Flats: my arch-nemesis

While wearing heels all day is torturous, I can’t very well be walking around in athletic shoes or flip flops all day everyday (though that would be awesome!). Flats are important when I need to look nice but don’t want to wear the heels. However, I can never seem to get flats to look quite right. I am short, and flats make me feel like my legs look stumpy and doesn’t help my height problem (I’m not short… I’m vertically challenged) either. Also, I always seem to get blisters from flats, and have actually started preemptively putting tape or Band-Aids over the back of my feet before wearing them to
prevent blisters. In  my experience, flats are just as uncomfortable as heels, but in a different sort of way.  Wearing flats shouldn’t be this problematic (and the amount of people I see wearing them comfortably seems to be indicative
that it is just me). So how should I wear flats correctly? (If you have any tips, let me know, seriously!)

Buying the right flats is the first part of the puzzle: you should buy them in fashionable colors, fun materials and rich textures. Straps, buckles, bows, and gems add interest to any pair of flats (be careful about going overboard) and make your flats look fun and stylish. Remember, chic is more versatile than quirky, so remember how often you would be able to match with your bright orange flats before you purchase them. If you are worried about looking feminine in flats, there is a simple cure. By wearing a super-feminine top (flared sleeves, layered shirts) and it also helps to wear a skirt. This is a “ballerina” type look, which is definitely feminine. Speaking of wearing skirts, tired of looking short (yes!) when wearing flats? Wear a skirt with a hemline above the knee, which will increase the amount of leg visible, giving your legs a longer appearance.

Another tragedy about being short: having pants that are too long. Here’s a tip I picked up from “What Not to Wear,” when I wear heels, I have specific jeans that are longer, so they look nice; when I wear flats, I have jeans in ‘short’ variety, so that the back of my jeans don’t drag on the ground and get all torn up. Torn up jeans at the bottom not only wreck the jeans, but they become sloppy (I still have a pair that are all ripped up at the back bottom, and I can only really wear them on a super-casual day. But unless you are ultra-thin, I would advise wearing super tight skinny jeans and flats—it will probably call attention to parts of your body that you would rather not have noticed. Wear straight legged pants that are somewhat ‘skinny-jean-esque’ and then you should be okay… Or wear flared or wide-legged pants and pair it with a cute pair of pointy-toed flats.

So flats don’t need to be banned forever… and you shouldn’t feel forced to wear heels whenever you need to dress up. Flats can be just as acceptable as heels, and if you do it right, they can be significantly more comfortable! Maybe one day I’ll be able to wear flats that don’t hurt my feet…

What’s the end of your shoelace called, anyway?

It is called an ‘aglet.’ Which, if you ask me (though nobody ever does), it seems like a pretty silly name. ‘Aglet’ comes from Old French, which took it from the Latin “acus” which means needle. So an aglet is sort of like a needle for the end of your shoelace… But besides helping you on any future trivia or crossword puzzles you may encounter in your life, aglets have other purposes: keeping the end of your laces from fraying, the laces are easier to hold, and they make lacing up shoes
significantly easier. However, do not confuse aglet with ‘flugelbinder,’ because this is a fake word. If you have heard of it, then it is most likely from “Cocktail,” a 1988 movie where the people are talking about inventors who invent ordinary objects and make millions doing so.

And let’s say that on your favorite pair of shoelaces, your aglets have either broken, are partially broken, or missing. This can be devastating! Can you replace them? You bet! There are several different options to try, which are dependent on cost, tools available, and want for durability. Your first most basic options seem almost too simple: use some adhesive tape, use glue/nail polish, or using candle wax. These are cheap alternatives, but they probably won’t last that long (glue and nail polish hold up better than candle wax and tape). You can also use a match or lighter (make sure there is adult
supervision! Unless you are over 18 and generally safe around fire, of course) on synthetic laces, burning the ends to make them more like an aglet. And you can always buy a metal aglet to add to the end of your laces, or a heat shrink tubing to make into an aglet. Finally, you can always make little knots at the end of your laces, but this of course prevents re-lacing your shoes, so use this one with care. And the knots might make it (slightly) more difficult for you to tie your shoes.

Speaking of tying your shoes, did you know there are literally trillions of ways to do it? So maybe most of them end up in a knot rather than a bow, but even making a bow there are several ways to do it. And if you’re anything like me, your shoe laces seem to always be untied (and it drives me nuts). Why do they become untied? Most likely because  you (like me) are making an uneven bow, which means the laces are more likely to slip out of it. Perhaps I should spend some time learning how to re-tie my shoes… it could help in the long run. If you want to learn several ways to tie your shoes, I would recommend this page: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm. There are step-by-step instructions and they show the advantages and disadvantages to tying your shoes in different ways (more durability, faster, less wear on the laces, etc.). Additionally, if you are trying to make bows for any reason (including your shoes, wedding invitations, or any other time) and are saddened to find out your bows are crooked, then me and you have more in common. This is probably because you are making an un-balanced “granny knot.” Again, I will refer you to the above site so your bows may be as pretty as you want them to be.

And finally, have you ever seen someone with crazy laced up shoes? Or are you tired of the simple lacing pattern that is on every pair of shoes? Well there are a lot of different ways you can lace your shoes, and you should feel free to spread your creativity. This site: http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingcomparison.htm compares how many ‘eyelets’ you have on your shoe and you can click on the lacing method to see how to do it in more detail.  So go ahead, and go crazy with your shoelaces!

 

 

 

Infant shoes… and their lack of purpose

This week we got new carpet in our living room (it was overdue).  So as I’m helping my mother move all the sacred glassware that looks pretty (and we’re not allowed to use) I also had to move four pairs of bronzed baby shoes: one for each of us kids. It got me thinking about baby shoes—I mean, let’s be honest, real infant shoes are being put on a baby’s foot who can’t even walk yet. As my intelligent readership, you already know that shoes were designed to protect our feet so we could walk over all sorts of terrain. If you aren’t walking, there’s no need to protect your feet. Why are infants wearing shoes, if not to walk? Why are there 8 million varieties of baby shoes, and why do they all cost so much? Mostly,
unfortunately, because there is a market for them.

This firstly goes back to culture. For thousands of years wearing shoes has been a status symbol: slaves usually had to go barefoot back in Ancient Egypt. Even in times like the Renaissance, shoes have been a symbol of how wealthy you are. Styles often originated from the royal family and the nobles all sought to emulate them… and peasants weren’t allowed to enjoy the crazy (and probably also severely uncomfortable) fashions that came and went in the past. So if you have a baby, while you may not be thinking about, “look how great it is that I can afford to have shoes on my baby and this shows my
wealth,” it is probably so engrained into our culture that shoes “complete” the outfit.  Also think about the million “no
shoes, no shirt, no service” signs you’ve seen over the years. Okay, they probably won’t hold it against you if your baby isn’t wearing shoes, but you don’t want to run that risk, do you? You might even feel like you would be a bad parent if you took your infant barefoot into a restaurant (though this is a little extreme, I think).

So shoes on infants is pretty much pointless other than for culture. And perhaps the need for the adorable dress you put your baby girl in to have the matching shoes as well.  There are people who say that infant shoes do protect a baby’s foot from getting smashed while crawling, so there could be an advantage there. And babies do need something on their feet to keep them warm (especially in the winter months).  So there are some minor advantages to having something on their foot. But there’s no explanation as to why there are so many varieties—other than people buy like crazy for infants,
so if there’s demand, then the manufacturers make the supply!

Once your baby starts to walk, many people may choose to bronze the shoes the baby accomplished walking in; which leads me back to the four sets of bronzed baby shoes we have in our living room.  My parents decided (I think) to bronze our shoes as a keepsake, remembering our first steps and how little our feet were.  The internet is littered with sites
that walk you through bronzing your baby’s shoes at home (with just some fee to pay for the kit) or you can take them to someone who will bronze them if you aren’t a do-it-yourselfer. Either way, it’s nice to have that keepsake that you know will last forever and ever once it’s bronzed… memories of your baby taking his or her first steps, permanent-style!

Are you Gellin’?

So I went out to the Aurora Outlet malls yesterday (if you have never been, you should go! I love that place) and bought myself a pair of new shoes. Okay, yes, shoes are probably one of the last things I really need, but they were super comfortable, and had the Dr. Scholl’s gel insert built into them. The last pair of shoes I bought that had Dr. Scholl’s inserts are amazingly comfortable as well—I was even able to wear them when I worked at the pharmacy, and was on my feet for 8 hours straight.  And I’m sure you have all seen the Dr. Scholl’s commercial with Stacey from “What Not to Wear”
talking about that’s how she stays in her heels all day… But I before I start to sound too much like a commercial myself, I looked more detailed into Dr. Scholl’s (and other gel inserts) to see if they work, how they work, and if I would recommend them.

Gel inserts come in all sorts of varieties, styles, colors, and brands. There are the full shoe insoles for extra protection of your ball and heel of foot, the inserts that is placed above the manufacturer insole, and the heel cup, just for protection on the heel.  Because it is gel, the insert is more forgiving, and helps redistribute the weight of your foot; think of it like standing on a balloon (that obviously wouldn’t pop): when you put more pressure in one spot, more of the air flows to
another place. Also, the added comfort should mean that you are able to stay on your feet longer—generally your feet start to hurt (especially when you are in heels) because there is more pressure on the ball of your foot, so by adding some extra cushioning you are easing the pain inflicted each step you take, making it possible for you to stay in your heels longer. Also, many inserts have antimicrobial fabric, which will prevent foot odor as a fringe benefit. Here’s a fun fact: you can get lower back pain, leg pain, knee pain, and (of course) foot pain all from improper arch support or misalignment of your heel/forefoot as you walk. Doctors suggest using gel inserts (specific to your type of pain) to help prevent any feet problems, which can turn into back and leg problems.

While I already have them specifically built in to a couple pairs of my shoes, I am considering buying the inserts. The only time I’ve ever used the heel cups was when I wanted to gain an inch so I could ride Batman at Six Flags when I was in
fifth grade (I was short, I am short, I will always be short). But perhaps the added advantage of more support will allow me to stay in my heels longer… meaning I wouldn’t have to carry a big purse so I could hide a pair of flip flops in there for when my feet start to hurt. There’s a wide variety of products out there that all have the basic gel insert, promising the same things. Dr. Scholl’s even offers anti-blister protection that supposedly prevents you from getting a blister. I sure could have used that when I was in Chesky Krumlov (Czech Republic) and I got massive blisters on both of my feet…

Shoe stealing

When I was in fourth or fifth grade, I was in Girl Scouts. At one of the meetings, we did some activity that required everyone to remove their shoes. Once the activity was completed, everyone grabbed their shoes, and we continued on our way. One of my classmates, however, couldn’t get her shoes to fit. It was discovered after some ten minutes that me and her had identical pairs of shoes, and that I had grabbed hers, and she had mine. I have always had little feet, and her feet were bigger than mine. While I didn’t notice that the shoes I put on were bigger, she couldn’t get her feet inside my shoes. Of course, this was easily reconciled, and at the end of the day everyone had their own shoes back. But I’ve seen numerous reports (and now, sadly, my sister-in-law is included in those) of people who (for whatever reason) remove their shoes, only to find that they have been stolen. And chances are, it isn’t a simple case of switcheroo, and your shoes are gone. Places like Japanese restaurants, the beach, even from someone’s house are all places were mass amounts of shoes are lying around for really anyone to take. So is there anything you can do about it?

Unfortunately, no. Etiquette dictates that if the owners of the house ask you to remove your shoes, unless you have a good reason (you need them for orthopedic reasons, you have peripheral neuropathy) you should remove them. While you may think it is silly to value your carpet over your guests happiness and comfort, you really should do it anyway. And Japanese custom says you should remove your shoes at some traditional restaurants before you sit down to eat. Other than keeping your shoes with you (or on your feet) or watching your shoes from your table (if at a restaurant), there’s nothing you can really do. I would advise wearing crappy shoes (because nobody wants to steal crappy shoes) if you know you are going to a place where your shoes will not be in eyesight. And chances of catching someone who either stole or is about to steal your shoes seems pretty slim, as you are in a public place. Sadly, you can’t do much about this…

I’ve found an internal debate among many etiquette people: when you show up at a party, do you remove your shoes or keep them on? People will argue vehemently both sides: its respectful to the host/hostess to remove your shoes to prevent damage and dirt from becoming an issue, whereas a lot of people do not like walking around barefoot/in socks in someone else’s home, and would be happier to keep their shoes on. And just because you make everyone remove their shoes upon entering does not necessarily mean you have a clean home, which can be gross if you are walking around barefoot. I must admit, I am fond of keeping my shoes on when in someone else’s home, just because everyone is barefoot/ in socks does not prevent germs. Foot fungus and athlete’s foot actually spread better when people are barefoot, so I don’t know who decided that keeping shoes at the door means a cleaner house. Either way, the host or hostess probably had to clean the house before you showed up and will clean it again after you leave, so as long as you aren’t tracking mud or something that cannot be easily removed around the house, I think you should be able to leave your shoes on. But honestly, the best approach is to see whether or not the host or hostess is wearing shoes. Chances are, if they are wearing shoes, you can leave yours on. If they ask you to remove them or are barefoot, perhaps it may be best if you just suck it up and remove your shoes (and bring slippers for next time!)

Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?

Yes, I know that that is the name of a book turned musical, currently being turned into a non-musical movie.  The plot of this is following 8 students through their Catholic high school and is a ‘coming of age’ story with love, growing up, and other such related stories. This reminds me of a story I was told by my mother, who went to a Catholic grade school. She told me that the nuns banned patent leather shoes because boys could use them to look up girls skirts (because they were so shiny).  Do black patent leather shoes actually reflect up? According to some firsthand accounts, people claim that in the right light (sun, for instance) it is actually possible if the shoes are shiny enough. I’m not sure I believe it, I mean, I own a pair of patent leather shoes, and I can never make anything out in the reflection, whether in the sun or not.  Maybe they just have to be extra shiny?

Patent leather begins in the early nineteenth century, when Seth Boyden (from New Jersey) wanted to make a version of leather so it became dressier than other leather shoes.   Using linseed oil-based coats, Boyden was able to sell patent leather shoes in 1819 and was quickly associated with formal dress. With the invention of plastics, the methods of producing patent leather changed from the oils, but mass production of patent leather wasn’t possible until synthetic resins simplified the process more and cut production costs. Typically, patent leather is black, but now you can also get tan, white, or even neon-green and hot-pink.  Because it is waterproof (and considered formal) patent leather is worn with tuxedos and military uniforms.

Shiny shoes add some glamor to any outfit… but be weary of your patent leather shoes stealing the show. You don’t want to outshine your dress or have your dress’s sequins competing with your shoes. But I’m sure you thought of that already! But patent leather can look great with suede or regular leather. By combining them, you can make sure you always look stylish. Spring and summer are the traditional seasons for patent leather shoes. But as of more recently, it’s been trending to wear patent leather shoes at all points in the year. So by owning a quality pair of patent leather you can look fabulous all year round—and that’s always important. This usually applies to traditional black patent leather, and not necessarily white. Don’t forget—even though some people do it anyway, it is still considered a fashion faux pas to wear white outside of the Memorial Day to Labor Day time period. So if you own white patent leather, then you will still have to consider with the ‘white shoes’ rule. Isn’t fashion so complicated?  You have to consider every little aspect to make sure that you look fabulous. But at least you know that your (black) patent leather shoes will be fashionable all year round!

An obstacle that every good outfit knows

So you have fabulous shoes and you have fabulous clothes.  But how do you match your shoes (not to mention purse, belt, hat, jewelry) to your clothes?  Nothing is more frustrating and annoying than attempting to make the absolutely perfect outfit for any occasion and feeling like nothing works right. While fashion rules dictate certain faux pas, until everything feels right, I will never be 100% happy in my clothes, even if they do match.  But perhaps just the basic knowledge will help you (and me, more likely) establish a good base-point to make sure your look is always you and always fashionable.

Capri pants I find to be a challenge because of the little bit of ankle that is exposed.  There are two types of shoes that will always look good with capris: ballerina flats and flat flip-flops. By keeping your shoes light on your feet (and showing more foot) you actually elongate your legs (which always benefits everyone).  Dainty and delicate flat sandals also can accomplish this. This also works in the opposite way: heavy cross-trainers or athletic shoes, or sandals with lots of straps should be avoided when wearing capris. While you may be comfortable, this look can bulk up your feet, making you look
shorter; if you want the comfort, try a slimmer pair of fitted sneakers rather than bulky athletic shoes.

As for skinny jeans, there are lots of shoes that you can wear with them, if you are brave enough to wear skinny jeans. I know I have yet to find a pair of skinny jeans that fits my body, but I’ve seen lots of people that look fabulous in them, so I know it is actually possible.  Whether you choose to wear flats or heels (chunky or sleek, depending on your look) your shoes should match your skinny jeans. And in the wintertime it seems that skinny jeans were just meant to be tucked into your cutest pairs of boots. The only pair of shoes that does not seem to go well with skinny jeans are bulky cross training shoes or bulky athletic shoes. While this can be a particular ‘look’ and can look good, those instances seem to be the exception to the rule rather than the rule.

And now something more practical to this current season: shorter shorts. Especially with this ninety degree weather thing that has been going on, shorts have been about the only thing I’ve been wearing recently.  Well you are in lucky on the
fashion department in terms of shorts: almost all shoes match well with shorter shorts. Whether your shoes are flats or heels, strappy or simple, wedges or stillettos, you can go for whatever you look you want and still know that your shoe will match your shorts.  You’ll  be happy to know that this also applies to short skirts (and skorts, I suppose, if you own any of those).

So with these basic tips at least you have a start point when you are trying to make the perfect outfit for whatever occasion. Knowing that your shoes match will only make you feel more confident and happy in your clothes, which will make any occasion be that much better. So enjoy your look and know that you look fabulous!