J'aime Les Chausseres!

Why do I love shoes so much you ask?  I've ALWAYS had a passion for shoes, and it began when I was a small child.  I would enjoy going to Payless Shoe Source, and I insisted on to trying on shoes that were impractical.  I remember coming home from school clothes shopping one year and my Dad saying, "Be careful in those things you are going to hurt yourself."  I was willing to take the risk.  A fabulous pair of shoes made me feel special, made me feel like my whole outfit was complete, and more confident.  They still do.  If I am rockin' a hot pair of stilettos or even a pair of Frye cowboy boots, it can change my whole attitude for the day.  I feel like the right pair of shoes can, "Make the Outfit."

Growing up in a small town, there weren't too many options for shoe stores.  There were times I would be so desperate for my shoe fix, I would walk down to the local Rite Aid store (at the time it was called Payless, to date myself) to try on what semi-fashionable pairs they had on the shelf.  Shoes were like my drug, my addiction, the one thing I looked forward to for an "instant euphoria." 

*For those of you who don't realize how limited our shoe store selections were, we had one family shoe store, one upscale shoe store located 10 minutes away, a Western store, and then we had Rite Aid.  The closest Payless Shoe Source or Mervyns was an hour away, and the closest mall was 2 hours.

When I turned 18 I couldn't wait to move out of our rural town and see what the world had to offer.  New people, new experiences, and more places to shop!  With much persistance from my parents, I moved to Eureka to attend a junior college there.  I was to live in the dorms.  The first semester I roomed with another student that I did not get along with at all.  She was from Southern California. You know, the Nor Cal vs. So. Cal thing?  She also smoked, and all the way around was a complete opposite of me.  Luckily, my second semester we were able to choose, and I became roomies with someone who shared my passion for shoes! 

When we were officially moved in, our dorm room was a combination of mauve, baby blue, and floral on one side & burgundy, dark green, and plaid on the other...Sounds completely crazy looking back, but it didn't matter.  We had a very important thing in common!  My friend, my roomie, my compadre, had waaay more pairs than I did and I couldn't wait to see what her closet had to offer.  We were the same size after all.  She had pink, blue and red Reebok tennis shoes.  I had never even seen them in person, let alone owned a pair.  You know the high top Reeboks that had the rounded toe and two strips of velcro at the top that wrapped around your ankle?  Yep, she had them...The closest thing I had was a white pair of Avia high tops.  Laughable I know.  She also introduced me to Dansko clogs.  At first I scoffed at them, but after a while I gave in and purchased my first pair.  A few years later, I even wrote a story to Dansko themselves. I won a free pair of their shoes for pouring my heart about how I strongly disliked them at first and how I was reformed lover of them.  A dream, I was able to choose any pair of shoes on their website!

For the record, I don't care what the fashion critics or Joan Rivers says, I love Uggs.  I got my first pair of Uggs almost 20 years ago and I still own them.  I can't bear to part with them.  Do I wear them? No.  Do I try them on occasionally?  Of course.  They bring me back to the memories of the times that I wore them. For some people it's a song that brings them back, for me it's shoes.   There's something magical about those fur lined sheepskin boots.  Once you slip your tootsies into a pair, you are hooked!  They can be worn around the house as slippers, to the grocery store, or one of my favorites..as a relief after wearing a pair of 4 inch heels that are killing your feet.  Put your favorite pair of Uggs on, and "Ahhhh".

Shoes are glorious, sparkly, leather, satin, crocodile, high heeled, athletic, flats, etc.  I don't care, I love them all!  Our daughter is one year old and has quite the shoe collection already.  She has outgrown several pairs already, and I can't make myself part with them.  They are just so cute, so feminine, so fashionable.  With bows, hearts, pink, purple, and metallics...I think I might save them in a rubbermaid tub for when she is an adult.  I feel bad for my husband, who just rolls his eyes, but he will be the first to say he likes her cute new kicks when she's sporting them.  I think secretly he just knew it would be like this when we were told we were having a girl...She already has her first pair of Danskos, in orchid patent leather.  I can't wait until she fits into them!

Now don't feel bad for our son.  He also has quite the shoe collection.  But don't be mistaken, his shoes are "cool".  Not "cute".  He has a selection of Skater shoes, Athletic shoes, Hiking boots, and most recently Heelys.  When we has a little guy, I would get away with whatever unique and cute shoes I could.  He had this one pair I remember vividly that were brown and orange leather, with flames.  At this age I have to be more selective when building his shoe wardrobe but I still "help" him choose what shoes to wear for the day whenever I can.

Obsessed you say, yes I will agree.  When I was 19, I moved to Santa Rosa.  I loved having the ability to go shopping at a real mall whenever I had the time.  Which sometimes was on my lunch from work, or after work, or the weekends, or all of the above...One of my favorite places to shop for shoes is Macys.  I love their selections and their sales.  I used to frequent the Macys so often that I had a favorite "shoe lady", who loved me and knew me by name...I'd walk in the door, and as soon as she would see me she would say, "Bridgette!  Size 9?"  She would proceed to help me select what new shoes were in and bring me many choices to choose from.  I'm sure she recognized an addict when she saw one.  I bought one pair, two, and sometimes three at a time.  She is still working there.  Believe it or not, she still remembers my name and shoe size.  Is that a good sign, probably not, but talk about service!

A sad day for this shoe lover was about six years ago.  I loved Carrie Bradshaw on Sex in the City, she was in New York.  The mecca of shopping and amazing shoes.  Carrie is who first introduced me to Mr. Manolo Blahnik.  Well, my fabulous husband decided to purchase a pair for me for Christmas as a surprise.  He even consulted with one of my friends, who helped him choose a pair that I would adore.  Christmas came, and I opened the package.  Inside, was my very own pair of Manolo's!  I was completely shocked!  I instantly took off my socks and slipped my feet into them.  Well I tried.  Ouch.  Too small.  You see, they were a black pump with a pointy toe.  My gigantuan feet were prohibiting me from my Cinderella moment.  Darn it!!  It was the highest of highs and the lowest of lows when I realized my beloveds didn't fit.  No problem, just exchange them right?  Soon after the holidays were over, what I refer to as "Mom Guilt" set in, and I decided to return them and not do the exchange.  I still vow someday to have at least one pair in my shoe wardobe!

During both of my pregnancies, my love for shoes expanded right along with my waistline.  I relied on my shoes to help me feel beautiful.  You know what, shoes always fit!  Picture it:  you can go shopping for the day looking for a new pair of jeans.  You've taken several pairs into the dressing room determined to find a pair that makes your muffin top dissappear, your bootie look perky, and your thighs slim.  You strike out.  You head straight to the shoe department after you leave the dressing room, deflated.  Not one pair of jeans stood up to your expectations.  You find several pairs of shoes to try on, and at least one pair fits!  You know what, they also do wonders for your figure!  A good pair of heels will make your legs look longer, your bootie look tighter and distract from that muffin top...Don't believe me?  Try it!

What does "J'aime les Chausseres" mean?  It means I love shoes!  You may think my shoe love is frivolous, silly, and that my fashion budget could be spent somewhere else.  You're absolutely right.  But we all have our vices and it could be worse...

Embrace Your Sparkle,

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