Today's Shoes that Make You Go, "Huh?"

Here’s a fascinating pair for you! 

And that’s my post for the day!  lol

(I don’t have the source, but I am still looking…)

Birthday Shoes - YeeHaw!

I can’t believe it’s been a whole month and I haven’t posted anything about shoes!!!  Not that I have not been thinking about shoes – some days it’s all I think about… don’t judge me!

So it is my birthday month, after all; and just because I don’t really get enthused about the actual day, anymore, I look at it as the time of year when I purchase an extraordinary pair of shoes – shoes that I would not normally purchase any other time.  The first time I decided to do this, I ended up with the very first PINK purchase I had ever made for myself.  I don’t like pink.  Not for me.  Too girly, and I avoid all things glittery-girly-pink!  But as I opened up the package that landed on my doorstep a few days before my birthday, the excitement bubbled over as I had to shade my eyes from the mere brightness of it all.  I had never owned anything this. bright. before. !!!

So this year, as I contemplated what out-of-the-norm purchase I would make to top that hot pinkness from a couple years before, I thought back on the image that I saw one day while at work planning our homecoming office activities.  Western was the theme of the year and we were wondering what in the world we would do to join in the festivities.  My coworker and I wandered onto a website full of western wear and there they were…

…in all their purple glory!  Purple cowboy boots.  Yes, you read right – and I have never owned cowboy boots in my life, much less purple ones.  And it was at that time that I became obsessed about these boots.  Well believe it or not (seriously), I am not an impulse buyer.  I actually put a lot of thought into anything before I buy it.  It annoys my mom and sis because many times I will pick up something in the store and walk around with it forever before putting it back on the shelf with the decision made that I really don’t need or want the item.  So for a year I contemplated the reasons I needed purple cowboy boots… the reasonable explanation behind such a purchase… whether or not I would even wear them!  Purple. Cowboy.  Boots.

I am of the opinion that if I see something and do not get it, that if I put something back on the shelf and leave the store, and my mind is still contemplating, still wanting this thing days later, that I should have purchased it.  There have been times when I’ve even returned to a store to find something that I left and made the purchase simply because I have been thinking about it a week or so later.  There is a sense of immediate loss when the item is gone - as if I've lost some part of my soul.  This feeling is usually most regrettable over shoes that I have left...

So a year later, I’m still thinking about these purple cowboy boots – still wanting to own them.  And it just so happens to be February.  I go back to the website – the name ‘sheplers’ etched in my brain as I have thought about these boots for so long… have visited this site over and over again trying to justify a purchase like this.  I see that the boots are on sale – TWENTY DOLLARS LESS than I would have paid any other time.  Duh!  It’s so obvious that it’s meant to be and I click the ‘add to basket’ button that brings me one step closer to receiving my own pair of purple cowboy boots.  A few bits of information and card information later, and the boots are promised to be on my front porch in 5 to 10 business days.

So here I am typing this post in my brand spanking new pair of purple cowboy boots.  No regrets, no second thoughts, nothing but a new pair of boots to add to my collection.

I have no idea which shoes will stay on my mind this coming year and which pair I will decide to purchase for next year’s birthday, but I do know that this was the perfect birthday gift from me, to me…

thanks, me!  (western-wear style…)

January: Shoe of the Month

Everyone, meet Siobhan. 

She is a dream!

She is a faux-snakeskin pump with a 2” platform and an almond toe.  She is taupe with a 5.25 heel.  She is surprisingly comfortable and I can’t wait to wear her!  With my new black top.  That should be in the mail:

And that’s it for the month…

In My Shoes

“I get something out of them! When I feel bad I like to treat myself. Clothes never look any good... food just makes me fatter... shoes always fit.” Rose Gellar, In Her Shoes

I have never identified more with a movie quote!  Perhaps it is why I have so many shoes… I’m not sure when this collection started, or how it grew, but I never have enough of the feel of a 4-inch heel…the perfect fit of a wedge…or the smell of a brand new pair right out the box.  Some people collect clothes, some figurines, others books, and others cars…I collect shoes.  And it is not an addiction even half as bad as being hooked on drugs! 

So I finally completed my thorough organization of my shoe closet; turns out I am just about out of room, but I have placed ALL my shoes in clear shoeboxes, complete with pictures on the front for easy identification; and have hung all of my boots, thanks to a pinterest pic I saw.  It is absolutely beautiful, and it helps me to see what I have and what I don’t yet have!  Take a peek – it is the first ever picture I have released for public view:

I aspire to have a walk-in closet one day like this:

Or displays:

If not – I’ll just convert a whole room into a closet:

After all, it’s just me and Sasha living here and she doesn’t need a whole room to herself!

Really? A blog named after Imelda Marcos?

Yes, really!  It’s like you don’t know me at all!  And of course I had to begin this very fun blog with an introduction to the infamous Imelda, herself.  What kind of fan would I be if I didn’t?  Well, actually, I’m not really a “fan” fan, but I am a fan of her immaculate shoe collection.  You can thank my mother for that – she has called me “Imelda” for years, only waking up the curiosity in me to find out who this person was and why I was the modern-day version of her, according to mother-dearest.

Well, that’s all she wrote.  I am thoroughly impressed – not at all offended at the implication that my novice shoe collection (small, in comparison to the great Marcos) could be even closely compared to that of hers.  So what mom actually did was awaken a tiny competitive monster within me that wishes to see how many shoes I can collect (within reason, of course).

No, I’m no crazy; I just love love LOVE shoes!

“I did not have three thousand pairs of shoes, I had one thousand and sixty”

Imelda Marcos

So who is Imelda Marcos?

In short, Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10^th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.  She held various positions to the government, and is the first politician elected as member of the Philippine legislature in three geographical locations.  So see?  There was more to her than her lavish shoe collection.  That collection is actually for what she is best known; although she collected art, and jewels, as well.  She was considered extravagant; even she, herself, said “They will list my name in the dictionary someday. They will use ‘Imeldific’ to mean ostentatious extravagance.”  Of course, you know that is my new word, don’t you?!  All-in-all, Imelda Marcos has a full history (I’m going to read her auto/biography this year, just because); however, I can safely sum her up in these words: beauty queen, singer, “Muse of Manila”, politician, First Lady, Governor, Minister, Ambassador, exiled, accused, and proud.

That’s it-a brief history of Imelda Marcos.  Enjoy some pictures and quotes:

“I hate ugliness. You know I’m allergic to ugliness.”

“What’s wrong with shoes? I collected them because it was like a symbol of thanksgiving and love?”

“I have no weakness for shoes. I wear very simple shoes which are pump shoes. It is not one of my weaknesses.”

One day I wish to do two things: Visit the museum in Manila which houses all of Imelda’s shoes; and sit down to have a conversation with the shoe goddess, herself!

Now we can get down to my personal collection and have some discussions about all. things. shoes. !!!