Lessons in Proportion: Shoes
In my focus on proportion this year, I am looking to identify the areas of my life that have an outsized impact on the final result. The areas where you get the “biggest bang for the buck” so to speak for your time and effort.
When it comes to fashion, this year has shown me that shoes are one of these proportional differences. If you wear the right shoe, you can be forgiven almost any other fashion flaw.
The shoes above are one such example of the “right shoes.” I say this not to pat myself on the back for having good fashion sense but because every time I wear these shoes, someone stops me tell me how great they are!
I didn’t start wearing them on purpose. My flat summer sandals gave out under the strain of this summer’s activities and completely fell apart. I ransacked my closet for a replacement pair and only came up with the cute high heeled sandals.
“Oh yeah….I forgot about these.”
They were an impulse buy on clearance at Target a few years ago. I have worn them a few times but once you stop wearing heels all the time, it is hard to go back to wearing them while toting children and their gear. I actually looked around for something else more practical but finding nothing, put them on and ran off to the pool with my kids for swimming lessons.
The reaction was immediate.
“Why are you dressed all fancy?” a fellow mom inquired.
I explained that except for the shoes, I was dressed exactly the same as I had been all summer long.
“Well, you’re making all the rest of us look bad,” she humorously responded.
Later, shopping in Walmart with all of my children a woman called from behind,
“I just ran all the way from the parking lot,” she panted.
I paused and wondered if I had dropped something and she was going to return it.
“I just wanted to say . . . ‘You go, mama!’ Look at you, all fashionable. You should be glamorous with all those children!”
After thanking her profusely for making my day, I realized the only thing she was referring to was the shoes! (Unless you think navy shorts and an Old Navy tee would get me on the cover of Vogue.)
After checking out, a retired woman commented,
“You are awfully brave to wear those shoes with all those children!”
I could go on and on. These shoes really are magical. If they were still available, I would buy 10 pairs so I would never run out.
The great thing about shoes is that you don’t have to be any particular size and shape to wear fun shoes. Good shoes look great on all figures. The internet has opened up a world of affordable and fashionable shoes in many comfort levels.
The lesson for me is: resolve to wear good shoes!
What aspect of your appearance seems to make the biggest difference for you? Please share in the comments.