Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Cruel Shoes

A few years ago, I was in a little shoe boutique, minding my own business (OK, I was ogling the wares - so sue me!), when I heard a loud, two-beat ka-boom!

At the same time, I felt the floor shake.

I'm a little skittish, especially with loud noises. So I got startled and looked around to see what caused it.

The source? A customer, turning away from the register, had fallen down off her ultra-stylin', just-purchased platform shoes - landing right on her behind.

After making sure she was OK, I left the store, mortified for her, not wanting to tempt fate, myself.

And you know? With all those sky-high, pencil-thin heels out there, the memory plays through my mind each time I go shoe-shopping.

Why don't shoe manufacturers make more styles with two-inch heels and a wide base? Yeah, I know - style, but still - surely they can make a stylish shoe that we can walk in and avoid falling over in!

4 comments:

fishwithoutbicycle said...

I twisted my ankle earlier this year by falling off my platforms. I blame the uneven NYC pavements. I can't resist sexy heels though, so these days I wear my nice shoes inside at work and travel about in sneakers. Not very stylish, but I'm a lot less injury prone and my nice shoes last longer without the outdoor wear and tear ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oh, Fish, that must have been such a bummer! But at least your shoes are lasting longer now (another way to save $ in these times!).

And what you say is so true about the wear and tear -- on a business trip to NYC a few years ago, a colleague and I were walking full-stride when suddenly, I felt her grasp my arm and yank me back... her heel got caught in a sidewalk grate! Luckily, her shoes had stacked heels and just got scratched up a bit - if they'd been leather-covered, they would have peeled off the heel like skin from a potato!

Kitty said...

heh.
I cannot wear the little high heels. I'm hard on my shoes, as is the city.

Summertime is the best time for me, wearing flip flops

Anonymous said...

Especially with any kind of commute, running up and down subway steps, I can't imagine how you could get by with skinny heels in New York.