When I first graduated from college, I treated myself to a lavish pair of strappy stilettos. They were without a doubt the most eye-catching shoes in my collection, yet also the most absurd. They embodied everything a seductive shoe should be — tall, sleek, and shimmering. They practically screamed, “Look at me!” in the best possible way. The catch? They were torturous for my toes and feet. Ouch! Despite the pain, I wore them constantly. After all, isn’t that what your 20s are for? Embracing stylish yet painful fashion choices?
My best friend dubbed them “look-at-me” shoes — fitting since they exuded sex appeal and because I often muttered expletives as I trudged through the night in agony. These shoes perfectly exemplified youthful recklessness. Blisters? Sore feet? Twisted ankles? Who cared? I was determined to look fabulous, no matter the cost.
Fast forward 15 years and a couple of kids later, those heels have become a distant memory. When you’re chasing toddlers and racing against the clock for school pick-up, comfort becomes non-negotiable.
The journey of a woman can often be charted by her footwear choices. One moment, we’re sporting knee-high boots with stiletto heels, risking a tumble in the winter; the next, we’re donning fleece-lined Crocs at the grocery store, because honestly, who cares? (Spoiler alert: not me.) In our youthful exuberance, we splurge on designer boots and have a collection of strappy heels — including at least one pair in red and another in gold. But once we face the reality of preschool tuition, we realize those Keds from T.J. Maxx are a much smarter choice.
We transition from sexy stilettos to flats and slippers. Sure, we may hold on to our trendy wedge espadrilles for a while, but carrying a baby on one hip makes it feel like we’re constantly on the brink of toppling over. Eventually, we reach a breaking point. The wobbling, the discomfort, the blisters just aren’t worth it anymore. Enter the era of comfort-driven footwear.
Danskos and flats become our staples. They might not be the most glamorous options — Danskos can make our feet resemble hooves, and flats can be downright dull — but we can slip them on while juggling a squirmy toddler and assisting another one with their mismatched shoes. We can wear them all day without wishing we could remove our feet entirely by bedtime.
My personal favorite? Going without shoes. Nothing screams “I have officially stopped caring” quite like showing up to school drop-off in slippers — a habit I may or may not indulge in regularly.
This isn’t to say we never wear a pair of sparkly heels or stylish knee-high boots again — of course we do! We may be less concerned with impressing others now, but we still enjoy feeling fabulous on special occasions. These days, we choose our sexy pumps and trendy, albeit uncomfortable, boots for the joy they bring us, not to gain approval.
I still have a soft spot for eye-catching shoes, but every woman reaches a point when the sturdy, badass boot takes precedence over the sexy stiletto. Strong shoes empower us. They instill confidence, resilience, and a sense of strength. Badass footwear can be shiny or fuzzy, tall or flat, well-loved or pristine. It doesn’t matter what they look like; what truly counts is how they feel. Because when you’re off to conquer the world, you simply can’t afford to be hindered by subpar shoes.
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In summary, our footwear choices reflect the evolution of our lives, priorities, and comfort levels. While we may indulge in the occasional stylish shoe, comfort is now our queen, leading the way as we navigate the chaos of parenthood.