes, my roommate teases me that I must abide by the rule that I can have no more shoes than the years I've been alive. Unfortunately for her, I had exceeded that rule even before I bought the 2 pairs of shoes as my latest birthday gift to myself ^_^.


To the ultimate accessory, the one that can make you classy, pretty, skanky, bohemian, funky, anything you can imagine... but most of all glamorous:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2ZmWlTZ5p0


P.S.: For a listing of all my shoes, follow the below link! (the page might not have anything on it immediately, but I'll be trying to put it up asap! I'll send out a shout-out when the list is complete!)

MY SHOES!