heels - The Seventh Sphinx

I love to be well dress’d Sir: and think it

No scandal to my understanding.

– George Etherege, Man of Mode. 1676.

There are bugs on the ground.

I gathered my hair into a topknot when I was messing around with different turban styles and liked it so much I decided to try it officially. I like it, though I think I liked the really (incredibly, horribly, could-not-be-worn-in-public) messy version better.

Oh, this is the bag I usually carry around, these days. A great thrift find that looks like a still-slightly-grubby re-purposed vintage leather football. I don’t necessarily like a bag to look pristine (then it doesn’t look casual), and I don’t want my daily bag to be something I have to suspend in a bubble of anxiety to keep it like new. Better for me to have something that, when it does incur wear, grows in character and interest.

At which point it begins to rain, and I am unimpressed.

Calvin Klein silk jumpsuit, Steve Madden realove heels, Zara scarf, Skagen watch, vintage LuckyBrand hobo bag. On the nails: OPI polish in Mermaid’s Tears.

These heels make me about 5’11”, and I feel that I take on Amazon-like proportions in them. The pale blush color extends this illusion further still. I like this very much.

I’ve mentioned before that I take heels with a grain of salt, valuing the absence of pain as I do*, but it cannot be denied that they create new lines and angles. When only a bit of standing or sitting is required, I can quite enjoy those lines, those angles.

*The amount of discomfort I’m willing to tolerate seems to depend on many factors.

So, yes, I was looking for a comfortable pair of heels, and naturally wanted to find that basic, quintessential, serviceable black pump.

I knew exactly what I wanted, which often causes problems for me. A wide, rounded toe, no platform, 3-4″ (really, 3. Keeping a 4″ heel was a surprise to me), leather, flattering lines, no embellishments, comfortable. A lot to ask, and I’d turned down every candidate until this shoe.

They even look basically cute without any feet in them, which in a size 10 is truly not the standard. They are not insanely comfortable, I admit, but they are not unfriendly (especially with insoles), which is, in the context, high praise. In a way, this is not even relevant, I think of them more as props than as actual functional items. Sort of in the same category as faux bangs and fake glasses…fake shoes. Or, only real shoes for a limited time on any given wearing. I’m not going to try to walk very far in them, as the feminist in me balks at this. Why should I suffer in discomfort? In the realm of my tableau-creating, though, I want them as an option. I understand their limitations, and I am still interested in the silhouette they make possible.

I keep incorporating them into future visions (you know, fashion visions), and dub them powerful additions to the closet. It seems so sensible and efficient to add one [collective] item capable of effecting great, versatile change rather than several lesser items. This is a very French stance, and also very me. At least, it is very me on my practical, intelligent days.

What I’m taking away from this experience is: the Cole Haan Nike Air line is worth checking out. Steep at full price but not bad if you can find them in great used condition, which is what I did.

Tag: heels

the jumpsuit, the topknot

classic: basic black pumps