Run It Back!

Pulled out an old pair of heels and instantly was feeling myself! I hadn’t really been wearing stiletto heels since the pandemic started except here and there for shoots and even then, they are rare. I’ve been working on curating my style and high heels have been left out. I know some may be quick to attribute that to my new found role as mother to a toddler but it began before my pregnancy and I’ll tell you how!

I love heels and they have always been a staple in my wardrobe, previous work roles with business casual dress made them a necessity to me amongst the throng of other young, black, beautiful professionals and I was not about being left out. Not to mention my height, which I revel in extending with a good pair of heels. I follow an influencer and YouTuber, HighLowLuxxe and while watching a vid of her pack for vacation, I noticed she did not pack even 1 pair of heels! I was stunned…..no heels for dinner or clubbing with your boo?!?! As I thought about the concept, my mind immediately went back to my honeymoon in Vegas 9 years ago, before heading out for a night of fun, my husband said, “Babe, wear whatever shoes that will allow you to have fun in tonight….walking and dancing is on the agenda… no looking for a chair or hobbling back to the hotel. I just want you to have a good time cause I don’t care how high your shoes are.” I was stunned and I chose a cute flat pair of sandals to go with my dress and we had an epic night. I’d forgotten about the convo until I saw that YouTube video and there began my shoe revolution! I’d still wear heels but on my terms.

Then comes COVID which pushed my shoe game even further to complete relaxation mode, sneakers to drop off my son at daycare, slides while working from home. Comfort came in and completely took over how I styled my clothes!….I was still cute, though….have to put in that disclaimer!

Well, needless to say, inspiration can be found all around you and it sometimes takes just one piece to spur you out of a rut and out the box! This beautiful pink and brown cardigan came into my life and I knew it would look great with my fav pair of jeans…..but shoes….white sneakers just seemed to not do it justice and it’s still Winter, so sandals were a no. I could have paired with a tan pair of boots but the cardigan was a really classic silhouette and the boots didn’t compliment it at all. Thus, I reached for my nude pumps….voila! PERFECT!

Now, I loved the look, but woah!!!! I put these on and instantly felt like a baby deer! However, by the time I made it to my kitchen to grab my bag, I felt tall, confident, sexy and really feminine. I walked out the door feeling better than I have in a while!

Fast forward to making it to my office, I walked in the lobby and a random older gentleman said, ” You wearing those shoes, girl!” I burst out laughing and thanked him, tickled to death! Needless to say, my feet were hurting like hell, but ya girl persevered!

How funny is it that uncomfortable things can spur so much confidence? How good does it feel to sometimes revisit things you’ve thrown aside? There is so much value in putting something down…..taking a break….and revisiting it again. Sometimes, the circumstances of where you are at a particular time and place in your life effects how you feel.