My Shoe, erm.. liking, obsession..fetish?
I have this thing for shoes - hey, it's not a fetish, it's just a liking for shoes.Fine, a very FOND liking for shoes.
Alright, if you insist adamantly - an obsession with shoes.
Alright, alright, fine, I admit it - it's obsessive, compulsive - a fetish.
In the past, I loved shoes because of the simple fact that my feet (unlike the rest of my body) are of the normal size (or what is considered normal by Singaporean standards) and hence, can find many shoes that can fit. Hence, it is no surprise that while other gals liked shopping (for clothes), I totally detested that and adored shopping for shoes. Hey! I can wear them, ok?!
This unhealthy relationship with shoes started even when I was still in Uni. I remembered that I purposely went to Ikea to get the cheap assemble-it-yourself wooden shoe rack that sat beside my table. And there were boxes of shoes! Despite that fact that I don't walk well in heels (having spent my whole first year in Uni decked in Calvin & Hobbes t-shirts, shorts/ berms & cheap Trail slippers), I enjoyed buying them. I think I was going through a wardrobe change phase or something like that.
Staying on campus also meant that my hallmates and I would shop at Clementi Central - where the bus interchange is. Hey, it's a pretty good place to shop, with all the Giordano, Baleno and Bata shops. More than enough to keep me happy for a while (when you are in Uni, you usually don't get that much allowance to let you splurge in places like Tangs or Isetan). And usually, Bata will have its range of Marie Claire shoes - and I got tons of them. 'Upgraded' to Charles & Keith later. Hence, I had about 6-7 pairs of heels (low ones, definitely) at any one time, I think.
When I started work, it got worse. It didn't help much that my 2 colleagues were really vain (and earning quite a bit) so I got exposed to the whole branded goods, shoes-must-match-with-bag theory and that kinda stuff. And I was working near Tanjong Pagar, near Amara Shopping Centre - which had a Charles & Keith as well as a DMK?
Guess what, I bought MORE shoes. Then they introduced me to this brand called Ricci Noi or something like that. It has since closed down - but not before I bought a pair of red and black heels (that pinched my toes terribly whenever I wore it, though the design was gorgeous) and a 3-inch high pair of brown suede heels that I have yet to wear - cos it's a tad too big for me - tendency to keep falling off.
Then, there was this phase when I was such a good customer of Charles & Keith. Admittedly, the quality isn't there (in fact, it has been deteriorating over the years) but the designs are still quite good (considering the price). However, after buying tons of C&K shoes and having the heel part wear off constantly, I resigned to the fate that their shoes just aren't meant to last.
Then I heard of Nine West shoes - they had a 20% sale at their branch at Wisma Atria one evening and Cin & I decided to go and check it out. The reason being there were TONS of females there! And all buying these exorbitantly priced shoes (well, exorbitant by MY standards) - think $150 (min). Then Cin added that according to her colleagues, its a really good buy. But then again, to actually spend $120 on a pair of shoes - I almost spluttered at the thought of that.
Then quite a while later, Cin & I were at Raffles City when we came across another Nine West boutique. SALE - Up to 50% off. And we were in. The range was limited, considering that the sale had been on for quite a while, but we both saw this pair of light pink leather heels (low) and decided to try it for fun. I took 7 and she, 6.5. Oh, did I forget to mention that I buy things on impulse? yeah, I am the ULTIMATE impulsive shopper - I buy things without thinking twice about it (it's horrible!) Cin on the other hand is a much more rational and logical shopper - she'd see if she really needs it and if it's worth the price. As for me - I am just happy to spend money. (goodness, it's a horrible habit)
So I got the pair of shoes and she didn't. And I must say that it's my best SHOE investment ever! Even though the appearance seems really painful - it's actually really comfortable for such a design. Probably cos it was made of real leather (unlike my previous cheapER look-alikes, it stretched to accommodate my feet). Walking in them was still more painful than wearing sports shoes, but they were really comfortable as far as heels go. And they are so pretty! And they last. After 4 months of wearing them almost everyday - the heel parts are still THERE - not totally worn out (unlike my 2 newest pairs of C&K shoes that I bought in 10 min at one go - which got its heel parts worn out after less than 1 month!)
The best thing - they are waterproof! Hence, when it was raining continously for the first 12 days of Jan, I wore them and gamely stepped into puddles (shallow ones, of course) and felt so elated that finally, I did not have to deal with wet suede shoes, or uncomfortable damp, wet feet! I so adore that pair of shoes...
Now, if only I could find a PINK bag to match...
