If the shoe fits, grab it!

The weather is beautiful. And when the weather is beautiful, I have but one thing on my mind; that’s right—sassy shoes. Just the other day a facebook friend posted that she had “3 pair of hot shoes” in her Nine West shopping cart online and wanted input on why she should or should not get them. One friend suggested she go back and check her status from weeks earlier when she had promised to go on a “shoe fast,” one friend asked her how much they cost, and everyone else screamed “BUY ‘EM!”

I know a thing or two about shoe fasts. Awhile back I decided to count my own shoe collection, and after realizing I had over 160 pairs of shoes (eek!) I went for over a year without buying a single pair. (Yes, I am a strong woman.) However, I have long since fallen off the wagon. One of my favorite shoe stories (and, yes, I have many) involves my friend Brenda. I’ve known Brenda for several years now and we see each other only a few times annually. But each time we do, we run to one another and hug, all the while gawking at one another’s feet. I know she will never let me down; she will always have beautiful shoes worth drooling over. If you asked me her eye color I may have to stop and think a bit, but I can most certainly tell you about the patent-leather Jimmy Choos snuggling her feet the last time I saw her. Well...some time last year I ran into a dear old family friend, and as we stood and chatted—catching up—I noticed someone off to the side eyeing me up and down. Mainly down. Finally, my dear friend introduced me to her friend. Her friend said, “I know you but I don’t know from where—and the last time I saw you, you were wearing the cutest little black mules with feathers. Oh, they were so cute. Do you still have those shoes?” I burst into laughter and was sure I’d never seen this woman before in my life. Finally my friend said, “This is Brenda’s mom,” and everything made perfect sense. Of course it was Brenda’s mom. And although I don’t ever remember meeting her in the past, I do remember those cute little little black mules with the feathers. They were adorable. And, ohhhhhh, Brenda’s Mom, how I wish I did still have them. I should confess, as much as I’d love to, I’ve never been shoe shopping with Brenda and I doubt I ever will. I’m confident that that woman could get me in a whole heap of trouble.

We gals need our fabulous shoes. They make us feel fun. They make us feel tall and sylphlike. They make us feel sporty and playful. They make us feel just downright good. I know that if I go clothes shopping on an off day, I can leave empty handed and depressed—”nothing fit right, nothing looked good, I gained five pounds, I feel bloated, I hate the new styles”—but I can always, always, trust that I can find that perfect pair of sevens to make me feel good again, feel sparkly, feel awesome. And what woman doesn’t want to feel sparkly and awesome? With Spring in the air, it’s time again to let our tootsies breathe a little. While I love every single pair of my winter boots, booties, and loafers, each year as warm weather promises to appear, I start to get very anxious to strap on the sandals. But before any of us do so, please, please, please (and one more for emphasis—please) let’s remember to have those hoofs gussied up, buffed, and polished. And resist the urge to buy shoes that don’t fit, no matter how adorable they look on the shelf. You don’t want your toes hanging over one end or your heel dragging off the other. I don’t want to leave men out here; I know some of you like your sandals, too. But here’s a clue, guys: Your manly feet don’t have to smell manly, nor should they be, ahem, crusted or yellow. Try some spiffin’ up. You’ll be happy you did (and so will your significant other and everyone around you).

In the end, the facebook friend bought her hot shoes. But you saw that coming, right? You know I only write stories with happy endings. Every pair of sassy shoes needs a good home. So if the shoe fits, grab it. ...And everyone lives happily ever after.

~Grace