Like most shoe lovers, I have a tendency to wear my shoes into the ground. As you’ve probably noticed, I own…well, let’s just say several pairs of shoes. I’d say more than average, but not yet reaching Imelda Marcos status. Despite the shoe boxes piled around my boudoir, however, I still have a difficult time parting with any of them after they’ve been well-loved and am a big fan of repairing instead of replacing. As such, I’ve worn a path to the trusted cobbler near work and can often be seen pacing back and forth outside the shoe surgery ward, anxiously waiting to hear if he can bring yet another pair of precious soles back to life.
One of my very favorite pairs of flats, covered in gold and silver sequins and perfectly molded to my feet, has one toe left here on earth and the rest of the foot on her way to the great big shoe store in the sky. I continue to fight her departure because, much like a longtime friend, they really know my feet best. So deep is my desperation to save these glittery bits of leather and sequins from calceological heaven, I have (on more than one occasion) spent the eventing taping the insides of them together in an effort to get just a few more months out of them. The crunch when I walk could be heard for blocks.
But eventually, reality must be faced. So, a few weeks back I set out on a mission to find a replacement pair. Now, most of the time, setting out with a goal to find a certain pair of shoes is pretty much as likely as running into an ex-boyfriend when you’re fresh from the salon, wearing the perfect outfit and have the perfect witty, yet detached comeback at the ready (read: Never. Ever. Happens). By some miracle, I set out on my Shoe Replacement Adventure with a friend and in the very first shop we stepped into, there these beauties sat, waiting for a nice lady to come along and adopt them.
I‘ve always had a bit of a thing for ballet inspired shoes. There’s something so romantic about shoes that inspire twirling on a daily basis (as you know I’m a big fan of twirling for no reason and then twirling some more). These beauties have the comfort of flats but with just enough added sass to put a spring in my step, as only truly cute footwear can. Not to mention this pair is the perfect mix of gold and silver (which goes with everything), the adorable blunt toe, so reminiscent of the ballerina in all of us, and the indulgent lace up satin ribbons that travel delicately up my ankles, making them the most versatile-meets-charming shoes in existence.
Speaking of versatility (Okay, not really. Total sidebar warning): If any of you are bloggers (or just people who like action shots), I’m sure you can relate to the jumping-photos-gone-awry. Usually my face is scrunched up in concentration, or I’m sporting a double chin a la Jabba the Hutt, or alternatively I look like I’m flying through a wind tunnel. But, perhaps these shoes really did bring out the ballerina in me, because I somehow managed the perfect jumping photo.
So let’s hope the rest of the day, full of experiments and the endless To Do List, goes the way of this jumping photo…where all of the elements somehow magically come together and the day is perfectly on pointe.
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Dress: Betsey Johnson, thrifted (similar modern here or here or vintage here, here, & here)
Cardigan: Pinup Girl Clothing (similar)
Ballerina Brooch: c/o Word from the Bird (similar here & here)
Belt: Alannah Hill (similar)
Train Case: Cloth Magpie (similar here, here & here)
Shoes: Melissa Shoes Australia (currently on sale!)
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