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By Meg | June 2, 2007
Last week I went to Macy’s to see a friend who works at a makeup counter there. I often walk around the store until he’s free to talk or work on my face. Fortunately for him, I’m also a pretty good customer. It’s also fortunate for Macy’s since I doubt I’d shop there a lot otherwise. In fact, his counter is near the shoe section which I often critique while visiting him. Personally, I think most of the shoes are awful and overpriced, though there is the occasional pair of shoes that I would consider if they were cheaper.
When I dropped by last week I was wearing my new pink skirt again with my espadrilles that I found for cheap at a consignment store. I like the outfit because it’s fun in a very feminine and flirty - yet casual - way. I had brought a friend along with me and while she was getting her makeup done I scanned the clearance rack in the shoe department. Remarkably, I found a nice pair of beige, peep-toe, kitten-heeled shoes for 40% off. With the approval of both my friends, I bought them.
The interesting thing was to see how those shoes, almost the same color as the espadrilles, changed the outfit. It was still fun, feminine and flirty, but now it was a bit more sophisticated. I went home and tried the heels on with a few other outfits (I do that sort of thing a lot when I get new clothes or accessories). It was fun to see how just changing the shoes gave me new outfits.
Now I realize why some women have so many shoes. I have a dress that I have worn with boots, strappy heels, flip-flop style kitten heels, ballet flats, and even flip flops - and it’s a different look with each. I can change the look even more by changing my hair, makeup, jewelry and other accessories. The great part is that shoes tend to get more wear than individual articles of clothing. They don’t go out of style as quickly, the same pair can be worn day after day without people looking at you funny, most go with a wide variety of outfits, they tend to last longer if you take good care of them, and if you gain or lose weight you’ll have to buy new jeans before you have to buy new shoes.
So, remember to ask yourself, “What do my shoes say?” and don’t forget to experiment with different shoes. A quick rule of thumb is that heels dress up an outfit while flats dress it down. Choose shoes in neutral colors and with closed-toes if you’re going for a conservative look. For the opposite effect, choose shoes that show more skin and experiment with different colors and textures.
What do your shoes say about you? Do you have any outfits that change significantly based on the shoes you wear?
Tags: Fashion,
Shoes,
Style
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