Many women have a mini-wardrobe of shoes and I include myself among them. Christian Louboutin dreamed of his fantastic footwear in his early teens and launched his high end retail brand in 1990, which are instantly recognizable and legendary with their red soles. Sarah Jessica Parker acknowledged her shoe obsession and referred to her shoes as her “lover” on Sex and the City. She eventually designed her own brand of shoes.. It seems we all have a designer whose shoes we love.
Speaking of love, Cole Haan and Nike collaborated to create a marriage made in heaven with versatile shoes that redefine comfort and fit. Uggs were introduced in 1978 by Brian Smith, an Australian who moved to Southern California with a bag of sheepskin and boots. The beaches of Southern California had been an epicenter of relaxed, casual lifestyle, and a lifestyle that Brian felt was a perfect fit for his brand. When Oprah declared her love for Uggs it put the brand on the map! Actually some of my favorites as a child and today are rubber flip flops in a myriad of colors that I purchase at Target! They remind me of the summer season! I adore flip flops so much that I found some dangling flip flop earrings in 14 karat gold! What a keepsake!
As I explore the myriad of shoes and which ones flatter your height and boost body esteem, embrace your autonomy in your sense of style. In my book Body Esteem: Piece of Cake and Peace of Mind I enlighten one on how to become the curator of your closet (#CYOC), but the emphasis here is to strategically use your shoes in styling your wardrobe. My chapter on Fashion Quotient (FQ): Style Icons emphasizes the importance of flattering your favorite features (#FYFF) and becoming your own stylist (#BYOS). When it comes to your shoes, select styles that you love and drown out the noise of the derogatory comments of “who wore it worst or the fashion police.”
Many tall women avoid wearing high heels because they fear they will be taller than their partner. Princess Diana starting wearing taller heels after her divorce with Prince Charles and it profiled her lovely legs! If we step into Princess Diana’s shoes we may recall that she suffered from bulimia nervosa, but seemed to become more autonomous after her unhappy marriage and it was reflected in her sense of style (showing her décolletage). I challenge you to wear what you like regardless of your height or if your partner is shorter than you! Gladiator sandals and ankle strapped shoes work beautifully for a tall woman because they highlight you gazelle legs.
Paradoxically, short women can wear stilettoes or wedges to lengthen their physique and give the illusion of looking more slender and taller. It is one of the best secret weapons for improving your fashion quotient (FQ). Shoes that are similar to your skin tone such as beige, rose gold, or gold will lengthen your leg line and body. Dresses with empire style waist that match your shoes also give this effect. Flat sandals and platforms for summer are other great options for an elongating effect. Think of the multi-talented Reese Witherspoon in her distinctive southern belle style. Let’s put ourselves in her shoes since she is a risk taker which fosters self-efficacy and body esteem! She won an academy award in her performance Walk the Line and wowed her audience in HBO’s Big Little Lies. She is a fashion icon in her petite dresses and ladylike style that is reminiscent of growing up in the South. And, she now has her own fashion brand Draper James. She accessorizes her style with bright and colorful shoes.
Next time you see someone in a stunning pair of shoes compliment them and allow them to inspire you versus being critical of others. It takes courage to become your own stylist (#BYOS) and accessorize your outfits with shoes, but the rewards are immeasurable. Afterall, stepping into the shoes of those around you gives all of us a greater appreciation for others.