Liesl, 7N

My mother was at it again today. She told me she had been to Nordstrom's and seen the most beautiful shoes she had ever seen. That isn't the problem, of course. The problem was that she told me this while I had a mouth full of crispy beef taco and she didn't want to go straight there once I swallowed.

Who is this woman? Little girls often fantasize that they are secret princesses and that someday our true family will come and get us and restore us to our throne and crown. Well, I fantasized about that until I left for college; by then I had to admit that my secret royal blood was going to have to remain a secret since my secret family was allowing me to go off into the world without their acknowledgment. Cold bastards!

The point remains, I think I was on to something all those years ago; I cannot believe the woman who claims to be my mother would not see the wisdom in immediately putting down our forks and heading straight to Nordstrom's to see these beautiful of all beautiful shoes. Clearly, she was the wet nurse who somehow got saddled with my blue blooded fabulousness. It's not unlike a fairy tale with a more realistic ending: the fairy princess is forced to suffer the slings and arrows of fate in Dallas with a limited budget and the misunderstanding of the people who are supposed to love and understand her. Let's face it, fabulosas: the only royalty in my life are men who have a fondness for interior design and fabulous hair.

If you think you might be my royal family, send me shoes. I've suffered long enough.

Today's favorite shoe:

Valentino

Liesl, 7N

I am the professor you wish you had in college. I use shoes to illustrate my points in class many times and I have found they almost always apply. Just yesterday I used the example of couture shoes to express the difference in the Dasein and in synthetic judgments. I realize that I am mixing my philosophers, but it still works for me. German for German, value for value.

It went something like this: the fact that we exist in space cannot be changed and is something we know, but all the things we know about a thing are added, a posteriori, synthetic. It pained me to say it, but, the value we put on Manolo Blahnik shoes is absolutely made up by a certain group of people. Why should we allow them to attach what is utterly synthetic to a thing itself and call it valuable over all else?

Because they can and should. We are human and we define ourselves by our art and culture and there is nothing wrong with declaring one thing prettier and better than other things. Otherwise, I'd have a so called masterpiece in the museum and a Kandinsky on my wall because it would not have value beyond the value I chose for it at that moment. That's the other thing about the desire to take away value: it forces value to be something unattainable, transitory and utterly beyond our grasp. Part of the reason we value things is to be able to achieve them. After all, we strive to achieve and count it one of our nobler qualities because we value things or ideas. That's a good thing.

Shoes embody value and all that is right and noble in our species.

Today's favorite shoe:

Manolo Blahnik

Suz 10N

And people wonder why the rest of the world laughs at us

From The Manolo's Shoe Blog:

http://shoeblogs.com/wordpress/2007/06/12/impeach-him/#comments

I don't know what to say. I really don't. Not only is he wearing crocs, but he's wearing them with Presidential Seal socks.

Fellow Americans I plead with you to wear good shoes. The photo clearly illustrates how wrong crocs are. Worse yet, with socks. Also, don't wear socks with pictures on them. Even if you are the President and the picture is the Presidential Seal. Just. Don't.

Speaking of being international and all, I just returned from a whirlwind trip to London. I looked at lots of shoes. Sadly, I did not buy. The exchange rate is TERRIBLE. I was relieved to see only one person wearing crocs while I was there, and I suspect they were American.

It's been a long, long time since I traveled overseas. Imagine my surprise when I cleared security at Heathrow only to be thrust into a giant duty-free shopping mall! There were shoe stores everywhere. Including one my favorites - Ferragamo. I went in to look around. The salesperson was lovely. I explained I could not buy, but oh, how I loved the shoes. She very kindly allowed me to peruse the offerings at my leisure, and politely ignored my little gasps and moans as I caressed a particularly fine pair. It was such a pleasurable end to my trip.

I can guarantee you she would not have been so accommodating had I been wearing crocs.


Today's Shoe:

Salvatore Ferragamo Salut 1 Python Pump

Liesl, 7N

Lookie, lookie, two days in a row. I just couldn't pass up sharing these amazing deals:


For the lovely and chic lady who might have some ass kicking to do.


A previously highlighted pump perfect for a day of shopping in the city.


A nice pair of shoes for a first date with that scrumptious new man.


A sturdy pair of pumps for your day in court. How could just not prevail in these?


For a ladies lunch by the sea. Have a crab cake for me, darlings.


For that night of S&M fun and games.


For the stoll through the Victoria and Albert museum.


For a night at the opera. Just don't see anything new, it might be too a-tonal for these fabulous shoes.


Another previously featured shoe. This would be good for a day of flea market shopping.


Lastly, a pair that is so cheap you would be a fool to pass it up.

Remember: endless.com gives you $5 off every pair of shoes and free overnight shipping. Really, you can't pass up these deals.

Today's favorite shoe:

Costanca Basto "Majda"

Liesl, 7N

I had breakfast with my mother today and she told me an interesting little tidbit of a story: when I was three years old we were having Thanksgiving dinner with some friends. As we went around the table and said what we were thankful for we got the usual responses of good health, happy family, Scotch, those sorts of things. When it was my turn I said the thing I was most thankful for was Elizabeth Taylor. I was born to love style.

My mother also said something unbelievably cruel to me today. In fact, I get weepy just thinking about it all these hours later; when I asked her if she wanted to hit the Nordstrom's shoe sale she said: "You don't need any more shoes." I know, I know, ice water runs through her veins. I, of course, told her that need had nothing to do with it. I am now even more convinced that I sprung from the oyster colored 4-inch heels of life rather than from my mother. Clearly. Otherwise, how could she think such a thing and be even slightly related to me?

Shoes are like food: delicious and and utterly necessary for continued existence.

Today's favorite shoe:

Magnolia "Arcadia"

Liesl, 7N

My mother recently reminded me of a trip we took to Paris about 15 years ago. I had forgotten one interesting little tidbit about the trip: I was utterly obsessed with buying two pairs of shoes. I don't remember this because it was a micro example of a macro obsession; however, my mom has never forgotten it.

The part my mom can't remember is if it was two particular pairs of shoes or if I just wanted two new pairs of shoes from Paris. Clearly, if you are in Paris you should buy shoes, right? It's Paris, for heaven's sake! It's not as if you are in Cincinnati. My mom remembers this because I was so adamant about it and she was probably really annoyed at my single minded devotion to the idea buying shoes. You'd think she would have gotten used to it by then. Now? she just rolls her eyes and goes along with it, knowing there is nothing she can do short of distracting me with... yeah, I can't think of anything that would distract me from buying shoes.

I honestly can't imagine going to Paris or New York and not buying shoes. I was once in an elevator in a hotel in New York with all of my shopping bags when two older women got on and struck up a conversation. It went something like this:

Them: I see you've been shopping!
Me: Oh yes! I can't come to New York and not take advantage of the shoe selection.
Them: Oh. Well, we are here to see museums, not do something like shopping, something you can do anywhere.
Me: Sucks to be you, I guess.

Some people have a screwed up idea of good priorities.

Today's favorite shoe:

Jimmy Choo "Margo"