Why I Still Love High Heels (Even If I Don't Walk Around in Them)
If you've ever noticed one of my shoes dangling from my toes...
You probably smiled. I know I do.
People assume that because I'm happiest barefoot in the garden, I must not have much use for beautiful shoes anymore. They're wonderfully mistaken. I adore beautiful heels.
Not because I plan on walking a mile in them.
Goodness, those days are behind me. I love them because of how they make me feel the moment I slip them on. There's something delightfully playful about dressing up for no particular reason, sitting on the porch with a glass of wine, and admiring a pair of shoes that have their own personality.
Sometimes they stay on. Sometimes they dangle from the tip of my toes until gravity wins and one softly tumbles to the floor.
I suspect that's the moment many of you have been waiting for.
Every Pair Tells a Different Story
Open my closet and you'll find a little collection that's grown with me over the years.
The graceful elegance of a classic stiletto. The easy charm of a wedge on a sunny afternoon. A pair of peep-toes that remind me of dinner by the ocean. Delicate sandals that seem made for garden parties. Soft ballet flats for mornings at the farmers market.
Each pair carries a memory. Some are glamorous. Some are practical. Some I wear simply because they make me smile. I may not walk very far in them anymore, but I still enjoy every moment they're on my feet.
And Then There Are the Stockings...
There is something timeless about stockings.
Not because they're meant to hide anything. Because they invite you to slow down.
Rolling them carefully over your legs. Straightening the seams. Choosing whether today's mood calls for silky nude, classic black, delicate lace, or something with the faintest shimmer.
It's never hurried. It's a little ritual. One that reminds me that femininity doesn't disappear with age.
If anything...
It becomes more intentional.
The Little Dance of a Dangling Shoe
I think that's why the dangling shoe has always amused me.
One heel slips loose. My toes hold onto it for just another second.
Back and forth. Back and forth.
Sometimes I'm reading. Sometimes I'm talking on the phone. Sometimes I'm simply watching the breeze move through the lavender.
It's absentminded. Comfortable. A tiny habit I never really thought much about until someone admitted they'd been watching that little dance the entire time.
Now I can't help but smile every time it happens.
Beauty Doesn't Have an Expiration Date
One of the nicest things about getting older is realizing you no longer dress to impress everyone else. You dress because it delights you.
Some days that's muddy overalls and bare feet in the garden. Other days it's a flowing summer dress, a pair of vintage heels, and lipstick that makes me feel a little extra glamorous. Neither version is more authentic.
They're simply different petals from the same flower.
I've learned there's room for both.
A Little Garden Reflection
Whether you're someone who notices a dangling heel, appreciates the elegance of stockings, or simply enjoys the quiet confidence of a woman who still delights in dressing up, I hope you know this:
Style isn't about chasing youth. It's about embracing who you are today.
As for me...
I'll always love my garden. I'll always love my bare feet.
And every once in a while, when the afternoon light is just right...
You'll find a beautiful heel hanging lazily from my toes, reminding me that some of life's sweetest moments are the ones that aren't trying to impress anyone at all.
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