Cost, Classy, Casual, and Comfort

I have to admit it: I am a sucker for name brand shoes. I will wear a knock off faster, more likely because of the price, than an original. However, my aforementioned friends of Prada, JimmyChoo, and Valintino never let me down. Well, except when it comes time to pay it up. I simply love high-end shoes. Let me be clear when I say this: the last pair of shoes I bought were probably around $20. That, as a poor lowly college artist that I am, is what I can afford. So that is what I wear. BCBGirls and Guess are as high as my labels can reach. I still like the $565 Manolo pairs that I may never own but will always cherish...*sigh* That is just fine with me for now.

Beautiful shoes--the truly beautiful ones--generally hurt. I have no personal qualms with paining my feet for a few moments as long as my shoes are making me look stunning. Shallow? Perhaps it is. Do I care? Not much. There comes a time when the feet are not as sensitive as they once were, therefore, can stand (pardon the pun) to wear those fantastic shoes for a while longer. The most amazing shoes are most often least uncomfortable. The more jaw-dropping the shoe looks, the less the softening cushion. There are few exceptions to this rule.

Casual shoes are a different sort of shoe. They are the shoes that can be mildly cute and yet very practical at the same time. Flip flops are a fairly good example of a casual shoe. It is argued by many that a flip flop is not an actual shoe. For today, we will say it is. The thin sandal is a good source of quick-wear! Of course, if you are looking to walk in gravel, you may want to wear an insert since they aren't very easy on rocks. Then again, when they are this cute, does it matter?

Comfortable shoes, on the other hand...they can be just simply ugly. I have yet to reason how on earth they are more comfortable! My feet would be offended by the less than attractive shoe and begin to hurt just because I made the suggestion! Honestly, when the mind is engaged at how awful the shoe must look, the "comfort level" of the feet has been compromised. If you are focused on the pinched toe in a gorgeous shoe, at least you have the comfort of knowing your shoes are amazing. If your feet are not pinched and your ankles are well supported, you could have a real headache on your hands while you're worried over the appearance of the blasted shoe-impostor on your foot!

In the end, if a compromise must be made, it would be for an attractive flat. They come in so many shapes and styles that it is easy to find the right flat fitted for your fashion forward footwear collection. I love my stilettos and my pumps, but flats could be a way to fly.

Walking in a Pair of Winter Footwear

I can't help it. I have boots on the brain. I know it is only August and September is barely around the corner. I realize that fall doesn't begin until September 20-something and lasts for three whole months until the leaves give way to winter's wonder and goodness. More than that, I know for a fact that I cannot possibly enjoy my winter footwear until it is frigid outdoors because I will not appreciate their warmth until that time, and perhaps not then! That does not mean I do not love my boots. I do. I have all sorts of boots, but that has been established and realized by now. "eurogirl has a whole lot of lovin' on the shoes!" Oh, I know there must be a pill or clinic for something as bad as this, but boots give me blissful happiness and satisfaction in a world of...of...blech!!!

Today I saw a girl wearing boots. Not thinking about them in the day-dreamy way I do. Not wishing to be with them in the strangely backwards buyer's remorse like I do. Not even close. She was wearing them. I realize, now, that fashion does come down to a science. I have said it before, even on this blog, that fashion is how something makes you feel and not actually how it looks. However, cheap faux suede boots in the sultry August heat cannot possibly feel good, therefore, cannot possibly look good. (The tights worn with said boots also spoke volumes: this poor dear cannot dress well for the heat.) My point with this story is this: dreaming of boots in August is different than sporting the suckers. I just want to make that clear.

I have a strange habit when it comes to shoes--boots especially. I tend to rate when they will be in style and knockoff seasons. The open-toed boot made its first fantastic showcase in fashion about two or three years ago by Versache or Givenchy. Last fall, Victoria's Secret picked up the open-toed boot and ran with two popular styles, I believe. This year, they sell them at the early adult-hood stores all across America. Naturally, I predicted this reaction when I first heard of a boot with no toes.

I like a good pair of shoes. I enjoy a good boot. I love cool weather that allows me to wear the pair I choose to bear.

What Would Gucci Do?

As you can see, I have some very interesting links to the right side of my blog. Because it is opperated by Google, the links are supposed to be related to whatever word is most repeated or most recent on my blog page. I'm not endorsing the clicking of these links, by any means! There are some interesting things there, I assure you, but I am not telling you to click. I am going to tell you, however, that I clicked one of them just to see what it was talking about. All I saw was, "High Heel Shoe Chairs, in jr. size, too!" I was interested. Was it like a shoe rack? shoe tree? shoe shelf? shoe dresser?! There are so many things in which we store a shoe that sound very little like actual shoe storage. (I should have a shoe closet or so.) I had no idea. I took a look at the domain name.

http://www.highheelshoechair.com/index.htm

Imagine that. It didn't help. I wanted to know what was on this website. I had to click. I was very stunned to realize at what I was looking. It was a chair in the shape of a high heel sandal. The first thoughts that coursed their way through my head were, "Oh my word, how very tacky" and, "Ah! I want one so bad, now!" The inner diva cried out in so many ways. The only problem was that she couldn't decide if it was too gaudy or too fantastic! Outlandish? Very. Expensive? Kinda. In perfect eclectic taste? YES!!!!!! I remembered from the link posting that there was something about a junior size in this? I found it, alright. And it was adorable in the flashiest possible way. How would I solve this? Shoe lovers unite under the umbrella of the shiny and flashy. And yet, how classy can you be with a pink and zebra faux fur shoe that stands thirty-eight inches high in your apartment? I am still torn. I would like to cry out how I need this chair! Then I remember my friends Prada, Jimmy Choo, Nine West, Steve Madden, and Donna Karan. What would they say?..

Never Met a Pair of Jimmy Choo's I Didn't Like

There are so many interesting shoe designs. While I applaud the creativity of the human mind, I believe it should be put to good use. I understand the importance of a good shoe. I know why creativity is significant. Why wouldn't I be able to comprehend how a shoe can change the way you feel about your day? Oh, I do! I just do not know why I would want my shoes to pick up radio waves or play mp3's!

I have suffered for some sassy shoes, but let's not get rediculous. Toe shoes? I cannot possibly understand the purpose of these; they look ugly and painful. I am sorry, but there must be a purpose to wear a pair of shoes. Whether the reason is comfort or class, it must exist.

How about these? Foot gloves is what they are called. No, no, no! How about comfort while looking like bigfoot? Sound good to you? Not unless it's a costume party.

The several inches it adds to one's height are for pictures only. They are impossible to walk in. They are not an interesting color. The heel is not pleasing to the eye or the leg. There are strings to lace up the back of the thigh, and the foot is at a horrible arch. These are what I call serious platforms. I would also call them uncomfortable, unsightly, uninteresting, and useless.

PLEASE! These are mere examples of poor taste and wasted of efforts. The world could use some of the ingenuity it took to make these pointless pairs of footwear and put it to good use! Style a shoe that grows with the child and save the parent some money. Why not make a shoe that gives the benefits of a heel with the comfort of a flat? Give me a stiletto that will not sink into the grass! Why can we not use that crazy imagination for something useful? Being very blunt, there are some people that have talent to tackle the tricky shoe trade.

Take Valentino for instance. He has some beautiful shoes. I don't really care for pink, but I adore these shoes. I want them in the worst possible way! They are fun, flirty, and feminine--in other words, fantastic! I just cannot stop looking at them!

Jimmy Choo shoes are the ultimate. Many people have seen the movie "Devil Wears Prada." (Fantastic film, by the way, if only for the shoes!) In it, Anne Hathaway's character, Andy, wears a pair of Jimmy Choo boots. Suddenly, she's a bombshell, a knockout, a fashionista! Jimmy Choo's would do that for anyone. Look at this ankle boot and tell me, if you can, that there is not raw talent in this designer!

Another Jimmy Choo is not for the faint at heart. This specific shoe borders the line of over the top, even for me. While I have yet to find a pair of heeled oxfords I would buy for myself, these shoes are as close as I have found. Indeed, only those with the most interesting of fashion sense would wear them or even find them attractive. Oh, Jimmy, how well you know me...

Shoes say something about the personality of a person. If you choose to wear shoes sporting speakers, it is your right. I suppose, in a sense, true fashion is the way an item makes you feel and not how it looks. Although there are several things I will never understand, I guess it is acceptable to like ugly shoes.

The Right to Bare Feet

It is my strong belief that life is taken much too seriously. For instance, there are mere moments in life in which shoes have no place at all. As shocking as that sounds, I do have a point. Try to follow.

As a shoe lover, I have a few pairs of fabulous footwear. You know, the usual two pair of tennis shoes, some chucks, three pair of silver shoes, red flats, a skater shoe, several patterned flats, four pair of black pumps, the endless supply of flipflops, some brown heels, a wedge or two, the gold sequins, six boots (in pairs), and the list can keep going. Though shoes mean a great deal more to me than meets the untrained eye, there is nothing wrong with an occasional shoe-less frolick. (Yes, I said frolick!)

It was not long ago when the sky was dark and the week was rainy. Now, do not misunderstand me when I say this: I love the rain. I do not love what it does to my hair when I'm on my way to a specific place for a very specified purpose. I do not care for the runny makeup that is easy to acquire when I'm out and about in nature's shower. When I have nothing special to do and nowhere interesting to go, I love the rain. This day in particular, I was coming home in the downpour. As soon as I reached the driveway, I kicked off my satin silver shoes and ran through the grass. My makeup smeered and my hair was downright nasty, but I could not care any less than I did at that moment. I could have been a six year old for all the fun I was having splashing in puddles and sliding in the grass. This was a moment when I did not take myself very seriously. I did not take life very seriously. My shoes were still very serious, but they were safe and dry. As for me, I took my energy, imagination, and bare feet outdoors to enjoy the rain.

Chuck it Out

"The All Star sneaker was first created in 1917. It got a signature patch 18 years later. In [19]62 it got low, and 4 years after that it came in 7 new colors. After all this time and all this change, it's still the familiar made new--again and again and again."

-Converse.com

Let me just be completely honest with you. I had vowed a vow of a Chuck-less life. Suddenly, it became apparent I needed a pair. The reason I told people then, and continue to now, was not a sudden change of heart; I was in a competition in which the high-top Taylor's were required. Being very candid, I tell you this: I needed a pair of the very popular Chuck Taylor Converse canvas and rubber shoes only to complete a collection varying types. After being honest and breathing a sigh of relief, I feel better all ready. Wow...the truth does set you free!

In so many ways, this shoe that has with-stood the test of time for 92 years is an inspiration to me. Not only does it stay very true to form, but it is willing to mold and evolve with trends. Not only does it come in solid black, but in pink, green, and grey polka-dot while rhinestone hearts decorate the baby-chucks (which are nothing short of absolutely adorable). The original integrity of its design stays consistent, even through the strange and dynamic adversity that is the fashion world. What other shoe can successfully say that it has been flying off the shelves for such a period of time? For that matter, what other stylish object can say that at all?

Looking at the basic form of the non-athletic flat, I can only help to be dared to make a similar accomplishment. Of course, the punk, grunge, or rocker rarely rears itself from its sleepful, silent place in my imagination, but on occasion, I pull my All-Stars from my closet to embellish an outfit. In the end, not only do they invoke me to pursue something daring, they happen to spark a certain type of confidence that not even Steve Madden can carbon copy.

Closing the Generation Gap

There are several things a shoe can do. One of the many things is simply closing the gap between generations. Now, there are many ways that the perfect pair of pumps can pull pleasure from the wise Great-Grandmother and the Pretty-Pretty-Princess toddler. Today's simple point is this:

Shoes are Ageless!

I have heard many middleaged matrons mention, "Those heels are just too high for me!" Naturally, if hip, ankle, or knee problems arise, it is not safe to sport the six-inch stilettos anymore. The pretty-in-pink daisy canvas shoes shouldn't be seen on anyone over the age of 11, either. There are obvious rules about the rinestone butterfly meets the over-40 beauty and the spike heels sprain the seven year old that cannot be avoided. Were those rules to be left to the blatant discretion of maturity and not to be the focus of today's footwear topic, I would encounter something of a simple sort.

A pair of "granny flats" are not always mature in nature. Depending on the color, texture, and the paired outfit, a 15 year old can wear them just as nicely as a 50 year old. An example is the beautiful satin, champagne, pointed toe flat! It would be nice if the mother-of-the-groom wore them to the reception, wouldn't it? Very age appropriate. Wait a moment...take another look. See the gathered cloth at the toe? the slight ruffle on the inseam? Could those possibly be paired with dark denim jeans and a tan leopard print? There is a vision of the young career woman on a day off. Oh, yes, these shoes are versatile.

The ultimate shoe for closing the fashion gap is the heeled oxford. Grandmother wore the oxfords to school with her poodle skirt and bobbysocks. The modern teen adds two or three inches to them and puts on a pair of skinny jeans to make it work. Thankfully, the heels on them can be found relatively low and chunky so Grandma can wear them without worrying about s twisted ankle. Of course, should her grand-daughter find herself a tall drink of water to date, the heeled oxford comes in a thin four-inch as well.

Ooooooooh, haters!

There are haters in the world--haters of race, haters of religion, haters of peace, and haters of love. "But, eurogirl, why are you talking about haters when you only speak life about shoes?"

Shoe haters, ladies and gentlemen! Some people hate on the beautiful commodity we call shoe! The haters exist, though it is hard to imagine why.

http://www.futurehead.org/futurehead/2007/09/the-culture-of-.html

I ran across this while in research of future blogs. How on earth a person could function sans shoe is fantasically foreign to my mind. However he does it and whatever the reason, I do hope he gives shoes another chance. Perhaps the wrong shoe left the wrong impression on him. Oh, one can only hope that the future of footwear will not listen to the faint voices of the "visionaries" that would squelch the sight of shiny shoes...

Where do I begin?

What a fabulous subject! Though I am not sure where to start, I will try. Let me begin by saying how special shoes are. Not just to me, although that is somewhat obvious, but in general--shoes are spectacular! Having been there, done that with every type of shoe imaginable, I believe I know a thing or two about the significance of a good shoe. What qualifies as a good shoe, you may ask. There will be time for that later, I promise you. For now, what we will consider is this: why shoes?

There are a few quotes I have on shoes that may just answer that question. Since I cannot possibly say it better than it already has been said, read the originals:

"Shoes are the best indicator of how people are feeling."
--June Swann

"In a way that few possessions can, shoes tell stories of individuals, geographic areas, cultures and human history. They may discretely reveal clues about the owner, or boldly proclaim their ethnicity, economic status and sense of style."

"Shoes are pure sex."
--Anita Loos

"Baby booties to orthopedic sandals, we spend most of our waking lives in shoes, and from them we may learn something about our culture, our history, and ourselves. Last, far from least, they can be drop-dead gorgeous."
--Cathy Newman

I ask you, how can anyone deny the importance of the shoe? Incroyable! This blog is not only dedicated to the shoes, their meaning, importance, and brilliance, but it is also dedicated to show others how to use a shoe to the greatest extent of its worth.