Beautiful Things

Tuesday, April 28, 2009
How do I love thee, let me count the ways. As promised, I am showing you some of the stuff I covet weekly. And believe me there is much to choose from...! I always have a pair of shoes I "need" in the back of my mind...and my need for these is serious...

Why do women love shoes so much? There is an almost hypnotic allure to putting on a new pair of "perfect" shoes. And killer heels take my mind to fanciful places, allowing me to envision dancing till dawn under a starlit sky, strolls in Venice after a midnight glass of Chianti, kicking of said killer heels and jumping onto a perfectly styled bed...

Plus shoes are just aesthetically beautiful. Something about the proportions and the slope of a heel--they are art. Alas, I will never have these shoes...but--and I sincerely mean this--I'm glad I get to experience their aesthetic genius.

Penelope Cruz confesses: "I have never been able to study a new role until, alongside the director, we choose the shoes which the woman we are about to bring to the screen will be wearing. Everything starts down there."

I know it's a recession. I know we aren't buying stuff. I know we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. But taking a page from PCruz, I have to agree that the way we portray ourselves is indeed an indication of our character--for better or worse. Style, and feeling good about the way we look is recession-proof. As is appreciating beautiful things.
36 comments:
Anonymous said...

Drool. They are lovely!!!

Hema said...

Now we both covet these!

Anonymous said...

You seem to love shoes as much as I do. Thought you might like this book: http://www.amazon.com/Towering-World-Jimmy-Choo-Glamorous/dp/1596913916/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238430605&sr=8-1&utm_source=dailysugar&utm_medium=email&utm_term=20090427&utm_content=email_link&utm_campaign=dailysugar_email_20090427

g.m. said...

We will forever be justifying why we love shoes. For me it's irrational even to myself but there is no denying the pitter patter of my heart when i get a new pair!

Fatima said...

I enjoy window shopping and "appreciating" as much as the next girl. But these? These I have to HAVE. Damn you!!

Anonymous said...

we love heels because they can make short girls and tall girls, fat girls and skinny girls, girls with great complexions and girls with acne all similarly feel like queens!

Ina said...

Hey, out of curiosity, do you know any Indian shoe designers, espeically any we can buy online from??

Anonymous said...

As much as I think it's shameful to covet in this economy and as much as I want to "want" less: I will now be dreaming of these.

A.P. said...

I'm wondering, and I know people might not feel comfortable ansewring but I'm still wondering, is anybody buying shoes right now?? Man I wish I was!

Vera said...

@A.P.: It's a good question I don't think most people feel comfortable really discussing how they are limiting spending. I for one am NOT buying shoes. Not because we can't afford them neessarily. But because I don't NEED them. Need is a concept I didn't truly understand until recently. I would rather take the money and put it away. Just in case.

Anonymous said...

@Vera: I wish I had the resolve. I am certainly buying less. But I still want the MORE I was buying before! I hope that what will happen is that I buy things in a more thought-out, deliberate manner. For instance: I am going to start saving for THESE SHOES!!!!

Anonymous said...

Ohmygoodness does anybody really pay that kind of money for SHOES?!?! It's SHAMEFUL!

A.P.L. said...

I agree. But I still want them. I wonder if they will go on sale!

Anonymous said...

I must be the only girl who doesn't have a love affair with shoes. I like shoes, but I don't feel the need for new shoes or heels (which kill my ankles...make my feet hurt, etc...) I think they're great on other women, but not for me. Having said that, I do own many a pair (about 20+), however, most are b/c they are for work/occasion not b/c they're super stylish. I can't imagine spending over $100 on a pair of shoes. Like Vera, I don't "need" them (nor want them...).

S said...

I don't usually crave shoes like many women i know either. But I love these. Sigh.

@above poster: it's no secret amongst the people i know that we are spending aLOT less on clothing, shoes etc. it was hard at first, but you get used to it...

lyvia said...

Why is it "shameful" to spend money in this economy? I'm irritated that this label is being attached to "spending" and "coveting". It might be the PC thing to say, but for those people who did NOT over extend themselves in the last several years, this is the perfect time to buy stuff -- all sorts of stuff! Things are on sale and cheaper than they've ever been before. Stocks, homes, cars can all be bought at prices that are at an all time low. I don't think it's "shameful" to buy now ... it's SMART to buy now. If you can afford it, buying in this economy is the smart thing to do and will ultimately be good for the economy. We are relying on those who have the cash to buy stuff so that stores don't have to lay off more employees and can afloat. We are relying on those with cash to buy the unwanted homes so that housing prices don't continue to freefall. There is no "shame" in spending if you can afford to do so - recession or not. I personally will not be spending $700 on shoes, but if there is a lady out there that can afford it and wants it, I'm certainly not going to judge or "shame" her ...

Anonymous said...

I thought the whole idea of the post was to appreciate the beauty of the shoes (and beauty in general) even though most people can't buy them???

Anonymous said...

@ Lyvia: While I hear where you are coming from, I worry that you aren't learning that "less is more" like so much of the country right now. This recession is not a shopping mall for the people who are not hurting.

N.L. said...

Does anybody spend $700 on shoes?? I liked the home stuff you coveted much better!

Anonymous said...

@Lyvia, I could NOT agree more! I HATE that I feel embarrassed to shop now. Why do I have to feel bad? We saved, we invested wisely. I feel bad for the people who are finding themselves in bad monetary positions but we are not them so why do we have to act like we are?

Jennifer said...

At the poster trying to school Lyvia: If you have to use the recession as a learning opportunity that is fine but isn't it a little sanctimonious for you to tell other what they should learn?

Anonymous said...

Through this all I have said the people who have saved are lucky becaues it IS a great time to snag deals on things. But why so angry "Lyvia"??

lyvia said...

What do I need to learn? I worked hard and saved money ... I didn't over spend when it was "fashionable" to do so. It seems that the "lesson" is for those who did not do this. LOL. I'm not angry, I just refuse to appologize for buying stuff.

ps: The people who have saved are not "lucky" ... they are smart. Whatever happened to good old fashioned "accountability"?

Anonymous said...

Well good for you Lyvia, maybe you might think about buying some compassion for other people with the money youve "smartely" accumulated.

Anonymous said...

Jesus leave the poor girl alone, she's right! There is no shame in wanting things and planning reasonable, rational ways to procure them. Hell, it's what America was based on.

Desi Mom said...

Maybe posting all about 'things' is the problem. Maybe you should stick to the issues that mothers actually care about.

Jasmine said...

Um. I'm a mom. And I like reading the posts about "things."

Anonymous said...

It seems like lots of people are missing the point that you can appreciate htings without having them. Think of going to a museum. You can appreciate the Picasso without needing to hang it in your living room.

Anonymous said...

I dont know. It's hard to appreciate a sweater or a pair of shoes in the same way as art. It's hard not to want it and to just be happy it's out there.

Anonymous said...

@Desi Mom: Seriously?

Anonymous said...

Why all the fuss over a pair of shoes??? They are nice and all but still!

I think money issues bring out the best and worst in people. I am seeing that in this recession. Lyvia, it's great that you were smart and have money to spend on deals and whatnot but you sound a little self-righteous about it. Not saying you are and I always hesitate to read into things on a blog because people try to be reactionary on purpose but why would you want to flaunt what you can do in the face of so many people who cant have what you have?

Reema said...

I love those shoes. I can't have them either but sometimes it's ncie to see what you truly love and then find someting similar, less expensive. It's inspirational!!!

B.Singh said...

Those shoes are perfect. Classic with a bit of an edge. But whyohwhyohwhy does ANYBODY have to charge so much for a pair of shoes? WHYYYYYY?

As for all the back and forth about spending and the economy: People need to do what is right for them and not worry about what other people are doing.

Anonymous said...

The minute you introduced a column on "beautiful things" i knew there would be backlash. here it is. keep em coming though i for one really like to see new home items, clothes, whatnot that i would not ordinarily see. window shopping on the internet!

lyvia said...

I like the "beautiful things" posts too. I just didn't like the holier-than-thou comments, preaching "shame" for coveting and buying stuff.

What does this have to do with being a mom? Well, how about teaching our children that it's okay to love beautiful things? That it's not shameful to aspire to buy them ... and if you work hard, get a good job, make money, and save money, you will be able to do this and more!

Anonymous said...

those are absolutely gorgeous!

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