"Oh my God, Shoes!"

I had a particularly hard time deciding on one object that represents an aspect of my identity. I felt like everything I considered writing about only conveyed one or two aspects of who I am. Since I am such a complex person, I did not think it was not fair to choose only one part of life. I am involved with various organizations and clubs. My interests range from scrapbooking to sports, politics to weddings, and history to popular culture. My taste in music and movies covers full spectrums of genres. I have very, very different groups of friends. The aspects of my life that make up my identity are not necessarily conflicting but still very different. Because of its diversity, it is my shoe collection that reflects my identity- almost in its entirety.

According to Cathy Newman of National Geographic, “[b]aby booties to orthopedic sandals, we spend most of our waking lives in shoes, and from them we may learn something about our culture, our history, and ourselves.” There has been no shortage of people studying trends in the world of fashion. Our clothes, hairstyles and shoes all say something about our culture. Through analysis of what is “in style”, we can gain a sense of understanding. We can see what a culture finds acceptable and beautiful but also what is practical for the time. Shoes began as a way in which to protect our feet but quickly evolved in accordance to the trends in activities, work, and customs of different cultures. The way in which the shoe is constructed, the materials that were used to make the shoe, and the visual style of the shoe have changed over time. By examining the shoe style of an individual, we can gain a sense of whom they are, what they doing, or where they are going. We can make assumptions based on whether someone is in dress shoes, athletic shoes, plain shoes, or shoes covered in rhinestones. In the present day, shoes have become an item of social and economic status. In an episode of Sex and the City, we can watch glamorous Carrie come to terms with the fact that she spends more money on her shoes than on her apartment rent. On any given episode of MTV Cribs, we watch celebrities showing off thousands of shoes in their closets- even tennis shoes are a symbol of wealth when they are custom made. The popular youtube.com video, “Shoes”, (starring a shoe obsessed character named Kelly) won a People’s Choice Award in 2006, ranks among the top 10 iTunes comedy downloads, and will have people still singing “Oh my God, shoes!” for years to come.

I have a ridiculous amount of shoes. I have cleats to play sports in. I have plenty of classic black heels that are perfect for meetings, work and job interviews. I love my saddle shoes because they scream that I am nostalgic for a time that I was never around for. I have my weird, plaid shoes that are a little off for day when I am feeling a little quirky. My Converses are reserved for times when I feel laid back. Flip flops are for lazy summer days. I have “those shoes” for when I feel like getting in trouble and my cute, floral heels for when I feel flirty and sweet. There are shoes that I have had forever, that are falling apart at the seams. There are shoes that I have never worn but “needed” to have- maybe I will wear them one day or maybe they are just represent an identity that is appealing, but simply not me. It all depends on my mood and the occasion. I do not consider myself a “fashionable” girl but I love my shoes. I could pull any pair from my closet and tell you a story behind it and why it is representative of who I am. Together, the different styles represent the different parts of my lifestyle.