Everything Sounds Better in French

Here it is, my Holy Grail: personification via footwear.

Some people aspire to be captured forever by way of bronze—their raised, tarnished fists nobly providing a perch for pigeons and the occasional squirrel, in city parks ‘round the world.

Others prefer to have entire buildings erected in their name, brick and mortar with shiny black tiles quipping “so and so. so and so. so and so” every time heels click down their very own halls.

Me? I just want to be the heels. Not any old heels, mind you. Those heels, up there, in the picture.

They are dangerously high, purple suede heels with a red sole, just like God and Christian Louboutin intended. They are breathtakingly, perfectly me: slightly impractical, colorful, and not meant for long distance walking and/or running.

Perhaps when I kick the proverbial bucket, Mr. Louboutin’s team will be kind enough to issue a shoe just like this one, in my name.

I like suede better than bronze, anyday.

See these shoes? They are the reason I’ve been a negligent blogstress as of late. Well, not these shoes, exactly, but where I obtained the photo of them.

I spent last weekend in fashion heaven, also known as the D&A show, where buyers from the big daddy stores like Barneys and little boutiques alike come to peruse designers’ latest offerings.

And what was I doing there? Surrounding myself with the most amazing treasure trove of shiny things at the Subversive Jewelry booth. The designer, Justin Giunta, is my brother-in-law (lucky me, right?) and asked if I might help out over the weekend by trying on necklaces for interested buyers, etc. Uh, yes?

So, I found myself wearing the most gorgeous, to die for baubles ever—Justin just won the CFDA accessories designer award with good reason—and watching a parade of top-notch fashion all weekend. Like I said, heaven.

The shoes above particularly caught my eye—partially because the woman wearing them was a dead ringer for Sienna Miller, but also because they were understatedly edgy, semi-comfortable looking, and I wanted them.  Now. I also knew that if I hadn’t spotted them on someone, but instead encountered them on a shelf or webpage, I would have breezed right by them.

Do you do this, too? Get stuck in a “I think I know what’s best for me” shopping rut, and miss out on all sorts of fun fashion that actually is best for you? After I saw these shoes, I made a vow to expand my horizons, and start trying on items I would normally shy away from.

The shoes that set this in motion are by Jeffrey Campbell, and are moderately priced at $80 ish. Alas, the red version is all sold out on Shopbob.com, but I’m keeping my eye out, and my shopping mind open. I hope you do, too.