Walking in Paris: Now That's a Shoe of a Different Colour

I enjoy a good shoe, as my closet will a test to, however my shoes are limited to a very specific colour palette. I have a good amount of red; beacoup  black, lots of leopard print and barely any brown, in total I only have three pairs of brown shoes. Well, on Saturday, I went shopping with the very fashion foreword Stylespy to the San Marcus Premium Outlet Mall and I was coloured by her passion for all of the Pantones. I watched her shop for colours that are not in my spectrum and I found myself admiring her preference for all of the colours in the rainbow. Even as I began to be tempted by teal, awed by an aquamarine and pleased by a plum---- I knew these colours are not for me. I am and may always be a black and red girl and I am really okay and happy with that.  Having a single colour story works for me for many reasons. In keeping true to red and black I am rewarded with having a wardrobe in which almost all my pieces work together.  And, as my wardrobe is almost entirely red and black it makes sense that my shoes should be in keeping. Oui?

I shared with Stylespy that I am on the hunt for a shoe that I can wear while in Paris. And, this is not an easy task. I am looking for a shoe that I can walk in for about 11 miles a day and still look somewhat chic. If I was willing to go the Mephisto, Birkenstock or athletic shoe route it would be an easy goal to accomplish--but as I am  not unwilling for my feet to be ugly Americans---my perfect Paris shoes may take me months to find. At this point Stylepsy and I had shopped a good five hours--my feet in their cute little, but not altogether comfy, Delman flats---had walked through Barney's, Neiman Marcus, Ferragamo, Kate Spade and other assorted stores. My little piggies had gone to market and they were feeling a little bit fried in the unsupportive yet stylish ballet flats. 

Stylespy shared that her feet are very happy in a cute and comfy Stuart Weitzman ballet flat. Saks had this cute little wisp of a shoe in gold, black, silver and platinum. I tried them on hoping to feel like I could conquer all of Paris in them. Sadly, I still felt like I could use a chair and a stiff drink.

I tried on lots of cute flats that Saks had on sale. I found nail polish red Cole Haan heeled things that have the Nike air technology--so they may look like a sadistic sandal they in fact feel like I am wearing a pair of Nike walking shoes. I have very happy feet. 

In an uncharacteristic act, I reached for a pair of Orchid Coach flats and when I tried them on the strangest things happened, my feet felt like I had stepped into little clouds of heaven and that little Coach angels massaged my feet into a reflexological bliss. My feet were ready to walk to Père-Lachaise and back to the Louvre and up to the top of the Eiffel Tower and then for a long stroll through the Tulleries and maybe even be up for dancing. I checked with Stylespy to see if hours of shopping had impaired my judgement and if these orchid shoes were in fact cute. She agreed that they were and she encouraged me to go ahead and get the same shoe in black. 

I was giddy with delight. I had found shoes for Paris. And, I had added a little bit of colour, that wasn't red, to my closet. I do feel like the red shoes in my closet may not be open to another colour coming in. I talked to my red shoes, as you do, and I assured them not to be afraid. It is only one pair of non-red shoes and orchid is a red colour of sorts. It is not like that I bought a blue or a green shoe. Hmm, it might be fun to have a pair of green shoes.