This shoe collection has changed drastically over the past few months, and the past few years. Some shoes I kept buying over many times. Such as my white canvas shoes. They are simple, went well with shorts and dresses. They would range from $5-$8 and were great for summer. I never wear running shoes unless I am running, or with kids, so these were casual and light and didn't make a nice outfit look unclassy. But since they were white, I liked to keep them this way. That proved to be a big problem, either bleaching them once every 2-3 weeks or just throwing them out after some point and buying another pair for $5.
While in the south of France I came across bensimon shoes. They were in every shoe shop window and reminded me a lot of the white canvas one. But they came in many different colours. And for some reason red seems to be the colour this year. In the past I didn't enjoy adding any red in my closet. At first I searched, for a white pair, then a black and a navy. Somehow the red was different, something not in my comfort zone and threw in my Euros. They are a simple pair of canvas shoes, but not running shoes. Very comfortable and can also be worn with a blazer or a skirt. Magic shoes. Actually I call them my play shoes.
This shoe collection ranges from moccasin slippers. The preferred camel colour ones were sold out, so black was next. The boots, one pair of black and one pair of brown. The thing is, my calves are rather small. I always seem to buy tall boots and think they will somehow work out. In Switzerland, this crazy shoe phase also came about. A lot of flat ankle boots, in suede. The white low-top Converse shoes that every Swedish girl seemed to have and work well in. Found a knock-off version in Mallorca. At that point where brands really don't matter, just the style. Three pairs of heels. Three that are a pain to wear. And even while purchasing wondered if I'd ever wear them. One still sits and collects dust.
The rest are one pair of flip-flops, sports shoes, tap shoes, real winter boots, flats, and the combat boots. The reason I write this, is because I am very happy and fortunate for these shoes. I have never had so many shoes before. Shoes that I am all happy with, that I worked hard for.
There was a time a few years ago. It was the first time I had seen the ocean, in Portugal. I was taking a photo for some friends and had left my shoes far away from the waves. But the waves are much different than the ones here and took my shoes with it. I ran after them, making my friends wonder why I have decided to become crazy and run into the ocean with their camera and not take a photo. I was left with no shoes. Trying to explain in no Portuguese to the bus driver what happened. This was the first time, since I was 1 years old, where I didn't have a pair of shoes. Thankfully I did not have to walk anywhere, just from the bus to the place I was staying at. However, it made me realize how much I do have. 28 pairs of shoes to choose from.
A few years ago had the chance to go to Auschwitz. For those of you who have not been there, there are displays, behind a glass wall. One of those displays in Block 5 was filled with shoes. Glass panels with victims' shoes piled. I have never seen so many pairs before, and for once these pairs of shoes did not get me excited as I would if I stepped into an Aldo. So many old shoes, in the same shades, that would never be worn by the owner.
Shoes seem to be something we might take for granted. Something we simply can pick up from a shop for a few dollars, or some shoes which we wait for our pay cheques in order to spend it all on this one perfect pair. Something as we grow older perhaps we need for comfort rather than for style.
This year I broke perhaps 5 or more pairs of shoes, from walking too much. After speaking with someone close to me, we discussed how shoes used to be made with great quality and time. They would last a long time. I looked at many good Italian shoes and also how a pair of Mexicana floral boots were created. The time and effort was amazing. There were also many stops at the shoe tailor. Watching worn shoes become new again. People owned good shoes and would have them for many years and get them repaired. There is a show repair shop close by I would pass by many times. The smell, the green colour, etc. I remember going there when I was younger or passing by. But it was the only shoe repair place I knew of.
There is a photo circulating viral content sites about a man giving shoes to homeless girl in Rio de Janeiro. A picture is worth a thousand words. The titles all seem to be stating the same story, I am not sure who these people are or where the photo originated from. But I'd like to keep it as that title because it is very heart warming. Sometimes we need a small reminder such as a snapshot to show us these things we forget or take for granted.
Credit: 001, 002, 003, 004, 005
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