I can trace the past twenty years of my life through what I’ve worn on my feet. Pairs of note include the sparkly violet slippers I wore from ages two through six even though the pediatrician warned they’d ruin my arches (and the source of the worst fight my mom and I have had to this day), and the grossly-inappropriate black pleather wedges I managed to squeeze into my Catholic school’s dress code during my seventh grade rebellious phase. But now, as I walk the hallowed halls and cobblestone streets of college in bright flats and Frye boots, I’ve begun to seek the pair that will define the next chapter of my life. As much as it makes me cringe, I need to buy a pair of big girl shoes.
Sensible pumps. A cringe-worthy phrase that conjures images of dentist-office secretaries and being cast as the grandma– again– in the high school play. But the fact is that there are few things worse than tripping on the curb while hailing a cab or awkwardly limping because your shoes are too high, too tight, too uncomfortable. We have enough to worry about, whether it’s formatting a resume or forging a connection, getting dinner on the table or a bill in the ballot box, to be concerned about the circulation in our little toe. So with a dramatic sigh, I’ve resigned myself to passing over spike heels and peep toes for a pair of shoes that I can actually walk in.
The best advice I’ve heard regarding this quest came from a friend who brought it up to her professional idol and received the response, “I’ve been wearing these shoes for 25 years. You find a pair that fit, and you wear them forever.” My search begins this week, hopefully with a little time leftover for things that many (i.e., my dad) would argue actually matter, such as doing my homework and finding some sort of income to pay for said shoes; but a girl has to have her priorities. If you find a pair of grown-up heels that you can’t live without, let me know – I’ll take a pair in every color.
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbaunach/398805819/
1 Comment
Anonymous So having been in a profession where I am constantly on my feet (teaching), for three years and wearing boring black and tan flats for the whole time, I decided that it was time to wear heels to school on a day when I was not interacting with kids. Big mistake! I’m back to the cheap black flats from Target. Growing up sucks!
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