Thanks to my friend and fellow fashion blogger @
The Fashion Pages, I came to hear about the 2010 Elle Magazine Talent Competition. I don't regularly buy Elle, as I already subscribe to Harper's Bazaar and, of course, British Vogue, so I hadn't realised that they were running this exciting writing contest. I immediately came online to research it, but alas! I could find absolutely nothing on the website..! I wrote the short article anyway, despite only knowing the title and word count and
not knowing the deadline date... and here's what I came up with:
Do you really need another pair of shoes?
What would you say if I could make you thinner, taller and bang-up-to-date fashionable… all in one purchase? It’s simple: you can update any wardrobe, lengthen any legs and slim-line any figure by investing in a new pair of heels. In this Carrie Bradshaw culture, we’re all too aware of the old cliché – women have too many shoes. Yes, it’s a bit of a generalisation. I mean, there are plenty of women who have a pair of work shoes and weekend shoes and leave it at that, but I’m making the assumption that for the majority of Elle readers this is a cliché come true. How many times have I sat on those plush, oversized pouffes, buckling up the new must-have shoe (this season it was Marni, and glossy sling back clogs) and heard the exasperated (male) sigh, ‘Do you really need another pair of shoes?’
Forget never being too thin or too rich; my philosophy is that you can never have too many shoes.
My love affair with the shoe has been long running. One of my earliest shoe memories is lusting after a pair of black Mary-Janes… when you turned a key in the sole, a picture would appear, as if by magic. Yes, I was 5 years old. Unfortunately, they were too expensive, especially as they were just your plain Clarks kids’ department Mary-Janes, only with a different sole. And, while my mother had a point - that I shouldn’t get expensive shoes, only to grow out of them - I learnt that you might pay that little extra for something desirable. It’s worth it for the magic.
The whole of my school life can be charted by remembering what shoes I had and when. At 9 years old you could find me making daisy chains in cream espadrilles with ribbons winding up the ankle; at 10 I was playing bulldogs in the playground in camel suede ankle boots. Later, aged 14 I was rebelling in light blue loafers instead of the regulation black we were expected to wear. Then college: at 16 my wardrobe was limited by years of school uniform, followed by a self-inflicted uniform of baggy tops and dark jeans, but shoes… Oh, shoes! They were my liberation. The freedom I got from my magenta kitten heeled boots, my monochrome patent flatties, my mocha faux snake skin stilettos and my tangerine suede stacked heeled booties, allowed me to become the person I am today. With my shoes on I felt stronger; I felt fashionable. Much like a fairytale princess, the original Swarovski girl Cinderella, who went from rags to riches; a pair of shoes really did change my life. Ten years on from that shoe fitting in Clarks, the magic was still as strong. Shoes, with carefully selected accessories, allowed me to express my personality, and increase the life-span of an outfit, in a small, but creative way.
As I’ve grown in confidence my shoes shout less loudly, but today they are still an integral part of who I am. When going out, an outfit will be built around the shoes I want to wear. If it’s raining and grey, and I’m feeling like the weather, a fur-lined Fitflop clog is my shoe of choice to pop down the shops. For those fierce days, where you need to be strong and stand tall, what better choice than a chunky platform wedge? We might have so many pairs that we forget about those leopard print ballerinas or the nude patent courts, but every pair has its occasion, its need. There is much joy to be had in choosing that perfect pair for its partner outfit.
And then there’s the shopping! The great thing about shopping for shoes is there’s no contending with the changing room queues, stuffy cubicles and unflattering lighting. You browse, you touch, you try, you admire… and you buy, with a little extra time for a skinny hazelnut latte. Shoes allow you to enjoy shopping without becoming depressed that the latest silk shift dress is definitely not made for your Christina Hendricks’ figure. Shoes don’t cling to the wrong places, or have an unflattering neckline. Provided they have your size there’s rarely a problem. They pinch slightly? Suede is totally impractical for the British winter? And those heels are far too high and thin to pound the pavements… Minor details the average woman is more than happy to overlook for the thrill of possessing those Alexander McQueen shearling boots this season.
So, Elle readers, do I need another pair of shoes? In all honesty (and I’m sure my bulging shoe cupboard and long suffering boyfriend would agree) I certainly don’t need another pair, but you can bet your Manolos that I’ll be lusting after and saving my way to Camilla Skovgaard’s tassel-heeled beauties.
And, girls and boys, I’d advise you to follow in my footsteps - quite literally. In this cloudy economic climate, we need to take care of the pennies, so a whole new wardrobe each season is definitely out. But fashionistas can always be sure: a new pair of shoes will not only make you appear slimmer and taller, but you’ll be bang up to date.
So, let me know what you think!
