I don't know what it is about shoes, but they seem to intrigue most people. There is something about a new pair of shoes that can make you feel good, sexy, athletic and happy.
I have to admit I love shoes, but for me - finding a pair of shoes is total torture. I have fairly small feet for an adult woman. I wear a size 5 or size 5 1/2 depending on the shoe and manufacturer. I think I've spent the better part of my adult life wearing shoes that have been at least a half size too big. For some unknown reason, really good shoe manufacturers don't like to make shoes in anything below a size 6. How disappointing and frustrating for me and my feet. The only upside to having such small feet is that I can purchase children's athletic shoes (aka sneakers/tennis shoes/running shoes) and save a fair amount of money.
About a year ago, my daughter pitched a fit in a well-known children's shoe store because she wanted a pair of shoes and they didn't have them in her size. This fit was grand in proportion and so obnoxious that I had to leave the store with her without purchasing shoes, and all the while dragging her as she was pitching this enormous fit. I had to restrain myself from totaling beating her because I was that angry and embarrassed by her behavior. Finally when in the washroom, I sat her down in a chair and looked at her with tears in my eyes and told her that I understand she's upset. I get it 100%. I walk through shoe stores and merely glance at the shoes - I try not to focus on them because I know I can't have any of them, even those that would fancy me, because they don't carry size 5. I told her that I'm bummed that all these other mommies get to wear super cool shoes and I'm stuck wearing "blahh" shoes or those from Payless. Although Payless carries cute shoes they aren't always comfortable. I told her I would give anything to be able to purchase a pair of size 5 9-West shoes made with 100% leather, instead of being stuck with shoes that are made 100% from man made material. I told her that given her size and growth chart, she'll be lucky as an adult, she'll be able to wear whatever shoe is on display that will fancy her. I'm not so lucky but I don't throw a fit like she did. Although thinking about it now- maybe I should throw a fit and maybe shoe manufacturers will think to manufacture shoes for us small feet mommies!
The other day, we purchased some new shoes for my kids for the summer. My son fell in love with these very cool boy sandals. He wouldn't let me take them off his feet. He wanted to wear them to bed. It was cold outside the next day and he still wanted to wear them. Finally I conceded but only when he agreed to wear socks with them. He loved his shoes and he told me that over and over again.
Last evening we were out looking for a pair of shoes for both my kids as they are in a wedding in June. My son does not have dress shoes to go with his very swanky tux. So I was on a mission to find him some comfortable but inexpensive black dress shoes. We found a pair but thought they might be too big for my little guys feet. So we had him measured, low and behold, his foot grew a whole size. Which explains why he trips when he walks and why he much preferred the open toe sandals over his closed toe shoes. The poor kid. I guess I never thought to think that maybe his foot grew as he grew a little taller in the last couple of months.
We found a new pair of athletic shoes in addition to his new black shoes for the wedding. He now only wants to wear his new athletic shoes. He thinks he is a big kid too because they are tie shoes and not velcro. He told me last night as we were snuggling before he drifted off. He says "Mommy, I love my new shoes. I'm going to learn to tie them all by myself." He then proceeds to tell me how you tie a shoe. He got it spot on. Not bad for a child who is 2 months shy of turning 3 years old.
Today, my daughter and I went to get pedicures for "spring". Afterwards, we stopped in at Payless to see if we could find some cool sandals to show off our newly painted piggies. We succeeded - life is good!
Shoes ... you just got to love them!
I'm so with you on the shoe thing. Love them. Love Nine West too. And Franco Sarto (insert Homer Simpson drool here). I, however, wear a size 9. While designers do make them for a 9 (or 9 1/2 or 10) I rarely find them in the stores. Sigh. You're right about Payless - ouch but I've scored great deals for Lauren. I'm living vicariously through my little girl. She now has 4 pairs of summer shoes while I have one pair of sport sandals that have seen much better days!
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