Almost all my family qualifies to be called "Clothes Horses." Most of them also qualify to be called "Fashionistas," too. My youngest niece, who will be 17 in just two months, may now be the leader of the pack!
This weekend the ladies of the family decided that they would do a little shopping. We all got ready and headed for the car, and I was amazed at what she chose to wear. I SO wish I had a picture, because she was beautiful, and trendy, while still having a very personal look.
Her astonishingly curly long hair was piled up on top of her head. She had boutique sun glasses that made quite a statement. She was wearing a plum ribbed knit skinny top, and stovepipe jeans that looked like they were painted on her size 2, five-foot nine or ten-inched frame. I think there was a fashion belt and a jacket, too, but I've forgotten what they looked like. She wore a long strand of turquoise beads with two tight wraps around her neck and one long drop of beads.
But what blew me away were the shoes. These shoes had high heels, perhaps three inches, spike heels, not the platform kind. The toes were pointed, and there was a little decorative strap-like piece across the opening over the top of her foot. And the shoes were turquoise to match the beads!
I have given up heels. Since Dear Husband is shorter than I am, it was a kindness at first to him that I gave them up. But, as time passed, it became a kindness to me that I no longer had to squeeze my feet into fashionable shoes and hobble around painfully. Yes, there are times when my outfit cries out for heels, but I no longer care. The ability to walk is more important than the need to be fashionable. So, when I looked at her feet, the first thing that came to mind was, "You're going SHOPPING in those shoes???"
She smiled at me, and acknowledged that it might hurt, but she really needed to have that pulled together look. Heck....she's not even 17 yet. She'll learn in time, and she'll enjoy herself along the way.
I can't wait to see what she's wearing the next time I see her! *G*
Comments (9)
ah, heels! although i was more of a platform girl myself.
Posted by bod | August 7, 2007 8:27 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 08:27
I gave up high heels long ago Buffy. It's all about comfort for me....especially if I'm going shopping or walking for any long distance. Have a great rest of the week sweetie...
Posted by Joy | August 7, 2007 9:11 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 09:11
Bod, I'm just enough older than you to have missed the platform craze. I remember the green satin 3 1/2 inch heels I wore with a demure pale yellow empire-waisted dress for the Senior Banquet. It was all the rage to dye those shoes to match your outfit. I had a green velvet ribbon at the waist of the dress and green seemed more appropriate than yellow for the shoes.
One of my thirtysomething nieces was wearing platforms two years ago, so they must have come back into fashion.
Posted by buffy | August 7, 2007 9:18 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 09:18
Joy...you're a SMART woman! *G* I have to agree. One of the best things a woman can do is take care of her feet. Have you seen pictures of the astonishing platform shoes popular with the young in Japan? The girls are practically toe walking. I shudder to think of the pain!
Have a great week, Joy. Float on the pleasure of the Blogher convention for a bit longer. *S*
Posted by buffy | August 7, 2007 9:20 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 09:20
yes, platforms (along with flairs) made a comeback for a while. it was quite interesting watching my own daughter buy the same stuff i used to wear!
Posted by bod | August 8, 2007 4:08 PM
Posted on August 8, 2007 16:08
Oh yes, you wrote "... but I no longer care. The ability to walk is more important than the need to be fashionable." I long ago came to that conclusion. I was just talking about shoes today with the gal that does my hair. She has a pair of slate grey, purchased ten years ago, that she's never worn, but loves; is waiting for the fashion color cycle to bring in slate grey again.
I spoke to her of my running Imelda Marcos a close second in shoe accummulation in my younger days. I forced myself to part with some shoes a few years ago, but still have many pairs I know I'll never wear again, including my spike heels, black swede with special black ribbon trim (grograin?) This pair has pointed toes -- brutal for my short toes and short wide feet.
The "clothes horses" get younger and younger, as seems my grandaughter at 12 years of age is well on her way to becoming just like your niece. I don't know whether to celebrate how great she looks or cry.
Posted by joared | August 10, 2007 12:26 AM
Posted on August 10, 2007 00:26
Bod, Isn't it fascinating to see those fads return again and again? Bell-Bottoms, flairs...I wonder what they will call them the next time they are the rage? *G*
Think about how many times we have seen the width of men's ties change!
Posted by buffy | August 10, 2007 12:53 PM
Posted on August 10, 2007 12:53
Joared,
I wonder if the kids are meant to dress that way to help US feel young at heart again. If so, I'm not sure that it's working! *G*
My mother and one of my nieces probably vied for that Imelda Marcos award along with you. My mother really regrets that she was restricted to flats as she aged, and at 90 (or..."pushing 91" as I her her say yesterday), she still misses her flashy, eye-catching heels. She's only 5 feet tall now, so some of that is a height issue!
I LOVE the story about the woman who bought the shoes to be ready when fashion returns us to that shade of grey!
I have perhaps six pairs of exceptionally good shoes that I have only been able to wear briefly as my feet changed. I am NOT going to give them away! If my feet changed once, they could change again....... (gawd, I HOPE!)
Posted by buffy | August 10, 2007 1:01 PM
Posted on August 10, 2007 13:01
My mother loved platform shoes in the 1940s--her being a foot shorter than my father. HH is tall enough that I can wear whatever height heel suits me; but, except when I've had to wear them for work or social occasions, I've not cared for heels. Nor could I ever have been accused of being a fashionista. To the contrary, fashion has never been high on my list of "I care"s. I make my friends look good!
Posted by Cop Car | August 13, 2007 4:48 PM
Posted on August 13, 2007 16:48