My friend Venus is a real beauty. She’s intelligent. Great sense of humor. Flawless skin and high cheekbones. Perfect teeth. Hour-glass figure. Enviable, natural “D’s”…Unfortunately, she’s taken to blending in with the background lately. And to do so, she’s hiding behind that all-too- familiar “armor” of baggy gray sweats and chunky work-out sneakers.
When did we start to feel bad about our individual sense of beauty and “Womanlyness”? Weren’t we Princesses as young girls? Back then, being a Princess wasn’t about getting the Prince – it was about being whatever we imagined ourselves to be. As women, we’ve been through so much to affirm our rights, but somehow many of us seem to have come out the other end more stressed, less fulfilled, less ‘pursued’, and less married.
Venus is “a little more single” than she’d like to be. She feels she’s been in a slump, and she’s trying hard not to let it affect her confidence. Her confidence? She always seemed so sure of herself, having all of those attributes…But, as I found myself staring at her well-worn 10-year-old Reboks, I thought to myself, “Hmmm - Maybe it’s the shoes”…
Sweats have become daily “out-in-the-street” apparel; but, unless you’re wearing Norma Kamali, what else can you wear with them? Sneakers. Trainers. Tennis shoes. Whatever you want to call them ladies, they’re just not sexy. And unless you’re working out, you may not catch (or keep) Prince Charming in them either.
OK – I know you think I’m oversimplifying things. But - have you ever tried dressing from the shoes up? Might you end up with a totally different result if you started your day with your favorite pair of leopard kitten-heels?
I’m not making this up – just look at the hundreds of make-over shows on the air. Have you noticed the faces of those poor, bewildered husbands, who’ve lost their lovely wives, now slumped-shouldered under yards of cotton jersey? It’s time to push past just “being comfortable” to really feeling good about ourselves again. And, in this shoe designer’s world, it all starts with the shoes (Leopard kitten heel shown at right: one of my designs, currently at Charles David stores).
Somehow, the work-out shoe has ‘sneaked’ its way into our daily wardrobes. Back in the career-driven ‘80’s, we were introduced to the work-out shoe en masse. Outside of the gym and working out at home with Jane Fonda, women took to wearing them with their business suits and sweat socks (remember Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl?). Then a “Casual” Revolution swept the land – which turned into “Casual Fridays” at work (Ugh. Flip-flops at work? Unless you’re a lifeguard, just say “no”…). The athletic shoe is part of the “Stay-at-home Mom’s” uniform too. I’ve heard many times over, “I just can’t run after little Jeremy in anything else!” Maybe not, but I think Big Jeremy might prefer to see you in something a little different before he gets home. Just ask him. Better yet – show him.
Of course, we all need to be fit. I’ve become fascinated with new forms of working out that combine our need to be womanly with our need to stay healthy. Belly dancing, pole dancing, and lap dancing classes are springing up across the country and on TV. I recently attended a really great class at “Flirty Girl Fitness”, a women’s gym which incorporates pole and lap dancing into its work-out routines. I loved it. Interestingly absent from those classes - the bulky sport shoes.
Dorothy clicked her heels three times and got what she wanted (she had what it
took all along). Cinderella left her glass slipper behind, but her Prince Charming knew that she was the only one who’d fit it. As girls, we knew we were Princesses – no one had to tell us that. And now we women need to find our “Inner Princess” again. Venus is replacing those sweats with a sheer flowered top and great-fitting, stretch-denim skinny jeans. You can also try denim a pencil skirt, or a cute casual dress that flatters the waist. And I always love a metallic or animal-print ballerina flat, but there are great rubber-soled sport-inspired shoes that are feminine and colorful too, like Puma’s Sabadella PL (shown at right).
I think we women love shoes because there’s a little bit of magic still inside every good pair. I say: find a comfy pair that’s pretty too - it’ll bring all of your old clothes to life, and you’ll walk with a little more joie de vivre!
© Karen Pugh Lascaris, 2008.
When did we start to feel bad about our individual sense of beauty and “Womanlyness”? Weren’t we Princesses as young girls? Back then, being a Princess wasn’t about getting the Prince – it was about being whatever we imagined ourselves to be. As women, we’ve been through so much to affirm our rights, but somehow many of us seem to have come out the other end more stressed, less fulfilled, less ‘pursued’, and less married.
Venus is “a little more single” than she’d like to be. She feels she’s been in a slump, and she’s trying hard not to let it affect her confidence. Her confidence? She always seemed so sure of herself, having all of those attributes…But, as I found myself staring at her well-worn 10-year-old Reboks, I thought to myself, “Hmmm - Maybe it’s the shoes”…
Sweats have become daily “out-in-the-street” apparel; but, unless you’re wearing Norma Kamali, what else can you wear with them? Sneakers. Trainers. Tennis shoes. Whatever you want to call them ladies, they’re just not sexy. And unless you’re working out, you may not catch (or keep) Prince Charming in them either.
OK – I know you think I’m oversimplifying things. But - have you ever tried dressing from the shoes up? Might you end up with a totally different result if you started your day with your favorite pair of leopard kitten-heels?
I’m not making this up – just look at the hundreds of make-over shows on the air. Have you noticed the faces of those poor, bewildered husbands, who’ve lost their lovely wives, now slumped-shouldered under yards of cotton jersey? It’s time to push past just “being comfortable” to really feeling good about ourselves again. And, in this shoe designer’s world, it all starts with the shoes (Leopard kitten heel shown at right: one of my designs, currently at Charles David stores).Somehow, the work-out shoe has ‘sneaked’ its way into our daily wardrobes. Back in the career-driven ‘80’s, we were introduced to the work-out shoe en masse. Outside of the gym and working out at home with Jane Fonda, women took to wearing them with their business suits and sweat socks (remember Melanie Griffith in “Working Girl?). Then a “Casual” Revolution swept the land – which turned into “Casual Fridays” at work (Ugh. Flip-flops at work? Unless you’re a lifeguard, just say “no”…). The athletic shoe is part of the “Stay-at-home Mom’s” uniform too. I’ve heard many times over, “I just can’t run after little Jeremy in anything else!” Maybe not, but I think Big Jeremy might prefer to see you in something a little different before he gets home. Just ask him. Better yet – show him.
Of course, we all need to be fit. I’ve become fascinated with new forms of working out that combine our need to be womanly with our need to stay healthy. Belly dancing, pole dancing, and lap dancing classes are springing up across the country and on TV. I recently attended a really great class at “Flirty Girl Fitness”, a women’s gym which incorporates pole and lap dancing into its work-out routines. I loved it. Interestingly absent from those classes - the bulky sport shoes.
Dorothy clicked her heels three times and got what she wanted (she had what it
took all along). Cinderella left her glass slipper behind, but her Prince Charming knew that she was the only one who’d fit it. As girls, we knew we were Princesses – no one had to tell us that. And now we women need to find our “Inner Princess” again. Venus is replacing those sweats with a sheer flowered top and great-fitting, stretch-denim skinny jeans. You can also try denim a pencil skirt, or a cute casual dress that flatters the waist. And I always love a metallic or animal-print ballerina flat, but there are great rubber-soled sport-inspired shoes that are feminine and colorful too, like Puma’s Sabadella PL (shown at right).I think we women love shoes because there’s a little bit of magic still inside every good pair. I say: find a comfy pair that’s pretty too - it’ll bring all of your old clothes to life, and you’ll walk with a little more joie de vivre!
© Karen Pugh Lascaris, 2008.
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1 comments:
Natural DD, the boys probably don't look past those LOL. Still I am devoted heel higher and highly recommend them.
Tell her to get some cute street sneakers. Puma has lovely ones.
alicia
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