February 19, 2005
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Of course, why should companies be expected to demonstrate sense when the general public...at least those of the female persuasion....do not?
Present company (a pun! get it?) excepted, naturally.
Spring catalogues are flooding in, bringing with them shoes surely guaranteed to destroy any foot crammed into them:
My feet don't come to a point like that. I don't know of anyone's feet who come to a point like that. The toe-end of the foot usually is rather rounded, with the longest point being the big toe, which sits over on the side. Yet the pointy end of these shoes is always spang in the middle.
How did this madness get started, do you suppose?
Comments (14)
Ooh la la - those are gorgeous! Especially those tiny-heeled bow-tie pumps.
As to your question, the first evidence of pointy-toed shoes I've ever seen was in the middle ages and the points ranged from foot-length to so-long-they-had-to-be-tied-to-your-knees-to-keep-you-from-tripping. Of course, the immediate inspiration for this style is the 80s. Back then I owned two pairs of taupe slingbacks like those that I wore to work quite often (which is why I bought two pairs), and a pair of black patent and a pair of champagne-colored eelskin pumps like the ones in the center.
But then, I freely admit to being being a shoe freak - the size of my shoe wardrobe before I married was only limited by my paycheck. :-p
All these are from Jessica London and go for $29. Plus s/h, naturally.
I've never in my life been able to wear either pointy toes or high heels, never mind a combination of the two.
I hate shoes. Loathe 'em. They hurt, for the most part. Soon's I hit the house my shoes are kicked off under the dining room buffet (we're an elegant lot, are the Ivys). Never could understand the feminine footware fascination.
Do you have multiple purses, as well? ISTM most shoe mavens also tend to have more than one purse, switching from one to another depending upon the outfit and occasion. I have the one purse and I carry it all the time, except for those exceedingly rare occasions when I am in formal attire (have a few evening bags for those events).
Me too, Kelly; those are luscious shoes. But Anne, I have one purse I susally use, and then three more for Sundays depending on what I am wearing. I'm starting to try to match my shoes, outfits and purses a little more carefully these days. Meg says the total effect usually makes me look "Bostonian". I take that as a compliment when I'm feeling confident, and derogatory if I'm not. She means it as a compliment of course. For hurting feet, have you seen Footsmart? http://www.footsmart.com
No, I was not familiar with that site, Eleanor, but I like it! Thanks ever so!
Ooh la la - those are gorgeous! Especially those tiny-heeled bow-tie pumps.
As to your question, the first evidence of pointy-toed shoes I've ever seen was in the middle ages and the points ranged from foot-length to so-long-they-had-to-be-tied-to-your-knees-to-keep-you-from-tripping. Of course, the immediate inspiration for this style is the 80s. Back then I owned two pairs of taupe slingbacks like those that I wore to work quite often (which is why I bought two pairs), and a pair of black patent and a pair of champagne-colored eelskin pumps like the ones in the center.
But then, I freely admit to being being a shoe freak - the size of my shoe wardrobe before I married was only limited by my paycheck. :-p
That's weird, I had to sign back into Xanga just now, and it reposted my comment.
And yes, I do have more than one purse to go with my shoes, etc, but my wardrobe is fairly modest these days - I have a brown everyday bag to go with all my everyday shoes, and a black handbag to go with my black pumps. Then for warm weather, I have one for everyday use and one for Sundays or more dressy times. I never ever had purses and shoes that exactly matched, but I've always had purses and shoes that "go together."
Anne, you are a woman after my own heart...and feet! Unfortunately, my feet are in not-so-good shape, so if I'm going to be on them for any length, I need to wear shoes for support. But pointy toes and high heels are not to be found in my wardrobe...I've seen my mother's bunions and don't want a matching set!
And for those who think Kelly and I never disagree, I submit these comments as Exhibit A to the contrary.
If you've ever wondered why most old ladies have foot problems, you usually have only to look at the shoes they've worn all their lives.
Anne, I also take my shoes off immediately on entering the house. I have always had one summer purse and one winter one and I rarely carry either. Most trips about town require just a wallet and keys stuffed in a pocket, with a comb and measuring tape stuffed in a pocket if shopping for clothes. Life is only as complicated as we make it.
Lois, we are obviously kindred spirits in many ways.
I carry a measuring tape in my purse, and it's surprising how often it's useful, either for me or for someone in the immediate vicinity, lamenting the lack of one. It's a pleasure to be able to silently reach into my purse and pull it out.
Simple pleasures.
But, Valerie, don't you think they're pretty and that if you didn't have foot trouble you'd wear them?
And even when I did wear shoes like that, it was only when I Went Out. I never ever wear shoes at home.
THOSE are adorable! I can't wear them, though, and it isn't because of the pointy toes. It's because of the heels. Not even a half inch heel, ever since hurting my ankle so badly. I also can't walk, but limp only, on slanted ground.
As for wearing pointy toes: your foot ends where the point begins to slant. The toes don't get munched, because the sole is wide enough where the toes are, to fit them all. THEN the pointy part begins. Your toes are never in the pointy part at all. Abbie wears pointy toed shoes, and that's how they work.
And women with large feet? How BIG must those boats be? Sheesh.
Give me a nice boxy toe, rounded or squared off. Yup - that's for me.
Although I must admit, those shoes are charming.
me<><
Pretty? I like a nice pointed toe as much as the next girl (though I can't wear them for beans, having a wide foot), but those impaler things that are all the rage nowadays go beyond a nice pointed toe into the realm of "fashion as rebellion against the created order", IMNSHO.
I AM glad to see fashionable shoes with lower heels. I never could wear above 2 1/2" even in my young working days, and now, anything over 2" is too much because my usually unshod feet just don't have the tolerance for it. For a couple of years, there, it seemed like the choices were between "I wear these shoes to advertise I'm an old lady" and "Honey? Where's the ladder? I'm getting dressed and I need it to get my shoes on!"
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