Women and Gay men love their shoes. From sexy sandals and flip flops to boots and dress shoes. I have to admit it was not until high school the I learned the power of a great shoe and the lengths that some are willing to go to get them.
It was my sophomore year and I was doing my own back to school shopping, my mother said since I was working and had my own money I had to. I did all my shopping in center city. I went to Ross, Strawbridge’s, and almost every store in and surrounding the gallery. After buying many different shirts and pants and blazers I had the craving for burgundy dress shoes. I looked high and low, I doubled back and went to some stores that I knew I could not afford I wanted burgundy shoes that bad.
My freshman year I saw the principal wearing burgundy shoes and I thought they were sharp. At the time I did not that i wanted them I just liked them until I had my own money to spend. I no longer had to wear what my mother wanted me to wear. No more surprise shirts that I could not wear because I didn’t have proper pants . no more jeans that were to big and no more shoes that had to go with everything. I could buy a shirt that made since only with the elements it was purchased with.
I soon realized that my money could only go so far, I eventually found the burgundy shoes and while they were a half size to big I purchased them any way. The looks, the ah’s, and the compliments were nonstop my sophomore year. I had many different looks and they were all my own. Inspired by a single item of clothing I would work to create a look that was surprising yet worked. Some of them even had names like Kiwi Strawberry, or the Blue look.
While my personal style started with shoes it did not end there I then found a love for sunglasses and each outfit had to have the proper shades and it soon trickled to my casual dress.
As time went on and money had to be allocated to other things my style showed it. When I came out of the closet it became a problem. That’s when I learned one of the most important lessons in life. You can go through shit, be dealing with shit, and feel like shit as long as you look great. So I started getting comfortable with my body embracing the fact I was slim and the men loved it. Once again while my wardrobe was taking on new looks and they were all my own, it reflected a new era. It reflected my pride in me and how I no longer wanted to hide being slim.
It eventually got to the point where I no longer wanted to look nice but I wanted to be a head turner. Reddish brown hair, curls, an afro, then makeup to hid imperfections and highlight my eyes without looking like I was wearing makeup. Shade the hid my face, and of course the shoes. Sneakers, sandals, dress, slides, I was now a collector and for Christmas I wanted shoes.
We all love shoes, and the perfect shoe will always put an outfit on track.
