ModeNY.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Put Your Best Foot Forward... Literally
January 2009

The last glass of champagne has been sipped, the ball has dropped, and the confetti has been thrown. It's time to face the fact that the holidays are over and we must all get on with our lives. But this is not a time for a reluctant trudge back to the office. This is an opportunity to embrace the world with a renewed spirit, to adopt a positive outlook, and to literally put your best foot forward. And by that, I mean to express to you the importance of a good pair of shoes.

I'm well aware of the now well-worn cliché of a woman's obsession with shoes, thank you very much, Sarah Jessica Parker. But the desire for shoes stems not just from greed or consumerism. Yes, they are pretty to look at, with their sensual curves, bold lines, and luxurious materials. But it's only after you've slipped them on your feet, can you truly appreciate what a good shoe can do.

Your feet are literally the foundation of your body. No matter what you do for a living, your total physiology is dependent on your feet. If your feet suffer, you suffer. This is not to say one should forego fashion and settle for a pair of Keds. Past conventional wisdom dictated that fashion is pain – if one wanted to look good, one would have to suffer the consequences. Whoever propagated this fallacy clearly didn't know from fashion, or from pain for that matter. A well-made stiletto, pump, boot, or sandal should be comfortable as well as classy. There is a lot more that goes into the making of a designer shoe than just cutting out a foot-shaped piece of leather and sewing it to a stick. The best shoes are made to caress the foot, and support each arch, undulation, and pressure point through a combination of luxury and time-tested craftsmanship. There's a reason why good shoes are so expensive.

More importantly, your feet are also the foundation for your psyche. There is a quiet confidence that comes from brandishing top-of-the-line footwear. One can never underestimate the effect on one's gait when wearing an imposing Gucci stiletto, or one's posture when flaunting a patent leather Lanvin pump.

It's no coincidence that most high-powered women seem to be wearing the best shoes. It's not that they are in positions to afford it. It's that they have the self-esteem to believe they deserve it. Power begets power. Confidence begets confidence. Believe that you have earned the right to wear the best, and others will believe it too.

Wilhelmina Slater