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. .bmp)
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.
