The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/377200
My love affair with high heels began kind of late in my young life, but it has been a passionate one since it was kindled years ago by a pair of beautiful d'Orsay pumps. Sadly, though, medical problems have forced me to face the fact that I really can't wear heels at the moment. So after a few periods of weeping and hugging my favorite shoes (those tan wedge heel boots! those black Mary Jane pumps!), I've resigned myself to reality. The thing is, I've always kind of en- joyed having a challenge to spark my fashion creativity. I wrote a few months ago about my discovery of online fashion prompts as a way to get me to think about my wardrobe differently. So I'm trying to see this current limitation in that same spirit. In truth, I wear flats a lot as it is, be- cause my willingness to suffer for fash- ion is extremely limited. The last time I went out to an occasion that called for heels, I am pretty sure I called a cab just to make sure I didn't have to walk too far from my parking spot to where I was going. (No joke.) But there are certain things — well, lots of things — that just look better with heels. Pencil skirts and flats is a really hard sell, for example. If the flats are pointy enough, and you're tall enough, you can get away with it. But if you are feeling at all stumpy, flats are just going to sink the look completely. And while I was initially cheered to see that wide-leg trousers are due to swing back into fashion, I quickly realized that it is nigh impossible to pull these off without some sort of elevation for your feet. (Although I am experimenting with flared trousers and clogs as a substi- tute.) What I'll really miss, though, are the ability of heels to elevate (figuratively, not literally) the quality of any outfit. Of course, they have to be the right heels and the right outfit, to ensure that you don't look like a stripper or a kid playing dress-up. But the right pair of heels can even make jeans and a T-shirt look a little more polished. Flats just don't have the same panache. At best, they seem like a safe choice, which is generally not the impression I want to convey; at worst, they smack of not trying. Heels, when done right, command respect. They say, "Look at me" in the best possible way. And, of course, they make your legs look fantastic (why else do you think women wear them?). And I will miss all those things. But that's OK. I can rise to this chal- lenge. I am just going to have to step up my fashion game and not rely on shoes to make my outfit shine. (Gulp.) My feet will thank me for it, not only now, but in the long run, as well. And maybe, someday, if I'm a very good girl, I'll get to take those olive green wedges out of storage and give them one more whirl. A girl can dream, can't she? Emily F. Popek is not even talking about the pair of silver Steve Madden stilettos she passed up at the thrift store the other day. She is also assistant editor of The Daily Star. A5 Sept. 4, 2014 O-Town Scene 5 Laygirl Fashion|By Emily Popek Not Suffering For Fashion