(with acknowledgements to The Bangles — if you get the Manic Monday earworm, you can thank me!)
and credit to Manolo, of course, for the original — Whose Shoes Wednesday— have you played today?
so with all the season-transition–resisting happening around here lately, you might have guessed that I’m not showing you any boots yet. No, the sun is shining today and it’s all summer all day so maybe I’ll wear these beauties up the dirt road to pick up my mail. What do you think? Aren’t they pretty, all nestled there in the fuschia? Another pair of Fluevogs for you. (added later — these are at least 3, maybe 4 years old, bought on sale at the Fluevog store in Vanc’r)
Want to see them closer up? How’s this?
And have a peek inside for the message (not on the sole as with these other Fluevogs): “Hold freedom up before my eyes so I may see it.”
Now what if we take freedom down from the lofty pedestal and think about freedom of expression in terms of fashion. Une Femme D’un Certain Age citedthe latest Vogue issue the other day — an article about the criticism of those who dress too carefully or are too polished, the too, of course, being defined by some social norm. And The Sartorialist’s posts for Tuesday served up some brilliant examples of style transformations of young people who’d escaped the judgement of the home crowd when they moved to New York City. I commented on both those posts about the difficulties of dressing to please oneself in a very small city, a city which is influenced both by its resource worker roots (a lunchbucket town, as I’ve heard it termed) as well as by the presence of a university-college — the “life of the mind,” supposedly, should preclude too much concern with fashion.
For me, judgement is usually brought on by the pointy toes. It’s hard to pretend amusement at all the corny jokes. I mean really,you irritating fools people, do you not get that my toes end before the point of the shoe — my toes are not squished into the shoe. They’re actually quite comfortable and would you just shut the f**@* up already thank you for your concern. I mean, really, there are so many other things to notice about these shoes — beautiful colour, so pink yet not cartoonishly so, to my mind anyway. The colour makes me happy and brightens up an otherwise sombre outfit — black top and jeans, for example. And didn’t you notice the pretty white hand stitches? And you gotta love the graceful, sculptural curve of that heel cup.
In fact, these shoes are really conservative, at least in their starting point. Really, they’re just a witty and beautifully-executed play on a classic pump and with a very sensible, manageable heel. I’ve walked many city blocks in these shoes with nary a blister or a whine.
Now it’s time to change into another pair of shoes — my runners — and really take on that dirt road. See you back here soon. Meanwhile, check out the poll in the righthand column — what’s September going to do to your schedule?
**Just had to come back to add this from “Ask Mrs. Exeter” in the September Vogue: “How is it that a teenager can dress like a bimbo but a woman who dresses with great style in the office is considered superficial? Who needs the Moral Majority when we have the fashion police on the television and in tabloid magazines?” and then she closes her article by suggesting that you indulge your personal style and originality — her example is the potential purchase of “a certain Rick Owens cropped leather-and-shearling bomber jacket.” Once you buy it, she says, “Tell your friends to honk if they like it. Honk twice if they don’t.” So . . . what’s that noise?
Great post!
Your style has always influenced me. I remember a time when I was about 8 or 9 and I came down the stairs in an “inventive”, “clashing”, (thanks a lot Bronwen and Rhiannon…) though I thought “DASHING” outfit. I was really upset that it didn’t get the standing ovation that I had hoped for.
I was heading off for the day with you to the college for lunch in the cafeteria and to do some visiting. I was about to go back upstairs and change when you said that you wouldn’t take me unless I wore what I already had on. Don’t you dare go change, I want to show off my creative daughter.
Ahhhhh, If that’s not love, encouragement and positive reinforcement in my style choice, then hey, I just don’t know.
love ya
and the pink shoes!!!!
I gave in… check out my blog OMG.. it feels good. 🙂
Honk!
Love the colour and that little rise of leather hugging the back of the heel. And the picture at the top of the stair for giving the shoe the starring role it deserves by reversing the scale, making the shoe look gigantic, the railing small. Can empathize with the shoe razzing; my “purple” (actually a beautiful soft heather pinked purple))Italian suede loafers elicit comments to the effect that only I would have the nerve to wear such a colour; subtext: are you blind?
girlcook: talk about judgmental, dealing with two older sisters had to teach you a thing or two! Glad you remember me celebrating your individual style — I know I tried hard. Seems to have paid off — you’ve got flair to spare, for sure!
anonymous: (and am I only imagining that I recognize this anonymous voice?) Thanks for the kudos on the photo-framing (accidental, if fortuitous). The suede loafers sound gorgeous, but your comment re the sly innuendo of the compliments they elicit reminds me of my MIL’s remark years ago. After carefully studying a framed collection of antique cookbook prints we had hung in our dining room, she turned to me and said, “Well, I never would have thought of hanging something like that.” With the sweet smile, you know?
Love those Fluevogs! I’m going to have to search out that brand. They have just the right amount of whimsy.
Sorry the neandrathals are giving your pointy-toed shoes a rough time. I used to get that from my sister.
she turned to me and said, “Well, I never would have thought of hanging something like that.” With the sweet smile, you know?
This reminds me of that bit in “Le Divorce” where the mother-in-law says to the DIL something like, “sugar *grains*! How original!” 🙂 I think the idea of hanging antique cookbook prints in a dining room is very clever.
deja: that’s exactly the word, “whimsy”! — it’s one of the elements I love to aim for in my wardrobe.
And yes, that scene in “Le Divorce” is pretty close in tone, although my MIL is much more loving and such remarks are usually more a result of her own insecurities. My mom and dad found the old cookbook and had the prints framed as a housewarming gift so I was extra-sensitive on that one!
Those shoes are so cute