Which of course means that I LOVE shoes, I'm very picky about shoes, and I pretty much have hardly ever been able to wear the shoes that I actually like. I have very, very wide feet and pretty much the highest instep most shoe personnel have ever seen. Lucky me. My feet are pretty much built like shoe boxes. In other words, my feet are meant to surround shoes, not to be bound within them.
There was a short period during the 90's where there were shoes I was able to find that both fit and I loved them. It was a period of Period shoes - lots of Victoriana and styles from the 20's - 40's. So I found a pair of black suede Victorian button-down boots that I adored, and a pair of bone leather flapper-era pumps that I similarly loved. And a bunch of really cute flats in all sorts of fabrics and leathers and colors, with fun decorations.
But things went swiftly downhill from there. Styles changed - years where very pointy toes are In are generally years where my feet are really, really Out. I had a baby and the all too common foot-spread that accompanies that process. I got fatter, and so did my feet, which didn't help. All in all, that was pretty much the end of fun shoes, barring a brief but joyful period where I sported a pair of butterfly-bedecked quilted chinese flats that were both obscenely comfortable and silly-but-cute.
And then two years ago, due to a suggestion from a friend who has perfectly normal feet but whose style is somewhat similar to mine, I found Haflingers.
Sorry, dear Violet Hoarder, but I LOVE my Haflingers. Not, I admit, as much as the above-mentioned shoes, but they are comfy and they fit my lifestyle; hey, they are made of WOOL, they are FELTED... how much more thematically appropriate can you get?
So when I went shoe shopping, yes, I looked at other shoes. I'm only human, after all, and I do love shoes. But when push came to shove, I got the Haflingers. I'm all about the comfy.
But if it makes you feel any better, I think these ones are pretty darned cute. You know, for Hippy Throwback shoes...
9 comments:
I love those! I also have enormous clodhopper feet, and bunions to boot. I'm all about comfort.
FYI, American Mom posted today, wondering if you'd been hit by a tornado. I take it that's a no?
How CUTE!!! I love them!
I hate wearing shoes. I take them off the second I walk into the house and don't put them on until I'm walking out the door to go somewhere...
This weather IS scary. I was really frightened, earlier today. The wind is WICKED!
I think they are very chic-I would wear them if I could get them in a beige/brown combination!
Very cute! I hope we can chat soon. I miss you!
Very cute! I have worn a pair of Keen river sandals all week, standing on my feet teaching. I have horrible feet troubles and they were unbelievably comfortable. Just commented that to Saint Tim about an hour ago. Might check 'em out :-).
Cute shoes :)
Whoa! successful shopping IMHO -- these are fabulous shoes.
Obviously, I am an amateur at picking out Haflingers. The clerk showed me the one style and I was grateful to even have colors to choose from. I did not explore far enough! These are gorgeous. But never fear, I'm saving for my next pair already. (They just are never on sale, are they?) Nomatter, I have become--like you--an unofficial brand ambassador, telling everyone who will listen about these puppies. And I so identify with your past shoe fetishes--for years I wore vintage shoes, Tibetan boots, and even decorated shoes myself--including a pair of pointy flats completely covered in layers of green silk leaves with a violet on the toe. It was good to be that carefree about one's toes. But now, I want them to have space to wiggle and roam. German engineering...sigh. Wear them well, my dear!
Hmmm. And clearly I haven't been in enough shoe stores and simply need to go investigate at the first available opportunity. Those just look SOOOO comfy!
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