Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Shoes

I know I've got your attention now! Shoes! I have to admit a certain weakness for shoes. And yet, I can't stand to wear uncomfortable shoes, heels, or even particularly "fun" shoes. I tend to buy really inexpensive shoes and wear the hell out of them before tossing them because there are holes and such. In the fall and winter, I wear loafers. In the spring and summer, I wear flip flops. Year round, I wear ballet flats. I am 5'8"-ish. Sometimes 5'9"-ish on a good posture day. In my shoe past, I've struggled with baaaad toes. Ingrown toenails, infections. It got bad back when I was in a community theatre production of "Secret Garden" and had to wear these pointy toed, heeled boots for several hours every night. Ingrown issues that lasted for years with all kinds of nasty infection problems. Eventually got a podiatrist who took care of it once and for all. And I swore off any kind of uncomfortable footwear for the rest of my life. Or at least minimizing discomfort to really small doses.

I wear ballet flats- a lot. In fact, I wear ballet flats to work almost every day. I only recently expanded to a moc type flat that I bought on clearance at Target for $5. On weekends, I have a pair of Lands End walking shoes that are, again, ballet style and slip on and off easily. I wear flip flops- have about 3 pair. And I have a pair of mary jane style Crocs. Scoff if you will but those are some handy shoes to have around.

So you get the idea, right? Liz + shoes = comfortable. Only equation that works.

I enjoyed a Sunday afternoon trip to Target with a friend this past weekend. While we chatted, we had a blast in the clearance shoe section.

How can large, clompy, hot pink sandals with rhinestone turtles be on clearance for 75% off? I mean- how did these not sell out the minute they hit the shelf?

Or maybe you've got a boating excursion planned and just can't bear the thought of not having stylish, themed shoes to go along with the trip? Maybe these rope-y sandals are more what you are looking for? Perfect for rock climbing, I bet!
Then I found some insanely high heels. I have no clue just how high these suckers were. 4" maybe? But I just HAD to try them on just to see if I could stand up in them.
And they turned me into an Amazon Woman from the Moon. I towered over my friend like a... well, a tower. I could barely walk!
And another pair in a similar style. Huge high heels, thick sole. I got a shot in the mirror to get a better idea of how they looked.
I have to admit... as much as I love my sensible, cute, comfortable, homey shoes... these insanely high heeled, completely impractical shoes were kind of tempting.
Reasons for buying them? They make my feet look cute and my legs look hawt!
The reasons for NOT buying them? The reasons were many, actually. Feeling like I was a giant was part of it. Barely being able to walk in them was part of it. The pain in my feet and legs after wearing them for 2.7 seconds was part of it.
It was fun to play in them. It was fun to pretend to be an Amazonian Moon Creature. It was fun to pretend I was Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
But in the end... comfort is queen!

12 comments:

Garret said...

LOL. Cute shoes all around. When you did this post I thought of our Olympic friend, Jackie. She has posted some pretty cool looking shoes.

Eternal Lizdom said...

I totally thought of Jackie when I was trying them on!!

darsden said...

LOL cute post, I have to admit I am (ssssh) not a big shoe girl. I live in crocs, love them, but I also love my boots I wear them all year long..crocs, boots, tennis shoes=dar

Pumpkin Delight (Kimberly) said...

Darn it! I thought you were going to tell us that you shoe shopping spreed! As I get older comfort is for sure winning out over style, but some of them are so cute, it's hard to resist!

Collette said...

The first pair of brown high heels I SO would wear ;) Cute mocassins though...in the end it just feels better.

Pandora's Box said...

Your desk looks exactly the same as it did years ago when I was still there!

Eternal Lizdom said...

What's the old saying? The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Jackie E. said...

HEYYYYYY!!! SHOES!!!!! One of my favorite things:-) Thanks Jim for thinking of me.....

My shoe game has been pretty sad since my injury but I'm happy to report that I'm back in heels and in fact it's easier to walk in heels than in flat shoes because its shortens my Achilles tendon and takes the pressure off.

Anyway, Liz, I'm 5' 8 1/2 and I'll wear a 3 or 4 inch heel in a second! I love being tall, feeling statuesque when I have them on. If someone doesn't like it....to bad for them lol!

Gotta add tho that comfort is pretty important too, although I've been known on occasion to swap a bit of pain for a pair of bangin' shoes:-)

Mrs4444 said...

You're funny. Still, though, I think you look HOT in those high shoes-very beautiful!

Rena said...

I just love to buy my shoes from Lands End... I love those red pair of shoes!!

Claudya Martinez said...

I love shoes! My husband asks why I don't wear heels. I'm 5'10" in bare feet and I can't stand pain. I tell him that if he would like to carry me or cart me around all day I would happily wear heels.

Eternal Lizdom said...

I am so with you, Mami!!