White Haute
I’ve never been able to wear white shoes. Even when I was a kid, and other girls wore nice shiny patent white mary janes with little frilly socks, I refused to let my mom put them on my feet. I’m not certain why I had such a visceral response to white shoes even then. Maybe it was a fear of scuffs, or mud. Maybe it was always after Labor Day.
In any case, when I got a little older, they became associated with nurses’ shoes, which I gathered were designed for women who were on their feet all day and thus were far too sensible.
I’ve come close; I’ve bought off-white shoes before — and left them to gather dust in my closet. Even when Carrie started wearing white pumps in Season 4 of Sex and the City — or maybe because she did — I didn’t change my mind. I don’t even like wearing white sneakers to the gym!
But stop the presses: I may be having a change of heart. First there was the Chanel couture show this week, where models floated out in their perfectly cut suits — and these perfectly fabulous white go-go boots (Chanelized with black patent cap toes). Must. Have. Boots…
And that’s not all. I’ve also got my eye on these Christian Louboutin white satin and grosgrain platform sandals that a friend spotted at Bergdorf’s. There’s just something about them — so pretty, so high, so impractical! And thus so irresistible! I know in my heart the unlikelihood of my ever wearing them… and yet… and yet… Must. Have. Louboutins. What’s come over me?
For now, I’m resisting the irresistible. The only thing stopping me from buying them, it turns out, is my conscience. First of all, in all earnestness, it would make me feel really bad that such a beautiful pair of shoes would never see the light of day (never mind the $730 price tag). Okay, whatever. But more importantly I can’t rightly steal these shoes from my friend — that’s worse than stealing a guy! And she saw them first! I really can’t risk bringing the wrath of the shoe gods upon me. Can you imagine always seeing shoes you want and never being able to find your size? Yeah. Bad shoe karma. Shudder!
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January 31st, 2006 10:49
Your instincts are right; never bogart the shoes of a friend, or you will incur bad shoe karma for the rest of your life. Plus, noble self-sacrifice has its pluses: you will have the money when an even more fabulous pair of shoes comes along, which it will, since you did the right thing.
I don’t know if, where or when the Chanel boots will become available; they are really cute, and the black patent toecap helps avoid all those worries about white-shoe-toe-scuff. Which is why, today, I am wearing a pair of black and white lace-up spectator boots. The black is patent leather, and the heel is a 2″ walking heel, and I am filled with Shoe Glee!
January 31st, 2006 15:56
Those Louboutin shoes are amazing, but I agree with you: I’ve never been able to wear white (and not even cream, or light-coloured) shoes, because I could not stand even the smallest spot on them!
January 31st, 2006 17:07
So so true, La BellaDonna! I like your way of thinking!
And omg, love the sound of your shoes. Where did you find them? Shoe Glee is a good thing indeed.
February 1st, 2006 00:21
HA! I love that you wouldn’t wear white shoes even back in the day. The Chanel boots are gorgeous, but I still don’t think I could do it. (Well, ok maybe if forced.) I have had a recurring nightmare about wearing white shoes with nude stockings. It’s haunting.
February 1st, 2006 16:38
I had the boots made to order. “Made to Order” is an important note, because it is parellel to “Made to Measure” as opposed to “Custom Made.” “Made to Order” means I let the nice folks know the design and the materials and a size 8, but I was not standing there being measured and custom-fitted for my very own last; therefore it was made, as the Manolo would have it, for under two hundred of the American dollars in white leather and black patent leather, to their size 8 (as opposed to my very own size
. Custom-made means I would have had to fly there, but it also means we could have talked about my idiosyncratic feet and their oft-broken toes. I’m thinking the next boots will be a half-size bigger. In my future lies a pair of pink leather-and-tapestry boots. And, to celebrate the season of beige (just kidding, it’s because I want them), a pair of gold-and-gold-brocade boots …
I’m not being coy, BTW; as soon as I dig up the site name, I’ll send it to you. There are actually quite a few places where you can have boots or shoes custom-made on the Net; I’m thinking I really need a pair of red 18th Century buckled pumps to wear to work. And I would, too.
Don’t forget that there are still custom bootmakers in New York, just as there are places where you can have jeans custom-made.