𝖁𝖊𝖓𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖆𝖓𝕵𝖔𝖓𝖊𝖑

Back in the day, $5 Old Navy flip-flops were enough to get you through the summer. But now, with social media being the main platform to either sell or post free feet pics, the world continues to evolve.

The average shoe just doesn’t cut it anymore. It’s all about the era, the price (kinda) and whether or not it’s postable. This year, the words “chic” and “maxxing” have been excessively used, but being chic is something I’ve been anticipating stepping into during my 30s.

No matter the length of your toes or how wide your feet are, having a shoe that allows you to channel your inner bad bitch is what truly allows you to step into womanhood.

Growing up, the women from The Real Housewives, season one and beyond, along with all the video vixens I saw in my favorite music videos, were THEE it girls in the flyest shoes. Your favorite style of shoe says a lot about your personal style. Whether you’re a sneakerhead, the girl who never strays too far from a heel, or the girl who would rock every style of boot on the market, your shoes are telling people something about you before you even open your mouth.

Since the beginning of time, shoes have also been used to define how people are perceived and, in some cases, where they were headed.

So what actually makes your shoes chic?

Summer is only three months long, but a good shoe lives forever. This year, I willingly stepped into my cool-shoe era by treating shoes more like a form of art instead of something I only buy because it’s trending.

The idea of the “perfect shoe” has changed drastically since the early 2000s, or even the 2010s, when Tumblr was every girl’s main source of fashion inspiration before Pinterest completely took over. Women’s shoes have influenced pop culture and everyday girlhood so heavily that part of growing up was simply making sure your shoe game was on point, no matter what era you were in.

Steve Madden, Jeffrey Campbell, Dr. Martens, Air Maxes, Jordans there has always been a shoe or a brand that almost any woman could identify with. And now, nearly every major shoe brand has created enough options for everybody to indulge in.

I remember when my husband and I first started dating, he bought me my first pair of red-bottom kitten heels. And no matter how much they hurt my feet, I find a way to give them life every few months.

There’s something special about getting shoes as a gift versus buying them for yourself. To an extent, I actually find it more chic when someone knows you well enough to gift you a shoe. Knowing your size is one thing, but knowing your style, your lifestyle, and what you would actually wear? That’s intimate.

Shoes have always had that kind of meaning in my life.

Growing up, my dad worked for Macy’s for over 20 years, specifically in the women’s shoe department, so I was exposed to fly shit very often. He was always gifting me a new pair of shoes, everything from Chinese Laundry to Skechers. I was indulging in some of the best Mary Janes a kid can have in the early 2000s before I even understood what personal style really was.

My shoe collection reflects my life on the guy as a fulltime dog walker, as a sexy girl that loves showing off my French tip toes, and the cozy girl that wants to ball on a budget. I always make sure to have a good running or walking shoe, my Crocs, a few solid heels, boots, flats, and flip-flops. Especially living on the East Coast, it’s imperative to have options because you truly never know what your day or the weather is going to consist of.

But I also think your shoe collection starts to become less about having the most shoes and more about having shoes for all the different versions of yourself. So recently I’ve cleared out my closet to focus on my gems that will stand the test of time.

There’s the shoe you wear when you want to be comfortable. The shoe you put on when you want to feel sexy. The shoe you’ve had forever but refuse to throw away. The shoe that reminds you of a specific era of your life. The ridiculously uncomfortable shoe that makes absolutely no sense, yet somehow still makes its way onto your foot every few months because the outfit requires sacrifice.

That’s what makes shoes personal.

My shoe collection tells a story about my life and where I’m heading. It’s a form of self love, even if sometimes my favorite shoe begins to collect dust for a while as the seasons transition.

And maybe being chic has less to do with owning the most expensive shoe and more to do with knowing which shoe makes you feel the most like yourself.

So, what does your shoe collection say about you?