Thursday, February 16, 2012

What Is It About These Shoes?

It all started with the Go Go boots. Or maybe with the 'bee bops', as my mom called them. The saddle shoes I wore when I was little and that I really loved . But I have to say the first real yearning was the new white Go Go boots the sisters across the street were wearing when I was in third grade. I begged. I pleaded. I got some. My life was complete. This desire was addictive by the time I was fourteen and wore my mother down until she agreed to the black satin sandals with the six inch heel and gold ankle chain that I wore to the Christmas party Where. She. Worked. as a finishing touch to the skin tight royal blue sweater dress. Poor Mom. As the years passed I became a shoe connoisseur. I quickly grew in knowledge and taste and abandoned the hookerish for very expensive beautifully made shoes and as the eighties approached developed a penchant for the funky. My shoe store of choice at this time was Wild Pair where I also found my wonderful bright red ballet flats that laced to the knee as  well as my beloved camouflage high top converse and really bitchin scrunched ankle boots. But I  still had a deep appreciation for quality and owned a pair of outrageously expensive Italian white leather pumps  made for dancing, even though I don't dance. They were smooth as butter reminiscing for a moment. A friend spent the night and borrowed them the next morning when my brother was trying to flirt with her and asked her to go for a ride and they decided to take a walk through a construction site and she tramped around in the mud in them and I have never forgiven either of them....anyway...

As my life changed so did my shoes. As a young mom I toned it down a bit. Both in style and budget but never stopped longing for and loving wonderful shoes. I know I'm not the only blogger who loves shoes. I have seen the posts. I find myself in a quandary about a shoe decision and need some advice. I never thought I would see this day but it seems my judgment is slipping. Could someone help me out?

Be Honest. Why do these shoes make me feel like the worlds biggest dork?





I was looking for something casual and comfortable (bad sign already, I know) that were a little nicer than tennis shoes.   Now deck shoes have never really been my thing but when I saw those shoes I wanted them. I thought they were cute and looked comfortable and tried them on. Perfect! But now I have a problem.  No offence to anyone else who is wearing these shoes. If I saw you in them I would compliment you and tell you I like them. But when I put them on and look in the mirror...
I See My Mothers Shoes. And it freaks me out and I take them off.

Please tell me...

Are they old lady shoes? Am I turning into an old lady?

Is my judgement off? Now last year I recognized that the indigo blue suede short cuffed ankle boots with the six inch stiletto were not for me even though I could imagine the outfit they belonged with and tried them on along with both Littlest and Middlest because they were the most awesome thing on the planet and I will never forget them, but I'm starting to wonder if I can trust my instincts.  I saw these and I bought them too. I eyed them for a long time because I had a suspicion they were actually slippers because the sole is basically straw but they were in the shoe section and I also suspected they might be teenager shoes. That suspicion was confirmed when Littlest saw them and said, "I am Borrowing those shoes!" Uh Oh. Am I too old for these shoes?







Because I am perfectly comfortable wearing them. I like how they look. They have as much support as notebook paper and probably are responsible for 2/3 of my back pain but I don't care. I'm obviously wearing them to shreds
Does that make me young at heart or a silly old woman? I really don't know.
Or is Littlest turning into an old woman? Hmmm...possible..maybe...

Hey, I still have pretty decent ankles though, for an old lady. Wanna see my surgery scar from my roller skating injury when I was 17? You can click to blow it up and really see it well!  I've blown that bugger out three times but it's never been as good as the first. Not even when I busted it coming down a mountain.



Yeah. Good times.

Don't even ask how I had to contort myself to get that picture. Why am I here again? Anyway....
So seriously, about the first pair. I put them on and took them off at least five times and then threw them in the closet where they've been since September.

Could someone please tell me, what is it about those shoes? Why do I hate them more (on me) every time I see them? What the heck is an age appropriate shoe for someone in their mid forties? Is there such a thing as an appropriate shoe for middle age?  How much do you think I could get for them on eBay?

Should I do a blog contest and give them away as prize? I could call it Walk In My Shoes. Everyone can write a post about where they would go in those shoes. PTA meeting? Miniature Golf? Bingo?

...maybe someday. For now just tell me: Where would you wear those shoes? I can't really ship them to you but best answer wins a photo of them to hang on your fridge ; )

Deep stuff this week I know.

Believe it or not I'm in the middle of a full time project right now. If I don't reply to you right away don't despair. I'm in my work shoes........
© 2011 All Rights Reserved

18 comments:

  1. I looked at them, thought of my mother and then thought actually I kinda like them. Does that make me old too?
    You know I feel the same about the colour brown - these days it's the new black but there's certain things which are stuck in your psyche from your teen years which just scream out 'old'
    Today I am wearing brown :-)

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    1. I think that's it. I do like them. But I can see my mother wearing them. It discombobulates me seeing my mothers feet on my legs. Now, I like brown shoes. I have two black pairs, 2 white pairs, and 9 pairs of brown shoes in various styles. I guess I have to admit my feet are as middle aged as the rest of me ; )

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  2. First, I have to tell you that I had a pair of white go-go boots in the 3rd grade too. And I loved those boots to pieces. They were awesome!

    Secondly, I actually love topsiders. I grew up in them. I had several pairs when I was in high school and either wore those or espadrilles if I was wearing a skirt. Yes, I was a "prep". But topsiders are SO comfortable. So, honestly, I saw the shoes and just thought they were cute. I don't think they look like old lady shoes...but, obviously, I'm quite biased. And my old lady shoes are either...topsiders...or clogs. I just go for comfort these days.

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    1. Lisa, Those boots were So Awesome! I had a pair of topsiders in high school too and I LOve Clogs! The only thing I have more of is flip flops, so I don't know what my issue is with this darn shoes!

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  3. I love both pairs! But I can't be trusted, as a Canadian anything you can wear sockless gets my vote right now!

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    1. Exactly! Sockless is wonderful and that's one reason I bought them. I think wearing flip flops 9 months out of the year is affecting my brain.

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  4. Those are ageless. My son had some in elementary school and passed them on to me. I still have them. My Granddaughter also has a pair and she's 11. (I'm not 11) I see people wear them ALL THE TIME. People of all ages, male and female. They are a universal, anyone can wear it, shoe! Wear it and be proud!

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    1. I Know! They're Classic! They should go with everything and everyone. I'm being obtuse.

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  5. ok ms. g. I am gonna get real here. Those first shoes are awesome, but they are not even your mom's shoes. they are your dad's shoes. or your grandpa's. Even your 15 year old nephew's, but You MUST NOT wear those shoes. Stacey and Clinton would die. THAT is why you take them out and put them on and put them back in the closet. You recognize they are classic and comfortable and a little preppy in a cute way but they are not cool and feminine enough for a gal that once wore stilettos and go-go boots. there is no age on most shoes and it TOTALLY makes a difference what you wear them with, but i can't picture any awesome outfit that would look better with those shoes.
    second pair are cute and comfy and total keepers. everybody makes a bad shoes choice now and then.....

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    1. Yes. I have to admit I agree. Stacy and Clinton will live to make-over another day .**snicker** : ) XO

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  6. Honey Honey Honey. I hate those shoes. They are ugly. You do not need to wear a stiletto heel (although at 66, I still would not be caught dead out of them), but you can find darling flats. You can find stylish shoes that are uber comfy! I love me some fine Italian leather on my feet. Those little shoes you are showing are fine in the house or in the backyard. And keep in mind, the 40's are the prime of a woman's life. You jazz up now and don't un-jazz until you are on a walker.

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    1. Ha! Linda, I knew you would hate those shoes!

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  7. To continue. The second pair are cute. Not my style, but cute, you know for around the house and running into the 7-11 for a six pack. They are also fine for taking walks around the block. But not for out to dinner.

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  8. Ok...when you feel like you look like your mom in them...that's bad news. I think they're cute for running around errands etc. those would have been my bff's when we were in NY. I wore some slingback heels and feet.were killing!!!!!!Went to payless and picked up the cheapest shoes they had who have become my bff's. I love shoes tooooooo!!!! Woo and my closest proves it but i think we all need a pair of our mama's shoes. You brought back memories when you.said the wild pair. We had one in the mall.

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    1. My mom always had great taste in shoes but when she hit her late seventies she resorted to Keds and slip ons. I think that's the problem! I Loved Wild Pair! I bought my wedding shoes there too ; )

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  9. So, here's the dealio. I have 3 very fashionable daughters ranging in age from 21 to 14. They are all about the deck shoes right now. They're very in. And I like them.

    Being a high heeled girl myself, in my mid 40's, I can tell you, I have changed my shoe, too. I'm not really wearing many stilettos these days, although occasionally I still rock out a pair. But I am rarely in anything but heels. Even to the grocery store. My secret? Born shoes. They make beautiful, ultra comfortable shoes, that are fashionable with a heel. I don't know how they do it. It's some sort of heel magic, but I just walked all over San Francisco in some pretty high wedges and my feet didn't cry out a single time.

    My sister is scandalously (not really, I think it's awesome) dating a man 20 years younger than her right now. My sister complimented me on my Borns the other night and when I told her it was a Born shoe, she was shocked. She thought comfy meant old ladyish looking. Just then, her 26 year old boyfriend lifted up his really cool shoe and showed us the Born label.

    Gosh, I feel like I've just left the biggest spam comment in the world. But truly, I love their shoes.

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    1. I will have to look into those! My sister is doing the same thing. What's up with these sisters? ; )

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