Why Heels?

"Keep your heels, head and standards high."

I recently had a friend visit me in New York.  We had a “fancy night out” and she gave into the expectation of heels.  By the end of the night I thought she was going to kill me.  I kept telling her “One more street!” “It’s only one more block, I promise!”

The next morning we had a full day ahead of museums, food, and general sight-seeing.  Her face dropped when I arrived in my 5-inch platforms (she in her chucks).  Incredulously she asked “You’re going to wear those?  All day?  While we go all over the city?”  I nodded with a smile.  

Over the summer I went to a wedding out of town, I was sporting a pair of heels when a friend picked me up at the airport – I had maneuvered the subway, stairs and made it through security in them (of course with a multitude of stares from passengers thinking “Who is this woman?  Has she lost her mind?”) - when we arrived at our hotel, I pulled out the heels I was going to wear to the wedding.  She laughed and said “I thought you were wearing the heels you traveled in because you couldn’t fit them in your bag!”

Now, this isn’t to say that there aren’t days where my feet kill me.  Example A:  by the 13th hour of said wedding, in my brand new heels, my friend and I were begging the boys to let us sit down somewhere.  But the next morning I put on my "travel" heels and tottered back, maneuvering the plane, the subway and the city.

I live my life in New York, in Heels. 

I used to be the girl with maybe 5 pairs of heels (mostly for decoration).  I liked to dress up but I could not imagine wandering the city all day in four-inches.  (Now I even do my laundry in heels!)  

Listen – I own “Made for Uber” heels but in most of them, I can survive a day in the city that never sleeps.

I still remember my first pair of heels, they were my Vovo's ("gram" in Portuguese): white, patent leather, thick mule.  I loved tottering around in them and playing dress-up! In those heels I felt just as confident and beautiful as the Marilyn Monroes, Ginger Rogers and Katherine Hepburns that I watched on the silver screen. 

I believe very firmly that every person should have an accessory, color or bold makeup choice that defines them.  Something that even on your darkest day makes you stand a little taller, hold your head a little higher and gives you the confidence you need.

When Vovo was older she would tell us that she *needed* heels on her shoes because they were more "comfortable" and I didn't understand - I thought it was all for the sake of vanity (and height!).  But I now understand that for her, it was part of her identity - much like for me. 

I love the power and poise that I get from a good pair of heels. I love the strength and confidence I feel.  Like I can take on the world.  

Heels aren't for everyone, they are my signature style.  But I can guarantee that once you find that *thing* you can make even the roughest of days, that much better.