Outside the Zendo, Taos, New Mexico, February, 2007, photo © 2007 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
Topsiders, clogs, sandals, flip-flops, hushpuppies, horseshoes, stilettos, penny loafers, Oxfords, Jellys, mules, platforms, Mary Janes.
Keds, Buster Browns, Doc Martens, Manolo Blahnik, Sorels, Bongos, Wellingtons, Nikes, Keens, Minnetonka Moccasins, Chuck Taylor Converse, Timberland, New Balance, Dansko, Merrells, Reeboks, Adidas, Skechers, Land’s End, Redwings, or PF Flyers.
I want to hear about your favorite shoes. Doesn’t matter how old you were when you wore them or if you still own them. What decade was it? Who made them? What did they look like? Where did they take you?
Details, give me details. Sewn, molded, leather, rubber, suede, rivets, slip-on, snaps, ties, buckles. Corns, bunions, blisters, sweat, cold, ice, leaks, freezing rain.
If you need inspiration go to About Shoes on ShoeInfoNet and read about the Patron Saints of Shoemakers or delve into A History of Your Shoes (after you get to the site, go into: About Shoes, Shoe History on the left sidebar).
Or plug in your old Cassette, 8-Track, or CD loaded with shoe songs: “These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” by Nancy Sinatra, “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins, “Blue Suede Shoes” by Carl Perkins or Elvis Presley, “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” by Paul Simon, or “Clementine” (an American folk song).
When did you learn to tie your shoes? Name the first pair that let you tie the knot. Tell me about your Ruby Slippers.
What is it about that pair of shoes?
-Shadow and Light, If the Shoe Fits, Taos, February 2007, photo © 2007 by QuoinMonkey. All rights reserved.
-posted on red Ravine, April 12, 2007
redravine.wordpress.com 
My feet are square. Almost as wide as they are long with a high arch. Genetics. My dad’s feet were even wider and shorter. My Hawaiian sister calls them “luau feet”.
As a rule, I never pay more than $100 for a pair of shoes…of course there have been exceptions.
I am down to 4 pair; some leather casuals, a pair of Chaco sandles, a new pair of Merrill hiking shoes I bought locally at a good price, and my cycling shoes that look goofy on my feet.
Each pair has a function; work, beach, afterwork/play, bicycling.
I guess I should also add my neoprene booties I use for kayaking that protect my feet from coral, rocks, and hidden sharp things.
mm
LikeLike
Great topic, QM! What wonderful photos…I recall those heather fuzzy clogs. I like how one seems to be leaning on the other.
LikeLike
I bought these gray clogs when I was teaching Kindergarten. I needed some shoes to wear to work that seemed like slippers…I needed comfort wherever I could get it. Funny thing was, I bought red ones at the same time, and they have remained essentially unworn, years later. The gray ones are old friends. I was a little self-conscious taking them to Taos, they are getting rather tattered-looking. This photo reminds of the mid-day sun in Taos, how warm and comforting it felt.
Keep posting the photos, they’re fabulous.
LikeLike
Sinclair, glad you’re back! Fascinating that the red ones didn’t get much wear. I loved seeing your gray ones outside the zendo at Taos. The more worn the better. A good pair of shoes needs to be worn in. Still, I wonder what happened to those red ones? I have a pair of red Chuck Taylor Converse. I’m a sucker for red shoes!
LikeLike
mm,
You have square feet? You mean like the Flintstones?! I like how you listed your pairs of shoes. Come to think of it, I only have about two pair that I wear right now. I tend to do that, wear a few pairs and love them. Then rotate. I hate when my favorite pair of shoes wears out. : – (
LikeLike
Yaba-daba-doo!
LikeLike
I’m wondering about the red fuzzy clogs, too. What size do you wear, Sinclair? Maybe they’d fit me and we can do a swap next time we meet up. I have a great pair of Hush-Puppy-like walking shoes, brown, that I’ve hardly worn. 😉
LikeLike
I’ve seen MM’s Fred Flintstone feet. It’s a wonder he can balance on them (ha!!).
LikeLike
[…] First in a series. Inspired by this topic. […]
LikeLike
[…] Second in a series. Inspired by this topic. […]
LikeLike
[…] 20th, 2007 by quoinmonkey When the topic of shoes posted last week, all I could think about was Shoeless Joe Jackson. Remember his appearance in Field of Dreams? I […]
LikeLike
[…] -topic post These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ […]
LikeLike
[…] Inspired by this topic. […]
LikeLike
I don’t understand why so many women go crazy for Manolos.
LikeLike
Retro, that’s the question of the century. And I’m the wrong person to ask! Maybe ybonesy can better answer that question.
I notice you have some amazing shots of 70’s Platform shoes on your web page and quite a few for sale. There seems to be a demand for vintage shoes. I always get so bummed when my favorite brand of shoes goes off the market. That happens more than ever these days.
LikeLike
I wonder if Sex in the City boosted Blahnik sales? I’d never heard of them before that and now I hear about them all the time.
LikeLike
VMB, you’ve got some great vintage Manolo Blahniks on your site. To answer your question, I think Sex and the City was almost wholeheartedly responsible for the boost in sales of Manolo’s.
I’m not that into fashion footwear. But there are many who are. I probably have the same amount of shoes I had when I first did the writing practices for this post. But I sure did enjoy learning about Shoeless Joe Jackson (LINK). Call me crazy.
LikeLike
[…] -related to Topic post, WRITING TOPIC – THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKIN’ […]
LikeLike
[…] WRITING TOPIC – THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING […]
LikeLike