shoes: an ode to heaven on earth.

After reading Andrea's lovely tribute to footwear yesterday, I was inspired.  Because the shoes, they do that.  They make me feel light and frothy and effervescent, like human alka-seltzer.  I love them with a chronic intensity.  (Does that even make sense?  Chronic intensity?  Ehhh.)  Anyway, I'm gonna post some pictures of the members of my shoe family, despite their styles belonging to seasons far, far removed from the current one, with a single exception.  Because I still care deeply for these ped-apparel children, partially as a result of having had far too few opportunities to bring them out of the dim repository on the shelf that they call home.  They're even a little *sniff* dusty.  Sigh.  Once upon a time, there wouldn't have been time for my shoes to collect dust.  Dust!  Perish the thought!  Nay, my shoes collected memories of festive occasions, and miles spent schlepping their intrepid owner through rainy streets, through classroom, theatre, office, pub, park, car, house, field and over dale.  Even mountain and stream had steamy encounters with my footwear.

Alas.  That time is currently on pause for the lovelies.  (For the record, my collection used to be insanely large, fleshed out by my many vintage and thrift worn beauties.  I got a wee bit more pragmatic during pregnancy about storage needs, etc.  It still chokes me up to think of them.  Sigh.)

*photo taken down because some freakshows keep drooling over my footwear, and may I add, YIKES*

(My son enjoys a rousing, daily bout of "create chaos where there was once a remnant of organization representing the larger established order of the household prior to my existence" in the mornings, hence the lack of cohesive form on the lower shoe shelf.  Sigh, again.)

Another shot of my shoes, including the lower shelf of the husband's best footwear, shoes I drool on when he wears them, poor dears.  They see so little of the world, it just isn't fair that my saliva has to be something they experience, ever.  But there it is.

*photo taken down because some freakshows keep drooling over my footwear, and may I add, YIKES*

And, since I can, because this is MY blog (beats chest forcefully), I'll tell you that the fourth pair on the right (upper shelf) -- the black satin sling-backs, that is -- are my wedding shoes.  Yep.  I wore dyed shoes.  They were originally dyed a sort of olive-champagne, to match the sash on my dress, and when I came back from my honeymoon to discover that the bouquet that I'd left on a shelf above the shoes (in a different closet) had rained pollen from its dying stamen onto the toes of those lovely, lovely shoes, I a) had a mild attack of apoplexy, and, after the appropriate period of mourning, b) took them straight to my favorite shoe repairman in town (best in Portland, hands down, and I oughtta know 'cause I've lived here since birth, mostly), and had them dyed a smart black.  (I also had to allow them to change the tap on the heel to black.  Oh, but I was sad to lose that sumptuous, gorrrrgeous color.  Ehhh.  *shrug*)  p.s. Those are my biggest splurge, in footwear, to date; they're Cynthia Rowleys.  The other pairs are Paolos, Franco Sartos (the discount Via Spiga), and XOXO.  Nothing to crow about, really.  But my Cynthia Rowleys, while already a bit dated, are still so beautiful to me.  Even in that staid black.

I shall now post a picture of my disorganized closet, because I snapped a shot of it whilest angling for the best view of the shoes, and because I like pictures on my blog.  It makes me feel cheery.

*photo taken down because some freakshows keep drooling over my footwear, and may I add, YIKES*  

This is all I've got, today, folks.  I burned the midnight oil yesterday evening doing some work, and I's tired.  But I would like to request that anyone who has some delectable shoes wasting away, lonely and depressed, in their closets, to post some snaps.  Give those shoes a wee taste of the limelight.  They'll thank you for it.

Comments

[Dawn]

I believe we know how I feel about shoes. And now I must walk through Montreal drooling at the boutiques. Without a job.

Sigh.

[Jess]

Love the green round toe kitten heels. Oh, I do love kitten heels.

I also have a pair of red Saucony sneaks. Wear them all the time.

[mothergoosemouse]

I think we're all terribly behind.

Beautiful shoes! And yes, I have discovered a love for shoe repair. Happens when you start buying quality shoes and wearing the hell out of them. I have a pair of Ralph Lauren knee-high leather boots that have been re-soled, and a pair of Nicole Miller gray moire peep-toe flats that have been repaired as well.

I need to start buying shoes in colors other than black and gray.

[nonlineargirl]

I love shoes. Mine are dusty too, sadly.

(Oh, and re costco - no card, but I went with my mom when she was in town. I think I must have missed the change in stock, because there were no one-piece sleepers for kids over 9 mo a few weeks ago. I will have to wrangle a trip with a friend to get in on the pj-deals.

I'm off to photograph my shoes.

[motherbumper]

I decided it sounded like fun, whipped out the camera and posted my shoes!!!!!! Thanks for the Friday fun. Of course my post isn't as well versed as yours but I had just the same amount of fun. Have a good weekend!

[Jenny]

Oh red shoes...I love red shoes so much it makes me hurt. And the green kitten heels. Yummy.

I can't post pictures of my closet on my blog because of the fascists but I have to say that it's one of my favorite rooms in my house because it's filled with all the crap that I've picked up at estate sales that wouldn't fit anywhere else in the house. Ice skating crowns, tarot cards, curious george lunchboxes, broken dolls, marrionettes, Sound of Music memorabilia, black and white photos of interesting looking strangers...plus wigs, costumes, boa's. If only I could fit a recliner in there it would be perfect.

[aunt penni]

Nice save on those wedding shoes! They turned out fabulous! Of course, I do love the red shoes the best ;) I have completely lost control of how many pairs of shoes I have. When I think of all of the money and space I have devoted to shoes, I get very depressed...depressed enough to need retail therapy...must have more shoes!

[Mommy off the Record]

I have a secret. It's kinda shameful, but here it is. I'm not much of a shoe girl. I haven't gotten into it yet. In fact, my husband is the one who loves shoes. I mean he LOVES shoes. He is always on the Internet shoe shopping. I think he's addicted. One time he ordered 3 EXPENSIVE shoes from the Internet and I practically had a cow. (Ooh, haven't used that phrase in a long time.) Anyway, I forced him to return 2 of the 3 pairs. He also has a professional shoe shining kit that he uses to buff his shoes regularly. Me? I wear my shoes until they fall of my feet. And they are not the type of shoes that one would buff. They are usually from Target or Mervyns. I think I have 5 pairs of shoes total. 3 that I wear regularly. What's wrong with me?

By the way, I love your wedding shoes. What a good idea to dye them black! Now you can wear them forever. You are so smart. I wouldn't have thought of doing that.

[Suebob]

THAT's disorganized? Bwwwwaaaa haaaa haaa. I hate to tell you that that looks a lot like my Best Most Organized Day Ever.

I am also a freak because I care not about shoes. Comfy? Check. Fit? Check. Cheap? I'll take them.

[Nancy]

What Mrs. Chicky said -- I am so far behind! And I have missed you...

Those pink mules with the light green bows are divine. And the red Saucony sneakers, yum.

It's fun to see your closet. I am jealous, though -- I used to have a walk-in and now I've got a skinny closet. Fortunately, my hubz has his own so we don't have to try and scrounge for room.

[julia]

My shoes are currently sulking in the closet. I'm afraid they might get their hopes up if I take them out and take pictures of them.

[mamatulip]

Wow. You put my sneakers and flip flops to shame.

[Andrea]

I love shoe pictures! I didn't post any of mine though, because I'm embarrassed by my shoe collection. As I said in my post, I've only just begun to like shoes. Glad I inspired this post! What fun!

[wordgirl]

You are a brave woman to photograph the inside of your closet. Were I to attempt this feat, I'm afraid it would cause retinal damage to many viewers. Love the shoes.

[MelanieinOrygun]

OOOOOH no. The last time I posted about shoes, I got no end of the mockery.

I just want you to know that what I actually just typed was "moskery" - and I was sorely tempted to leave it like that, just to give you a little "WTF?" head-scratcher moment.

Maybe when the emotional scars over the hot-pink tennies have faded more, I will post a pic of my fave heels - Bongo, black, 3-inch heel, 1940s movie-star style, with two little buckles on the toes (SQUEAL!)...

[Mrs. Chicky]

I'm sorry. Where the hell have I been? I missed 3 posts? Crap. Sorry again.

Bad, Mrs. C, bad, bad, bad.

While I love that you posted a picture of your lovely shoes (the black ones are gorgeous, but I'm loving those red ones on the left) I think my practical side is coming out... I love those red Saucony's. I want a pair. They're red and fun and I hardly ever wear heels anymore so that's why I love them.

I bet you weren't expecting that, were you?