If These Shoes Could Talk: Conversations from My Closet

If my shoes could talk, oh, what a story they could tell! If you have never seen it, my closet is a shrine to my approximately 100 pairs of shoes. I have them displayed on racks and shelves by type, color and expense. I have a very modest walk-in closet but you can find me sitting on the floor (about 10 feet x 6 feet) just taking a deep breath from all chaos and admiring all my shoes. I have no idea why shoes make so happy, but I think it has more to do what they represent to me rather than the function they serve. I'm sure a shrink would say that the shoes in my closet represent the life I want rather than the life I have. Maybe. But for me, shoes are a way to express myself and my sense of style without having to worry about how much weight I have put on or how much time I have to spend on putting an entire outfit together. There is a reason so many women are shoe crazy and I think this is exactly why.

Since it is a Monday and it started out as a particularly crappy one at that, I thought I would cheer myself up by reflecting on my favorite topic: shoes. Each Monday, I will pick a pair of shoes that speak to me and tell the story they want to tell. This idea was suggested by my fabulously talented friend, Julie, who can make anything beautiful with a spot of paint, a tool box full of beads and glue gun. I have a bit of talent as well, and my favorite one is my ability to accessorize. With an unlimited budget, I am positive I could make this world a perfectly stylishly accessorized place. Tim Gunn and Stacey London would be proud.

I love the "Fabulous" Michael Kors. I cannot say his name without the "Fabulous" added to it. I became a big fan when I undertook "Project Runway" as a pseudo religion. He is a handsome, gay, Jewish man from Long Island. In another words, he is my fantasy best friend. He has a wicked sense of humor and killer taste. His designs are clean, fresh and timeless. There isn't much you could purchase from his collections that will look like you have indulged in a fad. I am of the firm belief that once you have reach the age of 40, you better live in Beverly Hills or Miami Beach and under the care of a plastic surgeon if you want to dress in the latest fad. A few pieces here and there are fine unless you want to look like a desperate middle age woman trying, and failing, to look 20-something.

Because I love the "Fabulous" Michael Kors, I was particularly excited to spot these summer wedge sandals last year. White is hard to find and even harder to find in something that doesn't scream "nurse" or "dowdy." These say, "I love the beach with a glass of fine Pinot Grigio, a large floppy straw hat while seated in a lounge chair with not a child in sight." Needless to say, I snapped them right up. They came out in March when it was still cold and begged my family to contribute to my shoe addiction for my April birthday. My wish was granted. Because the combination of white patent leather with straw is both timeless and gorgeous, I became obsessed with finding a matching bag. Mind you, the "matchy-matchy" thing "out" or a "don't" but in this case, I don't care. The combination says "lets enjoy the hell out of the warm weather and look great doing it." This is an enormous comfort to me while buying groceries at MarketBasket or pull ups at Walmart. Hey, a girl needs something "fabu" to get through the day, right!?!

It is just about time to pull these out of the closet. Currently, they are lovingly covered in their dust bags on the appropriate summer themed shelf. Before I pull them out, I will give myself a perfect pedicure of ruby red or white french and slip these on to welcome the warmth of spring. I only hope that I don't need to kick them off in a panic to make a mad dash to save a child from an oncoming car, a fall out of a tree or some other impending disaster. No matter how hard I've look, no top shelf designer has made a pair of shoes that can help me do that in heels. Maybe that is the next big marketing idea in shoes...I may be onto something.

Have a beautiful Monday. Go get yourself some fabulously stylish shoes. You will thank me. I promise.