Shoes are normally the last item of clothing you put on; but have you ever thought about just how much your shoes reveal about you?
Yep, it’s true. There’s even been a study, Shoes as a source of first impressions, conducted by Dr Angela Bahns, of Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and researchers from Kansas University. The result? Everywhere you go – people immediately take notice of your shoes and judge you accordingly – in business and personal relationships.
Shoes serve a practical purpose, and also serve as non-verbal clues with symbolic messages.
Why do we check out each other’s footwear so much? Because it tells us a lot about each other.
Are we clean and tidy?
Do we have taste?
Are we reliable?
Contemporary?
Image conscious?
Confident?
Introverted or extroverted?
Comfortably casual or just plain lazy?
Where do we stand in society?
I have always loved shoes, and – I’m embarrassed to admit – at one point in my younger days, had over 60 pairs. I had shoes in luscious colors like peach, yellow, red, and aqua. I had shoes and boots in beautifully textured or pattered leathers like snakeskin or cheetah print. I had shoes with fun embellishments including rhinestones, flowers, straps and buckles. I had adorable strappy sandals and kickass high heels. I loved them all. Every pair of shoes expressed my mood for that day, that occasion.
To this day – although I don’t own near as many pairs of shoes and they’re somewhat more conservative and comfortable than in days past – I still maintain a nice variety that definitely reflect my joie de vivre.
Shoes have never just provided utilitarian protection for the feet — they also hold memories of the lives we’ve lived.
Every pair of shoes tells a story. Whenever I reflect on past favorites, a whole slew of memories come up. Mostly fond ones, because I had such fun shoes. What stories do your shoes hold?
What are your favorite go-to shoes? Did you choose them for comfort, style or as a reflection of your personality? Now that you’re thinking about it, what are your shoes revealing about you? Is it the truth?
And just for fun, think about this: what would it be like to be your shoes for a day? Comments welcome 🙂
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