by Karolyn Hart

On so many levels writing an article about women and shoes seems like a stereo-typical womens article and is NOT something I would normally want to entertain. The fact is I find it much easier to write on any topic other than this one because at first glance an article on shoes? Well how much more shallow and materialistic can we get?

However, I came up with this crazy series because of a website I stumbled across. Dave The Shoe Guy has created an entire business out of selling women’s shoes. $7 million to be exact bought by 35, 000 of his customers. (Seriously, THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND??)  Then he made me laugh, asking “What is it with women and shoes??” I had to admit, he had me hooked! I’ve often wondered myself and the fact that a guy who has sold that many shoes to that  many women is still asking intrigued me!

Well Dave gave me a challenge and I love a challenge. So in my normal fashion I did what I always do when I don’t have an idea of what I am talking about. I hit Google and started researching my face off when the most amazing thing happened! I started learning there is much more to shoes then I’ve ever given any thought or consideration too.

I was amazed at what I discovered!

I discovered there is a controversy over whether or not the “heel” can or cannot be attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci. (DaVinci!!) I also discovered there is a women scientist that has done a study to show wearing a pair of moderately high heels can tone the body, condition muscles, and improve a women’s sex life without the need for onerous exercise. The complete study is at www.uroweb.org/publications/. I even found a Youtube video teaching me how to walk in high-heels. (Too bad YouTube didn’t exist 20 years ago when I strapped on my first pair of heels but I digress!)

The fact is that I’m a pretty simple girl. I like to look pretty and appreciate the height that a heel gives my short stature but I wouldn’t say I am obsessed - not even close. When I am at home I go from my flip flops, to my crocs, to my running shoes, to my practical flat black”everything” shoe but I wouldn’t say that means I am a shoe fanatic.

As much as my husband finds it hard to believe - in women circles - I don’t fall into the realm of the “fanatic shoe girl” at all. I don’t make shopping for shoes a priority. Then again, as a general rule I find the whole idea of “shopping” a necessary evil that I MUST do annually to replace certain items. I have often thought that having a body double take care of that hassle for me would be ideal. That said, I’m not completely out of sync with the world of women.

Case in point?

My friend skips buy my office in her new pair of designer something or others, stopping momentarily to stick her foot in and show off her new shoes. I coo accordingly, she says some Italian name that vaguely sounds like DaVinci only to have her cock her head with a smile as she comments “You have no idea who that is do you?”. The truth is I don’t but then again I don’t know fashion in general. It’s never really bothered me because at the end of the day I still can recognize a cute pair of shoes and appreciate the way it makes my friend look amazing.

I also understand this “mostly” universal truth - women wear heels, men don’t. It sounds over simplified but it’s an understanding that unites women. For example: Men get out of a cab late for a meeting and run without hesitation. Women get out of that same cab, see the cobblestone road, look for another safer path and THEN run carefully not to twist our ankles. Men wear their comfortable shoes all day with little thought at any point! Women, on the other hand, have learned to expertly dangle our shoe from our toe to give our foot a break as we pound out a report.

I personally believe it’s these types of differences that make it a requirement for women to notice each others shoe efforts. Let’s face it, when we see a women clicking along in a pair of stilettos after watching her present for three hours in front of an audience we are impressed. The least we can do for our fellow sister is to acknowledge her effort!

After all, those heels she’s teetering so carefully on may be a work of great art and the best invention provided to the fashion world by the great artist DaVinci…

… or maybe not.

Filed under: Author Karolyn, Shoes