19 April 2005

dress-up shoes


photo I took of ava in cinderella dress-up shoes, halloween, 2004

I can't seem to stop buying dress-up shoes for ava. I think it has something to do with the insatiable childhood need I had to adorn my feet with the most glamorous shoes I could get my small-town hands on. these days, little girlie dress-up shoes are so fancy and sturdy. when I was little, they were fairly plain in color (no glitter, no feathers) with only the slightest heel. mine always snapped in two after about three minutes of prancing around my room, hips akimbo, singing and dancing to k-tel disco records. my dear cousin kristy was my crafty partner in crime and we were always looking for ways to score shoes, ALWAYS. as we got older, our taste became more evolved and refined (holding back laughter here) and we often found ourselves at woolworth's, digging through bargain bins piled high with plastic candies-style high heels. you know the ones I'm talking about -- olivia newton-john made them famous when she wore them with her black satin/leather outfit at the end of the movie 'grease'. the eyes of little girls everywhere glazed over at the sight of those bright red spiky-heeled mules. I can still remember the sinking look on my mom's face as kristy and I teetered out of the dime store in our new faux candies. there we were -- in our short shorts, knee socks and high heels, strutting (and wobbling) down main street, giddy over our $3 purchase.

I guess that's why I get lost in the girlie dress-up aisle of target. I have a very difficult time saying no to all those shiny little shoes with the jewels and sequins and feathers. too bad they don't fit me (don't think for one moment I haven't tried, people). it's been years since I've owned a pair of real dress-up shoes. my obsession has transferred itself to old-school/vintage-style sneakers (adidas, anyone?), with the occasional clog/wedge/mule thrown in for good measure. I live in flip-flops and dr. scholl's during the summer. it wasn't until just recently that I lost my senses over what I would deem the most perfect pair of dress-up shoes (for grown-up girls) EVER. a couple of months ago, I was at betsey johnson salivating over clothes that I couldn't afford and had no place to wear. then I spotted them -- deliciously sparkly and ruby-colored (pictured at right in turquoise). I felt nine years-old all over again. and there, right in the middle of that hot pink boutique (with poor ezra strapped to me in the baby bjorn), I kicked off my sad little black rubber sandals and slipped that shoe on my foot before the tiny horrified sales girl with the asymmetrical haircut could offer me the 'proper size' (or, perhaps another shoe?). I ignored her strained smile and wondered how I could justify blowing $200 on my dream dress-up shoes. true, they're not really anywhere near the style that I tend to rock these days, but PLEASE. don't think I wouldn't find ways to incorporate them into my everyday living. maybe doing the laundry, going to the post office and changing diapers wouldn't seem like such a chore if I had these to strut around in all sassy-like... in the end, I was able to salvage what was left of my common sense and left the store without the shoes. I figure I can drool over the photo of them whenever I like. just the very idea that they exist keeps the little girl in me alive.

9 comments:

  1. You've got willpower, my friend. I would love to see you in those shoes some day...at the post office, doing laundry or watching sex and the city. :)

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  2. I know what you mean about being a little girl and looking down at some pretty shoes. I fondly remember a sparkly pink pair that I think I even slept in I adored them so much. Pink was a color that just made me so happy. I'm quite lucky as my feet are small enough I can fit into a girls size 3 - and so I visit the girls section (when no one is looking) and try on the odd pair that strikes my fancy every once in a while...and wish I was a little girl again. Thanks for bringing back those memories......I laughed at the image of you doing laundry in those shoes.....but totally get it.

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  3. Oh my goodness you crack me up! You failed to mention that when you were sportin the dress-up shoes you were also putting sparkly beads in your nose. I was into dress-up shoes some, but I loved dress-up clothes the most. My mother had a fake fur coat she would let me play in from time to time. (She called it a muton or something like that?) Oh the glory on those days when she would get it from the back of the closet for me!

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  4. mmmmm. I so love your post. I love that you love these things :) I love pretty shoes. I longed for silver metallic micheal kors sandals all last summer and finally dropped the money by fall (since I knew i could wear them year round here) Luckily they are flat... i have a least worn them 150 times. So now I have justified them.
    My other side? I still wear navy blue adidas sambas that I bought in 1992. And I SWEAR they do not smell. I love them and have thought of starting a sambas revival :)

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  5. I just knew y'all would understand. amy, shop with me and you will find out that I have no willpower... I'm a bad influence, too. that being said, let's go shopping together soon. jan, I remember sleeping in some of my dress-up shoes, too! you are so lucky to have those small feet. I am smiling thinking of you in the girls' section, trying on shoes... joy, comfort rules supreme when it comes to hardcore mommy duty. I feel you. nancila, the bead-up-the-nose story is coming! and I'm so envious -- fake fur was the ultimate in dress-up luxury. didn't you just walk around saying 'dahling!' all the time...? carlene, thank you... you are the one with so much style! and elizabeth, good for you treating yourself to michael kors! bet they are too cool for school and I am green with envy... girl, keep rocking the sambas...I'm on board for a revival.

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  6. You crazy girls and your shoes.

    Well, I do sorta get into some nice Pumas or Adidas -- rocking the old school style, of course.

    But no high heels. Sorry.

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  7. Yes....I remember you and your shoes! You are a chip off the old block! Your mother in her younger days was the Queen! I remember when I would meet her in the morning at her HS locker and she always had on a different pair of shoes. The all-time kicker was her 'fruit boots' (boots of all colors) she wore one day! What a sweetheart! Enjoyed your article! Love you, Gym

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  8. Thank you so much for your clever comments, and for letting me feel like I am still across town from you...sharing in your shoe/dancing/dress up/Pope/shopping stories. You always were my MOST creative friend. In fact, I would say you single-handedly helped me find my "creative" side way back in 7th grade. Good to know you haven't changed, but really refined your individuality. I Love It!

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  9. a girl can never have too many pairs of shoes!! i love it!

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