BOOTS, SHOES, MOCCASINS

What is it about fall that makes me want to hang out at shoe stores and buy about 20 pairs of gorgeous new shoes? Especially boots? Now, though, I don’t have to take my ugly feet into a store, I can shop and drool to my hearts content online.

Shoes as part of the culture, as part of the fashion ensemble may be THE most important thing. You notice everybody does that glance down at your feet, without even knowing they're doing it. They notice.

I found some great boots on Endless.com (not the ones in the photos above, more about them later) and so I am shamelessly promoting them because the price is wonderful! (click on the url below to see them) And my legs may be too fat for this high rise model, but I know somebody with nice young legs will adore them. I saw some other country-style short ones that would work for me. Or maybe I'll just lose some weight so I can buy the beauty boots. That would motivate me! They're called "endless boots" - endless is some kind of master word when it comes to boots.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=mega109-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001B66VVE&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

I don’t know if I will get this particular pair, because where would I wear them? I live in the country near a city of about 50,000 where people go shopping and eat out in sneakers, sandals and even dime store flip-flops. I've seen folks in the grocery store in their slippers! If I wore those boots down the street in this town there'd be people pointing and laughing and saying "MY GOD! look at that old lady, do you THINK she really thinks she's sexy in those boots?"

It’s not as if I’m in NYC where women (and men) can’t go to the corner store without exquisite ensembles and the right perfume. And I seldom go to San Francisco anymore, but when I do I need to wear hiking boots because the pavement wears me out.

But, man, they make such WONDERFUL shoes these days! I can’t believe the variety and meticulous detail on these shoes. Where have I been? It makes you wonder. There must be a new genetic key in the code for inherited shoe fetish, because I think I and most of my friends also own at least a hundred pair. Ok, at least 30 pair, though. I, myself, don’t believe anyone should try to wear 20 inch spike heels (ok, I’m exaggerating, no one wears 20 inch heels) but I really think they are some sadistic shoes out there. Although, I don’t mind looking at them on models, who probably don’t have to walk in them very far. I fantasize that I’m 40 years younger and in NYC with these beautiful, exotic people, talking that exotic talk and walking . . .I’d probably seriously injure myself on some of those heels, but I can dream. In fact, I have been known to injure myself at wedding parties while wearing those 70's style espadrilles with the 5 inch heels and the satin ribbon ties. Serious sprained ankle in the parking lot. I THREW the damn shoe into some bush - and later wanted it back. Oh well. We are so lucky here in the U.S - the men never got into binding our feet into 4 inch crippled pegs to make us into their precious little flowers! But I digress. . .

Nowadays I only wear "sensible" sandals, sneakers, and clogs. I adore my clogs. (Sensible - another word I hate) That pair of ratty clogs in the photo above, I can’t bear to see them go! I still wear them everyday, because they feel like big furry paws tenderly holding my feet. (I think I bought them at Kmart, but don't tell) They never make it back into the closet. For me comfort is king! Really, I do have some seriously good shoes. People envy my shoes. I left a pair at my friend’s house and now she says she can’t find one of them! but I know she just wanted to keep them. I know I’ll never see those nice little clogs again. Oh well, I will be more careful where I leave my shoes from now on.

About those moccasins: So do you like them? Three years ago when I was just getting to know about handmade leather apparel I decided to make myself a pair of moccasins from some elk skin. It looked so easy! You know those very simple instructions they give you for "Indian crafts"? But I should have wondered why handmade moccasins are hard to find and very pricey when you do find them. It is not easy to get them right! That's why the museums have those beautiful perfect ones that no one ever wore - they couldn't get their feet into them! So, I found a pattern for these Sioux style moccs, I modified it for my poor bunion and added some fancy lacing to the design and cut them out of the softest part of the elk skin because I thought that would feel soooo comfy. Little did I know then that I was using the soft belly-skin from the elk which stretches out so much so that the elk could eat and eat. (very much like my belly) I had them all laced up but when I tried them on they had stretched out about 3 sizes. I took out the laces, cut them down, re-laced and cut, and re-laced - 3 times. It was 3 AM when I gave up. The left one is still too big. But I really do know how to make moccasins now. I’ll do it again this year because my daughter wants some beaded deer skin moccs. It’s fun and worth it, I just won’t use the belly skin. Buffalo skin is great too, and lasts forever. I can get magnificent skins without any flaws. They farm the deer and buffalo and get huge, beautiful skins. I know I risk hearing from the animal rights and vegetarian people, but I bet you’ll find most of them wearing leather shoes. I'll take the risk. I can even make you a pair - let me know.

So, if you’re not like me, and you won’t try just about anything, like even making your own shoes, or you don't have anywhere to wear the kind I'd make for you, then you maybe will want to take a look at all the pretty ones you can find online. You must let me know if fall makes you zero in on your feet and what they’ll be wearing this winter. Is 30 pairs too many? 50? Imelda’s 500? Go look at (note: endless.com took down the page that was here) They pretty much have everything you and I will ever need.

I'm serious, I need a pair of boots. I don’t have any that fit since my bunion took over. Bunions. That’s another subject.