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The
Clothing Chronicles
May 18, 2006, #227
FashionForRealWomen.com
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In This Issue:
Message
From Diana
Feature
Article: These Shoes Were Made for Walking
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>>
MESSAGE FROM DIANA
My latest
ebook, OCCASION MAGIC, is shaping up nicely and should be available
in a few weeks. I'm having LOTS of fun with this one, listing what to
wear for different occasions, and it makes me think I should stop
working so much and go play more often than I do. With summer just
around the corner, I may do just that! Look for OCCASION MAGIC soon.
After offering
a list of companies that specialize in wrinkle-free clothing in last
week's issue, I had several readers write in to remind of these great
travel clothes companies that I'd missed:
Thanks, ladies.
Your input is much appreciated.
I also heard
from LOTS of readers both cheering and condemning me for disapproving
of the business attire + tennis shoes combination that I still see
from time to time. Apparently, I hit a nerve. In truth, I found it fascinating.
So I'm
pre-empting the article I'd plan to run today in favor of responding
to my critics.
Enjoy!
Diana
diana@fashionforrealwomen.com
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
FEATURE ARTICLE
These Shoes
Were Made for Walking
Last week's
article about wearing
tennis shoes with business attire spawned an avalanche of
emails, both from readers who agreed with me and those who vehemently
did not. I'd had a similar response the last time I wrote about this,
back in 2001, but since I'd seen an overall decline of this odd
combination, I was curious to see if, five years later, my readers
were ready to let this one go.
Many aren't.
The responses
ranged from (I'm paraphrasing to combine multiple comments):
PRO
-
"At last!
Someone is finally talking about this. Don't these people own mirrors?"
-
"We've
been laughing about this ridiculous American custom for years."
(Readers from Milan and Paris)
-
"Will you
quit giving away the keys to the Executive Washroom?"
To:
CON
-
"Tennis
shoes with business attire is out? Really? What rock have you been
living under? Everyone does this - it's mainstream."
-
"I took a
poll around our office and we all agreed that if we take them off the
instant we get to our desks, it's okay. Besides, the only people who
see us are sales clerks, doormen, and waitresses. What does that have
to do with credibility?"
-
"Give me
a break! I can't imagine anything more painful than walking ten
blocks every day in a pair of $15 shoes. I've endured years of back
and foot pain and I'll take tennis shoes with business suits any day,
so judge away. I don't care."
Interesting
division, isn't it? I started to feel a bit like John T. Molloy (the
1970's "Dress for Success" guru) conducting an experiment
with this topic.
Let me start
by saying that I agree whole-heartedly that walking long distance in
comfortable shoes is a must, particularly if you're prone to back
pain and foot problems. That those shoes should be tennis shoes is
where we disagree. I still say that a neutral-colored pair of flats
is a much better choice for commutes.
Now I realize
that a lot of people really like tennis shoes and wear them all the
time. At the same time, this goes back to the article I wrote a few
weeks ago that asked, "Can
you go everywhere you need to go with what's in your closet right now?" If
you're reaching for gym shoes to commute in with your more formal
business attire, the answer is clearly "no."
There are
plenty of good-looking, comfortable walking shoes at all price points
to choose from, so don't simply assume that tennis shoes are the
best, most comfortable choice without exploring your other options.
You may be pleasantly surprised by what else is out there.
Brands most
favored by seasoned travelers include:
So why am I
harping on this?
Well, I won't
"give you the keys to the Executive Washroom," as one of my
readers accused, but I'll jingle them a little to give you some
"food for thought" as I take a closer look at some of these
comments. Depending on your goals in life, you can do with the
information as you see fit -- including agreeing to disagree with me.
-
"Everyone
does this - it's mainstream."
Take a closer
look at those following this practice. It's NOT everyone. By and
large, it's women who are thirty-five or older, mid-management level
or below. There are always exceptions, of course, but you'll find
that the majority of followers fit this description. It's rare that
twenty-somethings or executives wear this combination. Young women
think it's too "old-ladyish" while most image-conscious
executives know better than to mix very casual shoes with more formal
business attire.
-
"I
took a poll around our office and we all agreed that if we take the
tennis shoes off the instant we get to our desks, before we do any
work, it's okay. Besides, no one sees us besides sales clerks,
doormen, and waitresses, so how does that impact credibility?"
First, I
encourage you to be VERY careful from whom you take your advice. If
your source has the income and lifestyle that you want, by all means,
listen up. But if she doesn't, look to the one who DOES and follow
his or her advice instead. If you have your eye on the corner office,
dress like the gal in the corner office (or better). She knows how to
get there; everyone else just has an opinion.
Secondly,
you're not invisible when you commute, not even to service or retail
personnel. They judge you based on your attire every bit as much as
you judge them. Since shoes have long been used as an indicator of
wealth and status, from the elaborate sandals worn by the ancient
Egyptian aristocrats right up until the designer brands so popular
today, I think you'd be shocked by just how much those gym shoes
reveal about you.
Have you ever
heard the term, "well-heeled?" It was coined in the 16th
Century when Venetian merchants brought back platform shoes from the
Orient and they instantly became "all the rage." The
towering heels kept their wearers inches above the mud and muck of
the streets, but only the very wealthy could afford such shoes. Ever
since, "well-heeled" has meant prosperous and well-dressed.
So what do
your shoes say about you? If you mix very casual shoes with more
formal attire, it says to many that you either don't know any better
or that you can't afford more appropriate shoes.
"I
can't imagine anything more painful than walking ten blocks every
day in a $15 pair of shoes. I've endured years of back and foot pain
and I'll take tennis shoes with business suits any day."
You're right -
a cheap pair of shoes wouldn't stand up to such abuse, and neither
would your feet. But tennis shoes aren't the answer for commuting to
and from work. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes from the list
above instead.
So what's the
bottom line here?
Yes, tennis
shoes are more comfortable to wear long distance than high heels. But
so are well-fitting flats. If you invest in a pair of good,
attractive walking shoes, you'll come out ahead in the long run.
While tennis shoes are only appropriate for casual attire, a simply
styled, good-looking walking shoe can be worn for either casual or
business. You'll get twice the use from one shoe AND you'll look more
pulled-together wearing them. You'll also enjoy better service from
those you encounter along the way. If you don't believe me, just try
it for a few days and see. I think you'll be surprised.
|
Need some more
help pulling together a polished look? Then download a copy of
BUSINESS WEAR MAGIC
http://www.businesswearmagic.com
to see how
easy dressing well for your industry can be. |
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**********
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Need help
finding shoes that fit and learning easy ways to extend your wardrobe
with accessories? Download a copy of ACCESSORY MAGIC,
http://www.accessorymagic.com
to see how to
define your style and stretch your budget with accessories. |
 |
**************
Until next time,
Diana Pemberton-Sikes
diana@fashionforrealwomen.com
http://www.FashionForRealWomen.com
http://www.FashionSavvy.com
http://www.WardrobeMagic.com
http://www.FashionJobReview.com
------------------------
Published by:
Top Drawer
Publications, LLC
256 S. College Ave.
Newark, DE
19711 USA
Copyright
© 2006 by Diana Pemberton-Sikes All rights reserved. |
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