“Can One Pair of Shoes Truly Make a Difference and Convey a Distinctive Image?”
Finding the ideal pair of shoes to fulfill numerous essential requirements…is there such a pair out there?? Recently I’ve been on the search for the perfect pair of comfortable, sexy, stylish, fashionable, sophisticated shoes which fit my personality, reflect a certain image and fall within a set budget. “Can one pair of shoes truly make a difference and convey a distinctive image?” In my business, which is Personal and Corporate Image Consulting and Makeovers, the answer is a resounding YES!!! Can one pair of shoes truly make a difference and convey a distinctive image?
As far as we know the history of shoes began with the Ice Man 3300 BCE, wrapping his feet with rawhide bearskin and woven plant fibers.
Early Egyptians created sandals, the first “flip-flop”. In Egyptian times sandals were a sign of power and rank, they were considered a luxury and not everyone could afford them. Social class was allocated by color…gold and jeweled sandals were for Kings and his court, pastels for dignitaries, red and yellow were the only colors allowed to be worn by the middle-class. The poor and slaves went barefoot.
The Greeks excelled at shoemaking and by 400 BC shoe and sandal making became quite sophisticated and people’s obsession with footwear accelerated to a point where “social” rules came into play regarding them. Shoes were only worn outdoors…the exact opposite of today’s no shirt, no shoes, no service policy. Certain shoes were for certain occasions, soldiers wore a certain type, brides wore another, actors another, etc, etc…
With each passing century shoes have became more refined, developed and elaborate. Shoe fashions are cyclical…platform shoes which are popular today were very popular in the 1970’s as well as the 1990’s, but they originally came to us from the Venetians in their 16th-century chopines. These high soled shoes were a necessity to keep one’s feet off the dirty streets.
Even the mystical Chinese practice of foot binding has been copied yet today, 88% of women in the USA wear shoes that are too small!
Truth be told…all present day shoes are modernized adaptations of past styles…
More than ever modern day shoes convey social status, make fashion statements, show wealth or poverty, wing-tip or flip-flop, cowboy boot or pump…shoes say it all!! Christian Louboutin’s red soles, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Alaia, Rick Owens, Chloe, Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy just to name a few for those status seekers…
But, to get back to my original question “Can one pair of shoes truly make a difference and convey a distinctive image?” Believe it or not, yes! Let’s take a look back in history…
Cinderella
Dorothy – the Wizard of Oz
Carrie Bradshaw – Sex and the City
Forrest Gump
James Bond – 007
Al Capone
Marty McFly
Michael Jackson
Lady Gaga
Captain Jack Sparrow – Pirates of the Caribbean
Frankenstein
Wonder Woman
Clint Eastwood
Audrey Hepburn
and Steve Jobs
…just to name a few. All of these examples identify, as well as convey, a distinct image for a particular individual. They also changed the wearer’s life forever…
Keep in mind that you too can find the ideal pair of shoes which “fits” you, your personality, conveys your image and stays within your budget…it just takes a bit of time and perseverance in the treasure hunt. Happy Shopping!!
