Walking tall

Given my on-going love affair with sky-high heeled shoes, I am accustomed to hearing unsolicited commentary about my footwear. Of course today was no different. These Jessica Simpson Genaviv shoes boast an attention-getting heel height of 4 3/4" with 1 1/2" platform. I suck at math, but I do know that this calculates to being comparable to a 3 1/4" heel (I'm sure my 6th grade math teacher just rolled over in her grave).

But for some reason no one believes me when I tell them that these are the most comfortable pair of heels I own. Seriously, when I bought these shoes (last winter) I took them for a test strut around the shoe department. They were so comfortable, I completely forgot I had them on! I looked in the mirror and literally said out loud: "Oh, I completely forgot I had these on."

People see me in these shoes and they turn into my mother:

"How can you walk in those things?"
"You'll break your neck!"
"Those can't be comfortable."
"You'll ruin your feet!"
"Those look like stripper shoes." (this from one of my more conservative friends)

The funny thing is that my own mother doesn't say things like that to me.

My own Italian, New York born and raised mother replies to my fashion-related questions like a surly Denny's waitress takes your order at 2 a.m. -- there's no discussion, no banter -- it's cut to the chase.

I once asked my mom, "Do these look like stripper shoes?" Without missing a beat, she replied: "You're not a stripper, so how can they look like stripper shoes." Growing up with logic like that, it's no wonder I walk tall, no matter what my heel height is (though it's usually 3 or more inches).

****
Blouse: Banana Republic
Skirt: Apt. 9
Belt: Old Navy (vintage)
Shoes: Jessica Simpson (but, I think I covered that already)
Bangles: Urban Outfitters