Shoes

I have a lot of shoes. i have even been called "Imelda" on occasion. Considering all the types of shoes I do NOT wear, it is surprising that I still probably have 60 pairs of shoes. They are not arranged with photos on the outside of the boxes, or in special built-in cubbies, but they are fairly well-organized in stacking cardboard cubes. I have to switch things around twice a year, from spring/summer to fall/winter and back, since I have shotgun closets where you can't see anything that is in the back.

I have a lot of requirements before I will even consider a pair of shoes. Price is right up there -- I do not have any Manolos or Jimmy Choos. The closest to designer is one pair of Ralph Lauren flats, bought at TJ Maxx. They are mustard yellow, and go with a surprising number of my spring clothes. They are so comfy that if they had come in other colors, I probably would have bought more. But $40 is about my limit, and that would have to be a REALLY special pair, such as my Tom's sparkle espadrilles. On a sunny day, these might be a hazard to planes overhead. They are definitely casual, yet festive. I wear them to work, or out doing errands. They are enough "bling" that I don't wear any other sparkle items with them.

Some of my favorite pairs of shoes came from Goodwill and places like that. While various people have told me they would NEVER buy second-hand shoes, nothing bad has ever come of it, and they are either already broken in, or brand-new because they probably hurt someone else's feet. My Eastland leather ankle boots that I wear for all heavy-duty yard activities, like mowing or using the weed whacker -- I bought them at a thrift store in Corryville that no longer exists, sometime in the late 1980s, for $5, and they will probably outlast me. I only wear them for yard work, since they are perfect for that, and each spring I oil them up really well with Vaseline and they pretty much look like new.

All of my shoes are flats. This includes my dress shoes. So often I am in a performance and I can hardly believe that some of the women can even stand up in the shoes they are wearing. I definitely need to feel solidly planted on the ground when I'm singing. Doubly true if I have to stand on risers. I have a lovely pair of velvet flats with a gold chain across the top -- bought at Family Dollar -- that have been my cool weather performing shoes for years. They don't wear out since I save them for those occasions. For warmer weather, I have a pair of black woven flats, bought at Big Lots, that are quite elegant with my black dress pants.

I will not wear any fake leather shoes, because my feet tend to be hot. I will buy cheapie strappy shoes for summer that are not leather, but if the toes are closed, they have to be cloth or leather. I will NOT wear Crocs -- these in my opinion should be banned. How anyone got people to agree to wear something so ugly, I cannot figure out. I don't care how comfortable they are, they are troll shoes. I don't like white athletic shoes, either -- my feet are big enough without wearing white padded things on them. For real exercise, I do have 2 pairs of dark-colored supportive athletic shoes, and for just running errands and things, I like the classic canvas sneakers, preferably in black. I have 3 pairs, all second-hand. I also have a pair of Ralph Lauren navy blue canvas high tops (bought from Bluefly), that my parents really hate. They are super-comfy and I wear them quite a bit during the pre-summer and pre-fall season.

I am fond of fringe and suede and vaguely Native American styles, so I have several pairs of fringed moccasins and ankle boots, and a pair of Pocahantas sandals that are a little over the top, but I don't care and I get a lot of compliments on them. I embroidered beaded flowers on a pair of those Chinese cotton shoes, but those are not as comfy as they look, so I probably won't buy any more.

I don't wear heels, ever, ever, meaning anything higher than 1". I also don't wear slides -- they won't stay on my foot. And what is with athletic shoe slides? I don't wear flip-flops, either, because they also will not stay on my foot. I had a pair for when I was swimming and using a public shower, but I had to be really careful not to trip over them, so eventually I bought some of those mesh shower shoes before I broke my neck or something.

I don't buy shoes with a leather sole, because we have slippery tile floors in my department at work, and also leather soles are noisy. I do not buy anything that looks orthopedic or geriatric. I also don't buy shoes that show a lot of "toe cleavage", because anything that is cut low goes right across a sensitive bone in my foot. Shoes styled more like a classic penny loafer or men's huraches work out better. Ankle boots are really my favorite, because the foot part can be a little bit loose and they still will not be sliding off. Apparently a lot of people buy these and do not like them so much, because I have 4 second-hand pairs.

For slippers, only leather moccasin style will do. No bunny slippers or maribu slides for me. Around the house I actually prefer some padded cotton German boot liners -- bought from Sportsman's Guide, 6 pairs for some small amount, so I always have a pair of those available.

I bought 2 pairs of sandals from Pay Less for the upcoming season, and I suspect that will be the extent of my shoe buying. No promises, though. Particularly if I see something at a yard sale or flea market. But it is rather apparent to me that I probably could live the rest of my life without ever buying another pair of shoes. I probably have half a dozen pairs that have never been worn -- they were just too comfy and too good of a bargain to pass up, even though I didn't need them at all. So they sit in the closet, waiting until another pair wears out.

A male friend at work wears the same pair of athletic shoes to work, then changes into either the black or brown pair he keeps under his desk. In some ways I envy that simplicity, but then I see some sparkly flats at Goodwill ......