28 March, 2012

These Boots Were Made For…Obnoxiously Posting About Them on the Internet (And Making Disgusting Attempts at Puns in the Title)

✍ CURRENTLY WRITING FROM: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

After being okay with the fact that I have emotional attachment to pairs of shoes, I put on each of the shoes pictured here and re-enacted the opening scene of Footloose.  (Click it—you’ll want to do it, too.)

I, as you can maybe tell, am not one to take delicate care of my footwear, but I think that the scuffs and the rips and the dead shoelaces show how much I love the shoes?  I use them so much because I love them.  It… makes sense.  And now I’m talking about loving shoes, and I’m sure I’m starting to sound like a materialistic monster, so I’ll stop and share my love stories with these shoes.


1. Even though I got these shoes only last summer, these are clearly abused—they’re dirty, and even though you can’t tell, they’re scuffed with orange at the toes from all the times I’ve tripped on the track at our school.  Every time I see these shoes, I feel like donning a coral sleeveless button down with high-waisted shorts and lounging on my front lawn.  I’ve worn them for two weeks straight, and once I almost came close to writing on them, but I wanted to keep the clean white-ish look as long as possible.

 

2.  As wrong and terrible as it probably sounds, I would probably cry if anything ever happened to my black Converse.  Yeah, I know, those suckers used to be black.  I’ve had those since 7th grade.  I’ve worn those shoes for four years now, and they still fit me!  Just a bit tighter than before, of course, but they’re not unbearable.  As you can see, the little metal rings that let the shoelaces go through them have popped off in three places in the right shoe and once in the left.  Since I sit cross-legged most of the time, the sides of the heel part of the shoe have been completely rubbed off.  The  canvas fabric has come off and all that’s left is the white part underneath the shoe.  The day that they are obviously too torn to use will be the saddest day of my life.  I’ve even written on them!  They’re like babies now.


3. I don’t know how to tell this story without sounding like the aforementioned materialistic monster, but I’ll try.  You know that once faithful day, the first day you actually dress yourself without your mom’s help?  That day…  happened too late for me.  Not that I needed my mother’s help, she just felt the need to help me quite a lot in the clothing styles I had.  She was an avid Target and Wal-Mart shopper, and, not that there’s anything wrong with Target—most of my clothes are still from there, anyway—but I just didn’t want to wear a plain t-shirt and Mossimo shorts with black slippers to church again.  So, on one tragic Sunday morning, I told my mother I wanted to dress myself.  She pretended she was hurt and didn’t want to speak to me for the rest of the day, but mostly she was afraid of what I’d come up with.  There wasn’t too much to be afraid of, because I didn’t have much variety to choose from, but I still came up with a strange combination of an old Celine Dion t-shirt that finally fit me, with a hot pink tulle skirt, and purple poolside flip-flops (this was my unfortunate seventh grade “color-blocking” phase).  She, of course, didn’t let me go out like this, and she reminded me repeatedly that she didn’t like the way I dressed.

Then my freshman and sophomore year I decided I wanted to try a girly menswear approach to clothes—black pants, button-downs, plaid, and whole butt-load of oxfords.  My mother was fine with the button-downs and the whole “classy” idea I had of how I wanted to dress…  but she didn’t like the idea of Oxfords, or wanting to look guy-ish, or my really long hair, or my sudden interest in make-up.  In her words, it was “really confusing, too quickly”.  This spawned many arguments and disagreements on completely irrelevant things—we fought over anything because I felt suffocated, and as if I couldn’t be myself.

On my sixteenth birthday, however, my mother got me the pair of shoes above.  She didn’t explain much as to why she got me the shoes, but she kept eyeing me as I tore them out of the box.  I kept squealing like a child, because here was what seemed like a peace offering—she was okay with the way I wanted to dress, she was letting me have these shoes to dress myself with them the way I wanted to dress myself, she was okay with letting me express myself.  And the quiet message she was getting across made me tear up a bit in the car, and she didn’t say anything, but I still appreciated it.
It was a small thing, but I appreciated it, and her, and of course, the shoes.


4. The shoes above are the first heels I’ve ever owned.  When I first got them, I wondered why I had never owned any before, considering I’m 4’11, and I should really circle my life around the quest to make myself seem taller at all times, but then I remembered that ah-ha, ha ha ha, I don’t know how to walk in heels.  I used to try with my my mom’s heels every time I sneaked into her magical walk-in closet, but I’d always end up twisting my ankles, or awkwardly toppling onto my knees, or doing the strange locked-knees walk.  I tried watching YouTube tutorials (I swear to you, those exist) on how to walk in high-heels, but I still wouldn’t get it.  I made a post before on my terrible posture, and my dad used the opportunity of my new heels to teach me how to walk properly in heels while maintaining a “lady’s posture”.  I still don’t know how to properly walk in heels, but it’s on my to-do list.  Those look so shiny and glossy, I need to wear them in public soon.


5. If these look like they’ve been in a bar fight…  well, that’s because they haven’t, but I’ve worn them to death (which, er, is almost the same.  Not that I’ve ever witnessed a bar fight, but, you know, one can imagine).  They’ve been almost everywhere—and by everywhere, I mean completely cliché instances that belong in a movie with Zooey Deschanel in it.  I took them to the beach (I know) and they got sand all inside them, and when I went home, I dumped all the sand inside them into a an old candle jar and labeled it “Pirates Booty” (get it because pirates remind me of beaches and sand and they have booty—both monetary and bodily—and booty resembles the word boots and I completely spelled the joke out for you, but do you get it).  They’ve been in rainstorms, I’ve run away from people in them, and a girl in a Mohawk told me they were “naaaaayce”.  I request to be buried in these.


6. These shoes are the closest things I’ll ever have to saddle shoes, I think, but I still love them nonetheless.  I’ve spilled coffee on them (which pair haven’t I already), as you can see, but that’s not why I love these shoes oh so much.  I lament not remembering how I styled my hair that day, but these shoes are special to me because I remember that I wore these shoes on the day where I woke up, got ready for school, and looked at myself in the mirror and told myself, for the first time, that I felt pretty that day.  I don’t mean to get gushy or pity party-esque, but I remember that I wore those shoes with a dress I’ve been meaning to look for (it was also the first time I wore a dress to school), and I saw myself in the mirror and I told myself that I felt pretty that day, and even if I didn’t feel pretty tomorrow, didn’t mean I changed physically (unless I got hit in the face with something, I don’t know), but I didn’t have to be reminded by everyone else—it wasn’t important.

I don’t mean to emphasize that  maybe it was the shoes that made me feel pretty, but it was nice to remember that they were there, and that I really liked the energy that surged through me that day, and the way it made me walk.  (Plus, the shoes are nice!)


Ah, shoes.

38 comments :

  1. Just gonna sit here and covet your heels for a bit. Don't mind me.

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  2. Hahahaha, loving the title and your shoesss! :) Thanks for your comment btw! :)

    thelovedless.blogspot.com

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  3. YES you nailed it. I love my black chucks. I've had mine for 4 years too, and unfortunately I can't really wear them that much. It's time for new ones, but I don't think I'll be able to get rid of the old ones. Also, I will love you for forever for the footloose comment. That movie's in my top 5, for sure.

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  4. Wow your chucks last for ages! I used to wear my black hi-tops all the time, but they lasted 3 years tops before the sole started splitting apart. I love the oxfords your mum got for you, and the story behind it.

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  5. thank you so musch! yes it is, i love that place :)
    and i love all your shoes!

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  6. I love looking at other people's stuff (especially shoes) I am so nosey! I wore my first pair of chucks to death too. Mine were red high tops, I bought them when I was 13 and I kept them literally until the soles came off!

    Charlotte

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  7. Ah shoes, indeed! I practically live in my converse and if they ever get to the stage where I can't wear them anymore (in public) I wear them to paint in my studio, so they get covered in multi colours and are still, technically, in use! This is my first time reading your blog - only just found you (through Polaroid Dreamer blog) and I'm loving reading your posts. Will definitely be back!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, I love Polaroid Dreamer! It's one of my favorites! Thank you!

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  8. cool post, I have converse too and they're like my fav shoes (white) even though I don't wear them on my blog;))

    http://www.letiziabarcelona.com

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  9. This is a lovely post and, at least for me, you cannot be happy with a pair or shoes without them being worn/destroyed. I only have horrible shoes at the moment :( Got any boys' recommendations? My only not destroyed pair are well ugly and I only bought them so I didn't have to be dragged around any more shoe shops haha xx

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  10. Ahh, I love how a lot of your shoes are old and scuffed and have a story behind them. I have quite a few pairs like that. That's the nice thing about shoes, they do feel like they have their own personality and story!

    And... I have 'Footloose' stuck in my head now :)

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  11. wow you have so many converses, i love that you doodled all over your last ones :D It's cute that you have a story behind them, all the stories behind my shoes go along the lines of'got these for £... The end' aha, i know. sucks.

    Sanam x
    My Fashion/Photography blog: DayByDiva

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  12. loving all the converses!

    www.aroundlucia.com
    www.aroundlucia.com

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  13. Oh, I wish! Coachella is my dream festival to go to one day -the date is just a reminder for me to watch the many performances and what not on the internet haha. Loving all of your converse shoes, they all look so comfy! :)

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  14. Asw. Thank you! It went ok actually :)

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  15. I recently stumbled across your blog and I LOVE it! I love the layout to the content and everything in between! Your style is just impeccable and your blog is simply the epitome of perfection! I love how you actually write a lot with your posts, not many people do that nowadays and it's such a shame - you're such an eloquent writer!

    Love from, THE EASTERN PEARL

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  16. it's more than understandable to feel emotional attachment towards shoes! i love your 4th and 6th pairs:) x

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  17. This is such a nice post. I LOVE the story with the third shoes, it so nice. I never had such a 'thing' with my parents. But I know when my dad told me, at one of the first times I could dress myself, that I should wear colours that were actually matching so I wouldn't look like a tramp. I was pretty insulted at that point, but I soon knew that he was right, but I guess he could've been a tad bit more subtle. :p

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  18. I've only just found your blog but I think the writing is amazing. So many blogs just focus entirely on pretty pictures with no thought or emotion behind them - your blog is refreshing! I feel like I'm gushing so i'll stop now, but yeh... great post!

    xx

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  19. Aaaw what a lovely blog! I would absolutely bet that you'll be a converse-grandma, just as me. I wear my pair of black converse sneakers since I was 14 (which is seven years ago) and I will never. never. never. stop. And I don't want a new pair, no, no, never.

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  20. ha, girl you are absolutely hilarious! love your style of writing! and i totally grow attachments to my shoes too ;)
    xo TJ

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  21. I don't have words to explain how much I loved reading this, and it's probably the longest thing I have read all day but my freaking gosh it was beautiful. You've definitely got such a flow and ease with your writing, and just real wit. It's so refreshing to read a story about REAL shoes. Shoes with an actual history to them. This was awesome love. THIS BLOG IS TOO AMAZING! Xx

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  22. Well worn shoes are usually well loved shoes. Love reading all about your shoes!

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  23. I am the same way with my converse. My pride and joy pair have little sea animals "in love" all over them. I clean them after every wear! =D Great post!

    Love & Lollies... Jessa

    Confessions of the Cupcake Countessa

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  24. The converse story reminded me of my own chucks. Back in the day when I went to school, had a uniform and no need for any fashionable things. All I had were my chucks, I wore them every single day, and they all ended up completely trashed. Memories.

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  25. lovely sneaker collection, ya my mom freaked out the day I started dressing myself too... and now she asks me for fashion advice once in a while haha glad she's trusting my judgement like yours!!

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  26. Hey again! Just wanted to pop back and say thankyou for the comment :) it's much appreciated :)

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  27. Les chaussures sont la meilleure partie ^^
    J'aime beaucoup celles-ci, juste ce qu'il faut, juste les bons modèle.

    Très jolie blog, au plaisir :)

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  28. Great collection of shoes ! ^^ I really like those nr 4. since I'm really short too.. And 5&6 are really nice ones too.

    Thank you for the comment! ^^ Do stop by anytime again / follow :> I love new readers.
    Have a lovely weekend,

    Satu
    - Indie by Heart

    Ps. Birthday Giveaway

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  29. Oh I love your writing so much, and I love how all of your shoes have stories and lives and ah they're all so rad.
    dozen dresses

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  30. yum, i like your shoes miss




    isabelle
    drinkteabecontent.blogspot.com

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  31. I love the story of pair no. 3. Growing up is almost as hard on mothers as it is on ourselves I think, but they are a very lovely peace offering!

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  32. converse! i love mine so much too. i will never ever get a new pair until they fall apart. love your blog btw!

    xx
    Cory

    http://corybscorner.blogspot.de/

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  33. This is probably the best title I've ever seen for a blog post - WINNER. Love the story accompanying the last pair of shoes, it's amazing how clothing can affect how you feel

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  34. Such a cute post! I loved reading the chronicles of your favourite shoes haha :) My favourite pair are probably the last ones :)

    <3 Shawna
    Serpentine Streets

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  35. Jajajaja! Ojalá a mi me salieran títulos para los post así de geniales! xDDD
    Y estoy totalmente de acuerdo, los zapatos usados son zapatos amados. Aunque debo confesar que ultimamente los cuido muchisimo porque mi mamá ya no me compra calzado cada vez que quiero xDD ero si que tengo montón de converse llenas de amor <3

    3 y 4 son mis favoritos! :D

    Girls that glitter love the dark
    xoxo

    Join my giveaway, here

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  36. Thank-you for the comment my lovely, your shoes are so you, it's lovely!

    Lots of Love,

    Lily from Red Brick Lipstick

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Thank you, pal.