It seems odd, even after all this time, that I should be writing a blog about shoes. It's hardly my thing. Or at least I didn't think it was. No, you were much more likely to hear me waxing lyrical about Apple computers or the latest album by Teenage Fanclub than you are about an item of clothing.
Until very recently I considered shoes to be purely functional items. To be worn to protect feet from the elements, dirt and stubbed toes. Even now, after living in New Zealand for over two years and witnessing bare feet in all manner of places, I still wince at the thought of standing in something I shouldn't.
It has to be said that if all places to develop an addiction to footwear, New Zealand is the least likely place to do it. Not only are the prices hideously expensive, but the choice is somewhat limited. Or it is to my untrained eye. It's not that I haven't tried to buy shoes since we arrived - I have bought some sandals and countless pairs of running shoes - but these are hardly high fashion. After several disappointing attempts, I have been left calculating whether I could make my current pair, yes singular, last until our next trip to Europe. Or to put it more simply, I am simply not a shoe buyer.
That was until I discovered that I could import my own. And since then, there's been no stopping me. Before I go any further, I must stress that I'm hardly in Imelda Marcos territory here, and most women would probably scoff at my shoe collection but this is a big thing for me.
Until very recently, I considered that if you had a pair of shoes that fit a particular function, then you had enough. After all, having more than one pair introduced choice, and choice was a complication I could do without thank you very much. The only exception to this was running shoes but only because it was scientifically proven that you needed to rotate between at least two pairs to make them last longer. And even then I had to read several articles and discussions to make absolutely sure it was necessary.
But here I now am, after a few internet shopping 'trips', the proud owner of not one or two but three pairs of casual shoes. I know, three. It's amazing and what a collection. Three pairs that serve the same function. What extravagance! And I've found the experience of having choice liberating and far from the burden that I thought it would be. Well up to a point at least.
Okay, so technically they are the same shoe just in different colours, but to me that is a huge step forward, if you pardon the pun. Besides, once you know a particular model of shoe fits, why risk anything else? Yes, I'll admit I've got some way to go but for me this is a big thing. It's the first time I have bought a second pair of shoes whilst the others are still relatively new, out of choice rather than necessity. And then a third? Well, wow, look at me go.
The latest addition to my collection (Scarpa Mojito Fresh in case you were wondering) are in a rather stunning green with pink laces. And just wearing them makes me smile. What a fun piece of footwear and the fact that nearly everyone has commented on them, mostly in a positive fashion, is almost worth the effort to import them.
It wouldn't be a stretch to call me, after three purchases, an importer of fashionable European footwear. Although I was getting a bit concerned that I would be classed as such and hit with a large tax bill. To reduce the risk, I took the precaution of having them shipped to different addresses, a suitable date apart and to different recipients.
But I'm done - three pairs of casual shoes is enough, especially when they are essentially the same shoe but in different colours. Besides, it's getting hard to decide which pair to wear. Do I go for the muted navy pair with red laces, the funky purple or the vibrant green with pink laces? Hhhhmmm. Nope, this is getting far to complicated so three is enough.
Mind, the orange pair with blue laces would look pretty cool.....
Until very recently I considered shoes to be purely functional items. To be worn to protect feet from the elements, dirt and stubbed toes. Even now, after living in New Zealand for over two years and witnessing bare feet in all manner of places, I still wince at the thought of standing in something I shouldn't.
It has to be said that if all places to develop an addiction to footwear, New Zealand is the least likely place to do it. Not only are the prices hideously expensive, but the choice is somewhat limited. Or it is to my untrained eye. It's not that I haven't tried to buy shoes since we arrived - I have bought some sandals and countless pairs of running shoes - but these are hardly high fashion. After several disappointing attempts, I have been left calculating whether I could make my current pair, yes singular, last until our next trip to Europe. Or to put it more simply, I am simply not a shoe buyer.
That was until I discovered that I could import my own. And since then, there's been no stopping me. Before I go any further, I must stress that I'm hardly in Imelda Marcos territory here, and most women would probably scoff at my shoe collection but this is a big thing for me.
Until very recently, I considered that if you had a pair of shoes that fit a particular function, then you had enough. After all, having more than one pair introduced choice, and choice was a complication I could do without thank you very much. The only exception to this was running shoes but only because it was scientifically proven that you needed to rotate between at least two pairs to make them last longer. And even then I had to read several articles and discussions to make absolutely sure it was necessary.
But here I now am, after a few internet shopping 'trips', the proud owner of not one or two but three pairs of casual shoes. I know, three. It's amazing and what a collection. Three pairs that serve the same function. What extravagance! And I've found the experience of having choice liberating and far from the burden that I thought it would be. Well up to a point at least.
Okay, so technically they are the same shoe just in different colours, but to me that is a huge step forward, if you pardon the pun. Besides, once you know a particular model of shoe fits, why risk anything else? Yes, I'll admit I've got some way to go but for me this is a big thing. It's the first time I have bought a second pair of shoes whilst the others are still relatively new, out of choice rather than necessity. And then a third? Well, wow, look at me go.
The latest addition to my collection (Scarpa Mojito Fresh in case you were wondering) are in a rather stunning green with pink laces. And just wearing them makes me smile. What a fun piece of footwear and the fact that nearly everyone has commented on them, mostly in a positive fashion, is almost worth the effort to import them.
It wouldn't be a stretch to call me, after three purchases, an importer of fashionable European footwear. Although I was getting a bit concerned that I would be classed as such and hit with a large tax bill. To reduce the risk, I took the precaution of having them shipped to different addresses, a suitable date apart and to different recipients.
But I'm done - three pairs of casual shoes is enough, especially when they are essentially the same shoe but in different colours. Besides, it's getting hard to decide which pair to wear. Do I go for the muted navy pair with red laces, the funky purple or the vibrant green with pink laces? Hhhhmmm. Nope, this is getting far to complicated so three is enough.
Mind, the orange pair with blue laces would look pretty cool.....
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