Disappointments

Few things in life are more disappointing than expecting one perfect thing and getting the exact wrong thing.   Consider the gorgeous shoes above.  That’s what I was expecting, perfectly sized up to accommodate for a narrow Christian Louboutin toe box.  What I got was a pair of Dolce & Gabanna leopard print shoes with some freaky little bow on top.  I guess they were okay shoes, if leopard print shoes suited me at all, but they don’t. I’m the furthest thing from a leopard print shoe girl you can find.  So when I opened my box and saw those instead of my classy little black and red CLs, my brain almost melted down… did not compute.  How did my cute little shoes turn into hooker shoes?  A phone call later, I found out the size I thought would work best in the CLs was then gone, and I had to go down a half a size, and now I’m crossing my fingers that that size will fit. If not… bleah.  Back they’ll go while I wait and hope the cute little Rolando style eventually comes back in stock or I find a pair while I’m in Italy.

Speaking of disappointments, I have to just bitch a little about the Givenchy Incense that got a great review in Perfumes: The Guide.  I was expecting something great, and it started off great, with a floral fougerey incense mojo that felt perfect for men or women, and then it veered off into a perfectly nice men’s scent, but not terribly entertaining.  Where in the world was the “melancholy and mystery” the review promised?

My brother, the requestor of the Sam Elliott sampler pack was also supposed to report in on a few of the scents… and another disappointment -I got zip from him.  I know he’s liked everything so far that he’s sniffed, with his favorites being the Tom of Finland, Montale Black Oud, and Ormonde Jayne Ormonde Man.  Just goes to show you, good taste does run in the family.

Anyway, I have decided that I need to start wearing high heels again after a couple of decades of flats and flip-flops.  So now I wear my Jimmy Choos around the house for 15-30 minutes at a time and my Gucci FM mules for maybe 5 minutes at a time (these things kill in more ways than one).  Is this the best way to get back into high heels, or do our feet age to the point that it just doesn’t work anymore?  My feet, so far, are turning into another disappointment, which I’m hoping I can change for the better.

That teeny girl with my sister Shirley in the picture to the right, I love taking pictures of her because she could care less if you’re snapping pictures because she is so in the moment every second of her waking life.  She was born months premature and was this tiny, tiny little thing you could hold in one hand five years ago.  Two-thre years ago, she went through a bad time with her mom, and when she came back home, she was withdrawn and silent.  She has a great father and family who surrounded her with love, and the broken places healed, and the curtain of silence lifted.  Listening to her peels of laughter and her jumping into my arms with an ear-shattering “I’ve MISSED you!!!” reminds you that life, no matter the disappointment, always finds joy.

  • Victoria says:

    Patty, just to reassure you, I got these same shoes in my usual size for CL (which is half a size down from my usual 7,) and I would say that half a size smaller would be even better. And they are gorgeous!

    • Patty says:

      oh, good news! I did have another pair that I got in my usualy 9 or 9.5, and it was 1/2 size too small, but those had a really, really narrow toe box.

  • Cait says:

    Patty,
    Thanks for reminding me of what matters … JOY! You are the best and that little girlie is adorable. HAve a wonderful day. More power to you with the heels. Rock on!

    • Patty says:

      thanks, Cait! Joy is the only sure thing in the world, and you get to feel it whenever you really will it.

  • lapidary says:

    De-lurking to say that I knew I was grown up when I started following my mama’s two pieces of advice:

    1. have a glass of water in between every alcoholic drink

    and 2. Never leave home without a pair of flats (partial to chinese slippers and ballet slippers) tucked in your bag.

    I love the high heels, and I’m 5’11” and a footwear wimp–there’s just something about being utterly amazonian that makes it worth the pain of overdoing it.

    On the traveling to Europe front, I’m headed on a trip myself this summer and am trying to break in a pair of Palladium Pueblo flats–they kind of pass as nice shoes, pack really flat, and I have always found Palladiums really comfy, albeit with an insole as they have no arch support. Caveat Emptor: they run really small. I’m usually between an 8.5 and 9.5 and I’m getting 41s.

  • Kim says:

    Personally, I seriously can’t function or think long when in heels above 2″ and don’t want to pay the price in hurt feet – but glad that some of you all can and more power to you. And just like I want to look beyond the usual in perfume and appreciate what the mainstream might consider not so beautiful, I prefer that beauty and attractiveness be able to extend beyond the usually advertised images in the media. Okay, getting off the soapbox now and thanks for a great post and discussion. :)>-

    • Patty says:

      I really should follow that glass of water thing more often. 🙂 I did order some of those ballet flats to tuck in my purse, which is really pretty brilliant, thanks for that tip. You just never know!

  • moi says:

    You had Moi at Christian Louboutin. Everything else thereafter just fogged over. I heart those peep toes more than just about anything.

    • Patty says:

      I’ve been thinking about getting a pair of these for probably two years, but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I soooo hope they fit!

  • Pantera Lilly says:

    Those shoes are awesome. Like you Paty I had stopped wearing heels since my daughter was born (some 13 years ago) simply because I just couldn’t chase her around when she was a wee little one. But now there is no excuse and you have given me hope. I too will try heels, all I wear are flats and 1 inch shoes (ugly as hell if you ask me). I have a friend that I used to go out dancing with in the old days, she must be 75 years old by now and still wears nothing but heels, one of the sexiest 75 year old you ever want to meet. She used to say that walking in flats made her feel like her butt was dragging on the ground. Kinda funny and yet so true especially if you have put on a few pounds since your 20’s like me. Anyway, it’s time to put on those pumps and strut your stuff, I will too. By the way, that little girl is a little angel, may she be happy and healthy the rest of her life.

    • Patty says:

      aha, another one! I just miss my heels! I don’t need to wear them all the time, but I loved everything about them, but once you are out of the habit, it’s just tough to go back. I want to be like that friend of yours when I’m 75. 8-|

  • Sarah says:

    Eh, for me, it’s more a matter of building up scar tissue…because I have ridiculously narrow feet, I tend to get blisters if a shoe doesn’t fit perfectly, so there’s usually some pain involved just in toughening up my feet. On the other hand, I wore four inch wedge heels (and various other heels) two days before my son was born just as an act of defiance (to the stereotype), and did just fine, so maybe I’m not the best of examples…
    Even though I’m now in my “mommy years,” I still insist on dressing up nicely for church and going out simply because I need to feel nice once in a while, and a few hours in heels will not cause that much pain.

    BTW, God, those shoes are gorgeous…

    • Patty says:

      I think I need that scar tissue cushion as well. That’s why I’m doing my 2-inch Jimmy Choos around the office. They’re not too harsh, but start strengthening the places on my feet that need that.

      CLs just send me to the moon, every pair. They do have a lot lower heel as well, but those platform high heels are just tdf.

  • kealle says:

    Brava to those shoes, and brava to you. I do hope they find their way to you soon!

    I am a huge proponent of the high heels, myself. And I’m a tall drink of water, too. People often ask how tall I am without my heels, to which I always reply “I wouldn’t know. I’m never without them.”

    And when anyone wonders why you would wear shoes that you can’t do anything in, that limit your mobility and hinder your productivity: well, that’s their experience. And me, I live in a city, have no car, walk everywhere, and do it in heels. I wear my heels to work a full-time job and do a variety of volunteer jobs in animal rescue. I prowl around in the pre-dawn hours to collect migratory songbirds injured by collision, I walk and socialize unruly 75-pound dogs at a shelter, I climb under cars and behind dumpsters to tend to my feral cat colonies. All in my stockings and heels. If I’m “hobbled”, then I shudder to think how drearily and incessantly productive I would be in Crocs. I’m a busy, curious, messy, dauntless tomboy no matter what I put on my feet; but my stilettos are always along for the ride.

    • Patty says:

      No kidding? Okay, we have to talk. How did you get to that point? Do you just have great feet for high heels, or was it acclimating your feet? If I could do that, I’d be in high heels nonstop, you wouldn’t be able to pry me out of them.

  • Justine Tamaro says:

    Oh my, those shoes are drop dead gorgeous. I’m afraid I have no hints to help you with wearing them, but I do love them. Since I’ve become a triathlete I find nearly all of my high heels remain in my closet, but that doesn’t mean I don’t lust after them still. Onthe rare occasion I consider buying a pari of high heels I hate going over 3 inches…I only consider higher than that if they have a platform.

    But honestly, on the sexy-meter, 3 inch heels are plenty on me. I thiink it’s diminishing returns after the 3 inches…at least on me.

    • Patty says:

      I think I agree. That’s why the platforms are working for me, you have less than an actual 3 inches on the heels, which I can handle, the angle is much less steep. So I”m crossing my fingers!

  • violetnoir says:

    Ooh, you go ‘head with your bad self in those CLs, Patty! I am crossing my fingers with you.

    My dream shoes are the strappy black Chanels that my girl Marion Cotillard wore to the Oscar luncheon. You know the ones…Yep, I know you do!

    What an adorable little girl! I love little ones…no pretense in ’em at all.

    Hugs!

    • Patty says:

      Well, I get them tomorrow, so we shall see!!! If they work, I’ll upload pictures. If not, i’ll upload tears. 🙂

  • Disteza says:

    I adore those heels, you’re so lucky to be able to find CLs that fit! I have been cursed with long, skinny feet that reject most high-end heels, AND I’m only 5’4, so less attractive and creully unbalanced heels have been in my closet for years. I agree that low plats are probably the best way to go to work yourself into anything higher than a 3.5″–they tend to have a more solid shank and more padding and shock absorption in the toe box. You may also want to consider something with an ankle strap, which provides more stability. If you haven’t tried the newer, low-profile pads, like Foot Petals, give them a whirl. They usually fit into most heels, and they’ll stave off the pain for a while. However, I find that the best cure for foot pain is a split of champagne…. 😉

    On the running, I’ve destroyed my knees and ankles with all of the fencing, so to keep my cardio up I caved and bought an elliptical. It really did help me recover after the last torn ligament, and my knees and hips don’t scream for days afterwards.

    • Maria says:

      Disteza, we’re foot twins! I used to be your height (before osteoporosis) and I too have long, skinny feet. Great advice about the pads.

    • Patty says:

      Well, I’m hoping these work! the half size down were close, and a closed toe, but just too tight in there for comfort, and they weren’t the platforms, which made a much harsher angle. I really love the platform on these, makes them much easier to wear.

  • Kim says:

    Those are gorgeous shoes but I’m afraid I concur with Calypso – it’s just foot binding by another name. And it isn’t just heels that ruin your feet – cowboy boots, or any shoe, can do it if they don’t fit properly. While I can appreciate how gorgeous those shoes are (and oh those Maud Frizon’s someone mentions!) I just can’t function in them – I guess I am just too practical for such. I have never been able to wear a heel above 2″ – I can’t move around at the pace I need to and my feet and back get so sore even if worn only for a few hours.

    And yes, life is risk but I temper it with a drop of caution so I don’t pay for it later on. Sorry to throw on a cold towel, but I have seen the people on ventilators, in traction, etc., etc. – many threw out moderation and are dearly paying for it now in a way I hope I never have to do.

    I want to be the old lady walking to the mall at age 95, not the 70 year old with a broken hip. So I’ll show off my legs a bit less so I am still walking on them in my 90’s, G-d willing. That’s why I love perfume so much – no risk but all beauty and fun! 🙂

    • Patty says:

      I actually don’t agree with the foot binding analogy. No one forces anyone to wear high heels, and I’m perfectly find with anyone who doesn’t want to wear them to not wear them. If someone wants to wear them to excess and ruin their feet, they get to do that, too, but they do it by choice.

      So having a drop of caution about wearing them is wise, and nobody should wear them who hates them or feels that they are torture devices, but I surely won’t tell those who do love them they should stop wearing something they love.

      • Kim says:

        But foot binding was only for the upper classes who did not have to work for a living – those who weren’t aristocracy didn’t have bound feet. I’m not one who can work on my feet all day in high heels so that’s why I agree with the analogy. Plus it was considered a sign of beauty and an aristocratic woman was supposed to suffer in order to be beautiful. I guess I also see it as symbolic of whether I as a woman can fend for myself (unbound feet) or have to wobble around escorted by others (bound feet). It’s stretching the analogy and I wish I could refer you to the paper I read years ago about this – it was an eye opener!

        I figure life is too short to be hobbled by things that slow me down and get in the way of going for what I want. I guess where we are differing is with respect to what we go for and where we draw the line. But we need all types and those that go for it with abandon bring something to the table that I never will. And that’s okay. :)>-

  • Catherine says:

    Patty–I love those shoes. I’ve been seriously considering a pair of CLs–even though I rarely wear heels–because of a beautiful pair of lime and pink ones I saw once online. Of course, now that those would be impossible to find again, I suppose I can let go of the lust.

    I’ve never been a high-heel sort of gal, largely because of my arches. Even finding regular shoes that don’t lead to achy arches and swollen knees is a trial. Except for Trippens–a Berlin shoe company. And they have wooden platform heels that I absolutely love. I own several pairs and can walk in them with barely a problem. And it’s so much fun being tall! Trippens, of course, are their own style, so they probably won’t appeal to the CL lover, but thought I’d share. See, I have huge feet, particularly for a short woman–so I look silly in delicate, refined shoes. Trippen’s bold architectural styles actually compliment the size of my foot.

    I realized that The Guide wouldn’t be very useful to me when L&T’s general dislike of florals became obvious (actually, they directly state this non-preference for florals several times)–I guess florals just aren’t ambitious enough. Since I mainly wear florals (some that get high marks from them, like Carnal Flower, and many that get lower marks), The Guide doesn’t give me much help. I returned the book. Problem of influence solved! :d

    • Patty says:

      Those Trippens are really cute! Where do you buy yours at? I’m finding online places with the flats, but not so much for the platforms.

      I started wearing a platform pair of shoes agin, which is what startede this, and they are probably the most comfortable pair of shoes I own, and I can stand in them all day without a problem.

  • AmyR says:

    Patty-
    The CLs are divine!
    I always do a couple of sessions (30-40 mintues) on the treadmill at a steep angle before I wear my super high heels – seems to stretch out the things that need to be and makes wearing them much less painful. A session the day after helps too!
    Love the blog – Amy

    • Patty says:

      thanks for that advice! I was trying to figure out how to make sure they were broken in and were fitting properly, and that sounds like the best way to do it, so if the fit sucks, you’ll know it after that.

      Danke!!!

      • kathleen says:

        I wear them in the house with a thickish sock, for as long as I can stand it. That helps prepare them for the actual wearing experience.

  • Dane says:

    I’ve never heard of Givenchy Incense? Did you maybe mean Insense? If so, no wonder you were disappointed! No incense in there…only aldehydes & manly florals!

    ps – hot shoes! I would have cried if I got Amy Winehouse’s shoes instead!

  • kathleen says:

    Speaking from the perspective of 5’0 tall, I wear heels. Not all the time, and I can no longer do 4″. In some situations, if I don’t wear heels, I get lost. I think they give you a sense of power. I am not a fan of animal print. Having said that my “Italian Boys”, who usually fly over once a year bearing gifts, brought me a pair of pointy toe, leopard print, calf hair, booties w/3″ spikes. They have a black suede strap across the top of the foot with a swarovski crystal buckle. Loud, rocker boots and I love them!

    • perfumequeen says:

      kathleen, where did you get your “italian boys”? I need some bearing shoes, particularily for my tiny, hard to find CL’s for 5.5 size feet. I tried desperately to spend my money at saks one day on shoes to no avail. nothing in my size. grrrr.

      • kathleen says:

        They worked in a restaurant down the road from where I lived in london. When we moved, they liked the idea of a place to stay in the US. I liked the shoes… I feel your pain. Sometimes I can wear a 5.5 but mostly its a size 5. Buying from saks.com you have more of a chance of getting your size than in store. Same with Neimans and Barneys.

    • Patty says:

      Italian boys bearing shoes?!?!?! Um… sign me up! What a great thing to have in your life.

  • March the No-Taste Loser says:

    Heh. I have … are you ready? … three pairs of leopard print shoes. Kitten heels, flats, and 3″ wedges. And two leopard print shirts. Have no fear, not more than one item worn at a time. Leopard, like red, goes with everything.

    What Matt/Judith said. Hey, you’re not running a marathon in them. In those situations I keep a pair of flip-flops in the car, I find driving in those things a pain, and you tend to scuff the heels. Keeping my fingers crossed you get the right shoes! PS Diva walked by on her way out the door and said “THOSE SHOES ARE BALLER!” which is undoubtedly a compliment. Our blog is more interesting than she thinks.

    PPS Incense – ugh. I smelled it once awhile ago because of the name and thought it was like eating an beef and chocolate burrito, if that makes any sense. Too much in one package.

    • Judith the almost equally tasteless, but not quite says:

      You are ahead of me, I think, in the leopard sweeps. I have only
      –one pair of shoes (well, I have an old, beautiful pair of black patent and leopard, but they really don’t fit anymore). 🙁
      –one shirt
      –one old sweater-dress (really too old to wear anymore)
      –one pocketbook
      and, my favorite,
      –one pair pjs (which replaced an earlier pair of flannel-leopard).
      I love them all.:)

    • Patty says:

      Hey, I LOVE leopard, it’s just not something I can wear, but it would look amazing on you, of course!!!

      Yup, that’s the plan, put some wip-wops in the car to drive in when I’m wearing them out, only go as far as I have to go, and no more, and then walk back out. I think that will work!

      • Judith says:

        Awww, we’re just giving you grief, Patty, ’cause we love you 😡 (having fun imagining a group of leopard-clad glamazons ganging up on Patty, looking timelessly elegant–if somewhat beleaguered). :d

        • Patty says:

          Ah, I know you are. In honor of my leopardy friends, I’m going to start searching for a pair of leopard shoes that suit me. 😡

    • Maria says:

      Okay, I have a small leopard-print chiffon scarf with slate-blue spots. I should dig that out.

  • chayaruchama says:

    OHHH, baby !
    No. no leopard for you, my love !

    Like sister Judith- I’ve got leopard, but in Mephistos [ haha !].
    And Isaac, when he was a toddler, once talked me into a Wonderbra in leopard [ WHO in their right mind, EVER listened to the ravings of a two-year -old in Filene’s , hmmm ?]

    Il faut souffrir pour etre belle-
    I generally don’t go there.

    [The message, as a child, was that THAT was going to be the ONLY way I would EVER be beautiful- if I suffered !
    Now, if I’m complimented, I either:
    1) tell folks I’m merely becoming incontinent of my inner beauty; or,
    2)Tell them that it takes a LOT of suffering to be that gorgeous…

    What a wonderful girl that is.
    Shirley must be so grateful and relieved… and Nadine, too.

    Kisses to you, and your poor, poor feet.

    • Patty says:

      See, you know! Leopard just isn’t a look I can pull off. 🙂

      yeah, that little one is my nephew’s youngest daughter. I adore all three of them, they used to come over and play Barbies with me when he lived a few blocks away, and I’ve missed having them around a lot since they moved back to Kansas. It was my only girl fix. It was so good to see them, it had been months and months!

      • Patty says:

        Yup, Insense, typed it too fast.

        Oh, Lord, Amy Winhouse’s shoes would have made me just weep bitter, bitter tears. Worse yet is if I had her hair. 🙂 Now, her voice I would love.

  • Musette says:

    hey! don’t be a leopard-hata! I have an incredible pair of Maud Frizon (remember her?) leopard pumps from ought-six (1906, it feels like;-) that are still killah today.

    Your strategy is soundest; wear them in the house and very slowly acclimate your foot (and body) back into the notion of heels. Be very careful, though, and go slow – and make sure you are taking excellent care of your feet. Calypso is a bit hard-hitting up there but her points are valid.

    Just know that your days of running down the street in Manolos are over! Those Loubs are definitely ‘chauffer-driven’ shoes but, as MattS said, in those shoes, someone will make sure you get where you need to go.

    That being said, WORK IT!

    xo

    • Patty says:

      Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love leopard print, it just doesn’t fit me very well. With the right pair, I’d buy them, but these had leopard print little florettes on them… ack, not working for me at all.

      Absolutely agree to do it in moderation, never get stuck out with them on so you have to walk a long way in them, nor will I be running in them… ever. I just don’t want to forego a pleasure I want because they aren’t the most orthopedically sound shoe I could wear. 😡

    • barbara says:

      Maud Frizon????Now there is a blast from the past-I have several pair I periodically weave around the house in, but after several injuries, my stilettos are relugated to periodic viewing-lined up to admire, like fine art.After foolish and wonderful youthful days where I could dance all night and pound the pavement,I sometimes buy beloved heels simply because I adore them-but they hide in the box.My little secret collection…the CL’s are hot-perfect to be carried and escorted around in-for a short time….

  • Francesca says:

    OMG, Patty, those CLs are so beautiful. I love the new shoes with just a subtle platform in the front. Had a similar style in uhhhhh 1973, the color of maple buttercream…Anyway: I have torn cartilage in both knees, got pain under control with Pilates, live in dread of going over on my ankle or something and re-injuring, so it’s flats or tiny heel for me. Plus, in New York we walk a lot so there goes Judith’s nice car-to-restaurant scenario.
    I hope it works out with the shoes!
    And thanks for the sweet picture and story of the little girl.

    • Patty says:

      I’m finding the running I started doing to be more problematic. It’s helping strengthen my ankles, knees and legs, which are necessary, but I’ve got shin splints on the inside of my right leg, which is getting better, but it’s just really makes me so mad that now that I have the stamina and lung capacity to run for longer periods of time, I have to pull back because of that leg, I don’t want it to turn into a stress fracture. But I wouldn’t ahve had the shin splint if I hadn’t overdid in the first place.

      Pilates is great for fixing sooooo many things. I love my classes.

    • Judith says:

      Originally a New Yorker here. And this scenario was originally “TAXI to restaurant” (for special nights only.):) I emended it because I don’t think Patty’s hometown is big on taxis. But I could be wrong.

  • alba says:

    Ahh, feet! With the years, I’ve had to lower my expectations. I have small but wide feet, and high-heeled shoes are just agony for me (and I never seem to find nice ones that are wide enough to fit). Of course, like Judith says, I have a pair or two to wear from the car to the restaurant, and then it’s pretty obvious, by the way I walk, that I’m not used to them. It’s a frustration that can be cured by a gorgeous handbag, like the one March got…
    As for perfume, I’ve decided to ignore Luca and Tania. They managed to spoil my Mure et Musc…for about 10 minutes. Interesting opinions, no doubt, but mine is the final word.

    • Patty says:

      I have big feet. They used to be smaller, size 8s, but now we are up to a 9, and shoes get harder and harder to find in the large sizes. Really sucks. Especially when I know they’ll keep growing, so I’m trying to avoid many of the closed toe shoes or get them in .5 size larger so if my feet keep creeping up on me over the next ten years, at least I can still get in them.

      But if the ones I have coming don’t fit, I will console myself with a new, beautiful bag. 🙂

  • Judith says:

    Well, I do wear stilettos–but I tend to wear them from the car to the restaurant. More than that I cannot do anymore, but they are great for a night out when you are mostly sitting down anyway.:) Those shoes are gorgeous. But I will admit to owning (and loving) a pair of leopard-print shoes; they are flats, so I wear them frequently. :d

    Always glad to hear about another perfume I don’t have to try. So glad the sampler pack worked out. My own disappointment is that Mr. Lily doesn’t really like Tom of F. Too bad. I do. The little girl is adorable!:x

    • Patty says:

      yeah, car to the restaurant, sit down, get back up and walk to the car is about all I want to manage. 🙂

      too bad about the Tom of Finland, why can’t they like what we want them to like???? 🙂

    • tmp00 says:

      I swear I posted my response about that before I read yours..

  • MattS says:

    It’s not as if you’re gonna go jogging in them; you can always just stand around and be sexy! Walking is overrated and if you work a pair of heels like that just right, someone will make certain you get where you need to go. :d

    Glad to hear of your disappointment with the Givenchy Incense. Their review kinda had me jonesing for it something awful and I spent a few hours the other day scouring stores looking for it and could never find anything. I know now not to break my neck to get my hands on it. It could have very well been an Unsniffed Purchase based on The Guide, but I have a feeling that may end up being PdN New York…

    Oh yeah…how was graduation? One of my best friends graduated med school this past weekend and I ended up wearing Incense Rose to her celebration, but Mitsouko the day after, when it was pouring rain and I was a little hungover and feeling proud and happy for her but heartbroken that she’ll be moving to the other end of the state. It was the perfect scent for a moody day with mixed emotions. How’d yours go?

    • Patty says:

      PdN New York is really freaking awesome. it smells good on everyone. I think the Insense could work on the right person, it just wasn’t me, and it just seemed pretty boring.

      Graduation was great. It’s good to have these kids head off on their own. I can’t believe Harry’s is less than two weeks away! Waaaahhh!!!! But since we head to Europe right after he graduates for three weeks, we should be sick of each other before we get back. It will be a great family vacation, though.

      • MattS says:

        PdN…awesome…on…everyone…Don’t. Say. That. Unsniffed purchase looms ahead…

        • Patty says:

          Sorry, sorry, but it really is a great scent. But pretend I didn’t say that!

        • carmencanada says:

          Hey, it’s not like’s it’s expensive. And it *is* awesome. Like some offspring of Coty Chypre by way of her grandson Derby. They sell 30 ml sizes, too!

          • MattS says:

            Sold. Enablers. But I guess everyone’s wanting it now, it seems to be on back order everywhere.

  • Louise says:

    Ah, Patty-go for the Louboutins…in limited walking doses…Carmencanada’s advice is spot-on-you’ll just love your wiggle wearing them. Fingers crossed for a correct size sent to you. Though those leopard prints sound a lot like me…in Birkenstoks:d/

    Thanks for the reminder to appreciate the everyday joys and miracles, amid times of disappointment. That child is very beautiful, her story much more so @};-

    • Patty says:

      Yeah, I love everything about high heels and used to wear them every single day, just years of my feet being flat require readjustment!

  • carmencanada says:

    Well, speaking as a long-life high heel aficionada as early as I could master The Walk (and The Walk doesn’t come easy to young girls, as we can see sometimes on runways), I say go for it, ma’am. Especially Louboutins. Odd though it seems, they are particularly comfortable because they are very well balanced. I speak as a woman who knows: I have at least, what, 25 pairs of them? (sample sales, generous lovers, deep debt for the rest). And I’d get those in a flash… They just chance your whole body line, what can I say ? They’re not really for walking, but they can get you where you want to go.

    • March says:

      The walk! That is so great. Diva got her first pair of mid heels (not hooker heels) on the condition that she put up with all my instructions about The Walk, and follow them. I told her, I will not have you clumping around in those things like a footballer in drag!

    • Patty says:

      That’s the other thing I have to get back, The Walk. Had it, but need practice to work it again in the heels without falling off. 🙂

      I’d love to see your shoe collection some time!

      • carmencanada says:

        Well then, you’ve got to make some time in your schedule when you’re in Paris! I’ll also give you a peek at the carmencanada osmothèque — but then, with Diane around, you’ve probably smelled them all already… About Louboutin: their sizing is all over the map. Sometimes I’m an 8, sometimes a 9 with them (I heard the Louboutin SA explaining this to a customer, so it’s not just my feet acting up).

  • JenniferR says:

    Well, Calypso … speaking as a woman of a certain age who wore more or less sensible shoes for most of her adult life, and then rediscovered the joys of heels in her mid-40s, I gotta say, there’s something about ’em. There just is. That’s why you would wear that. They are gorgeous, sexy, fun. Bad for me? Well, so are so many other things in life that if I avoided all the bad-for-me-or-maybe-bad-for-me things I’d never get out of bed. Wait, that’s bad for me too …
    I have all sorts of back problems, and neuromas in one foot … and I LOVE MY HEELS!!! That said, the heels I wear most are my 4-inch tango shoes, which are so beautifully balanced that I can wear them (with some breaks) for long festival weekends and come away with only minor aches that dissipate with one good foot soak.
    I do not wear heels all the time, or even most of the time. Aside from tango, I wear dressy heels out for the evening, or fun heels occasionally to work when I just feel like it.
    I pay a lot of attention to how my heels fit. The arch has to hit just so, and the heel has to be balanced just so … This is one important key to wearing them successfully, I think. I didn’t wind up training myself to wear them — I just fitted very carefully, and picked occasions (except for dancing) when I knew I wouldn’t be on my feet too much. And somehow, here I am, wearing heels again after all those years of missing out on the fun.

    • Patty says:

      Oh, yeah, you did it too! So do you just break them in gently? Like I’m doing, just wearing for 10-30 minutes at a time.

      I’m excited about the CLs. I had another pair that were closed toe and just too tight, so I went up a size, which should fix that. Fit is everything in high heels. Plus these CLs have the platform on the toe so they aren’t as high on the heels.

      • tmp00 says:

        I wouldn’t wear a new pair of sneakers for more than 30 minutes at a time- my feet would be bleeding!

        I don’t see anything wrong with heels, you can use them as “restaurant shoes”: slipped on when the car comes to a halt, worn into the restaurant and slipped off as soon as you’re back in the car. I wouldn’t run a marathon or climb a tree in them, that’s all.

        • Patty says:

          Really, even sneakers?@?@ Though I don’t break in new shoes on a walk and am now spending a lot of time trying to figure out what shoes I’ll take to Europe. I need to pack really light, so I get two pairs… yikes!!!

          • tmp00 says:

            depends upon the sneaker, but yes. Most shoes kill me if I don’t give them a decent break in period. From Vans to Prada.

            I am such a delicate flower! :d

  • Maria says:

    That little girl is so cute!

    I’ve never been able to wear heels. They’re simply torture. The bone structure of my feet is too weak. You don’t say why you want to start wearing heels now, but my guess is that middle age 😮 (sorry!) is not the best. But, then, even in my twenties I couldn’t, so what do I know? Gorgeous shoes though.

    • Patty says:

      She is adorable, no?

      Well, I used to wear them years ago, but the mommy years made me stop, plus working at home for so long, but I do miss them!

  • Calypso says:

    Why would you wear that? Why would you practice doing something that is HURTING you? You would not put stuff on your skin or into your stomach or lungs that hurts you like those shoes will. Bunions, hammertoes, ankle injuries, stress fractures, heel pain, blisters, corns, damage to lower back vertebrae, “pump bump” (on the back of the heel), hip joint damage,$3.5 billion annual women’s foot surgeries in the US (80% of foot surgeries). These are nothing less than old-fashioned torture, foot-binding that goes by another name.
    Been there, done that, had the surgery, heard the tales my physical therapist tells. Don’t be so foolish.

    • Patty says:

      because I like them, and they don’t give me that sort of pain. I used to wear them years ago and just got out of the habit. I don’t wear anything longer than my feet will be happy in them, but I see no problem in heels with moderation.

      My mom has worn no heels in her entire life and has hammertoes, heel pain, ankle pain. Life is risk, and I refuse to not do things in moderation just because I may have some problem later. That’s just foolish.