Fall Shoes
The mother of a friend who is 94, still wears heels. She simply won’t give them up. And why should she? As long as she isn’t prone to toppling over. It’s not hard to figure out that it’s her little victory over advanced age. At least it seems so to me.
I like small heels now that I’m older, never more than two inches, but each fall I go in search of the perfect cool-weather shoes and usually they are flats. Shopping for shoes in the fall confounds me because that’s when my inner hippie makes her appearance. Earthy practical shoes appeal to me when the leaves turn but the shoes I crave don’t really go with the rest of my life. I wish I had the courage to buy and wear the bohemian shoes I like with every pant and dress I own. But I can’t. At least not until I am of the age of wearing purple all the time. That’s a reference to the book, When I am Old, I will wear Purple, as if wearing purple were such an avant-garde thing to do. I did know a woman at church who wore her “hippie shoes” with her spring floral dresses and I thought she looked refreshing. Feminine with an “I-don’t-care-about-fashion-but-I-do” attitude.
But when I reach for my wallet, I usually find that I am plunking down money on another pair of work-day-ready flats. I do choose those with a little interest though – a discreet bow, a slightly more pointed toe, or a chic new color. But as I leave the store, my heart does a backwards glance toward the rounded-toed Mary -Jane’s in nut brown, or the 1970’s earth shoe look-alike in muted red. The kind of shoes that are so comfortable you could wear them as slippers.
So the hippie inside me tries to get out and express herself at least in shoes. It’s a style dichotomy that I have long struggled with. You would never know it to look at me but I had a surprising Earth Mother phase after my daughter was born. Not only did I wear hippie shoes and long tiered skirts, but I made my daughter’s baby food. I embraced my alter self in part because I read Mothering magazine religiously which was a publication bent on keeping one’s children safe from every pesticide known to man. It promoted a simple close-to-the-earth lifestyle and militantly supported the breastfeeding mom. I did that too and for such a long time that my pediatrician practically beamed at me when I brought my baby in for regular check-ups.
During my long working years in the city, I wore heels like every other woman. And I really loved them – the nice line they give when worn with pants and the finished and polished look they add to wool skirts or summer dresses. Like my friend’s mother, I will always have a few pairs in my closet for as long as I can.
In May, I shopped with my daughter at a great outdoor market where I tried on a pair of real wooden clogs. They were oiled leather in brown. Very earthy-chic. I saw myself in full-blown middle-age hippie mode: baking gluten-free bread, collecting dried flowers for potpourri, and teaching my granddaughter to knit by the fire I built myself with kindling from the backyard. The shoes were nearly irresistible but in In the end, my Chanel and pearl side won out again. I would never find the time to forage for kindling with the unbalanced life I am living right now.
It isn’t really that strange that fall shoe shopping brings out another side of me. Shoes desires have long been written about. Women are passionate about them – whether heels, flats, sandals, teetering stilettos, practical, or Earth Shoes. There are so many imaginative styles of shoes today. But those simple and plain brown wooden clogs may just make it into my closet one fall.
10 Comments
Nancy Lee
Beautiful and timely post. I simply love to wear them with pants socks, pants and a decent layering of sweaters. This present season’s shading is on the burgundy side with a slight one and a half heel. Presently I’m on the chase for a coordinating handbag. I have those oiled dark-colored stops up however I don’t wear them regularly, they do show up with my contraband pants and Irish sweater sometimes.
A Lovely Inconsequence
Very funny Nancy Lee! Contraband pants and Irish sweaters? Me too! Best wishes for finding that perfect bag.
Margaret Powling
Like you, Donna, I used to wear ‘heels’, stilettos in the 1950s/1960s/1970s, and all kinds of shoes in between, except wedges which I really dislike (I understand the Queen dislikes them, too, but how true that is, goodness knows). Now, I can only wear a flattish shoe as I have arthritis and any kind of high heel is painful to walk in. Indeed, finding a shoe that is, indeed, comfortable let alone stylish has eluded me for a very long time. I have four pairs (different colours) of the same shoe I bought four years ago but now I’m finding that this style isn’t comfortable, so four almost-new pairs sitting in the wardrobe; I use them for very short periods, such as going out to lunch when I know they will be on for two hours max and then I can go straight home and remove them. The trouble is, there is nothing wrong with them – they fit me perfectly, it’s my feet that hurt, not the shoe that hurts. A very difficult situation. I live in m y Converse trainers these days and even those can cause problems as they lace up quite high on the foot. One of these days I will find the holy grail of shoes, those that are comfortable and stylish – so far this has eluded me.
Cissy
Mary Jane’s are my shoe preference for Autumn! I just love to wear them with trouser socks, jeans and a nice layering of blouse/sweaters. This seasons color is on the burgundy side with a slight 1 1/2″ heel. Now I’m on the hunt for a matching purse….(I’m from the days of matching and color coordinating your attire).
I only wear heels now for very special occasions, and of course boots are standard wear here in New England for winter.
Tracy H
Oh, yes the dichotomy predilection. I fight it also.
Preppy urges pull me constantly.
I have those oiled brown clogs, Danskos, for 10 years. I don’t wear them often, but they do make an appearance with my bootleg jeans and Irish sweater every once in awhile.
Have you looked at Jambu brand?
They might bridge the gap for you.
A Lovely Inconsequence
Yes Tracy, the clogs would look terrific styled with your sweater. I’ll explore Jambu. Thank you!
Amy
Yes! We are in Madison right now (my alma mater) and I just bought a pair of Birkenstocks and intend to wear them with dresses, skirts and tights and jeans. I think it’s a cute look and it’s my first pair in 25 years.
A Lovely Inconsequence
I love Birks…I have a pair for the garden. Enjoy those shoes Amy and thank you.
Ann
Great post – hooray for wearing heels as long as you can! I agree…clogs still call my name but I go with a more practical flat that goes with everything. My heels are for church, special occasions, and holding on to a pair or two that are “going out to dinner” shoes…fine to walk to the car, into the restaurant, back to the car…that’s it! Your September post reminded me of back to school days in the 70’s when I had to have a new pair of Bass Weejuns ! Have a fabulous Fall!!!
A Lovely Inconsequence
Adore a well-made flat Ann. My fiance bought me a pair of Bass Weejuns for Christmas. He selected the ones with the black grosgrain bow – a nod to the Chanel in me. Thank you for your readership.