A Shoe to Live In

kathrinkim
May 1
3 min read

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. Well, to find a shoe you can live in is quite a feat! (Unintentional Pun!) My sister texted me the other night sad that the lining of a pair of her favorite classic shoes was disintegrating. She knew she was going to have to part with them and it was upsetting because they had become such a go-to pair. When we get upset over something like this, it's because the shoes not only looked great, they're versatile and, most importantly, they were comfortable. They were broken in and formed to her feet. To find shoes we can "live in" is a wonderful thing. Especially, when it's a heel.

SJP - Sarah Jessica Parker brand Shoes were only available for 10 years.

Last month I threw out two pairs of heels, too. One was a navy kitten heel pump that I should have parted with a year ago but, I was sure I would never find another pair like them and kept holding onto them. I haven't found a replacement but, because I go into women's closets and tell them to part with shoes that are damaged or worn, I had to take my own advice and let them go. The other shoes that I threw out were a slate gray chunky heel pump. They were so comfortable. Honestly, I hadn't had them that long and their interior shouldn't have been disintegrating this soon but, they were.

We, my sister and I, have a love for shoes. But, let's be honest, of all the lovely shoes in our collections we have our favorites that we just keep going back to. We're not the only ones. Anna Wintour has been criticized for wearing the same shoe for years. I'm pretty sure she's not wearing the "same" shoes over all this time. She's probably having the same shoe custom made for her over and over because as she says, "if the shoe fits".

We all want to find that comfort shoe that fits our lifestyle. Jackie Kennedy brought "the pump" style into the White House in 1961.

I think about Jackie Kennedy walking about a quarter of a mile in John F Kennedy's funeral procession from the White House to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C. She was walking on pavement! Jackie wore Rene' Mancini shoes.

Interestingly, Anello & Davide also created the ruby red slippers for Dorothy (Judy Garland) for The Wizard of Oz.

I think of all the walking Queen Elizabeth did in her Anello & Davide shoes. She wore the same handmade style for over 50 years becoming an iconic look for her. It's reported that the queen had a person on staff wear her shoes and break them in so, to avoid having to shorten a visit due to foot pain.

Melania Trump is known for her nearly 5 inch stiletto heels. They are gorgeous on her. I wish I could wear them, too. But, I can almost feel the pain when I look at the height of her heels. I just can't do it anymore. Melania is regularly seen in Christian Louboutin's. She caused a buzz for wearing these yellow plaid Manolo Blahnik shoes in 2016. Haters gonna hate but, I have to say, she knows how to dress and looks stunning.

Another woman known for her shoes is Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker's character in the television show "Sex and the City" that ran from 1998 to 2004. I love this picture of her surrounded by Bergdorf Goodman bags and shoe boxes. It's a fashionista's dream.

No matter you're go-to shoe, whether it be a flat or a stiletto, when it gives up the ghost, the dreaded thought of replacing them is daunting. I know I am continually comparing and just wishing to have my shoe that is no more. But, I will find another navy kitten pump with that unique flare yet, classic. I will get another slate gray chunky heel. But, I will be choosey.

So, to all you shoe lovers who understand the pain of losing a pair of beloved shoes, at least we have a reason to shop.