Different folks with different strokes and from different walks of life can converge and talk about an interesting topic to whet the appetite of both genders. We used to envy hairdos, clothing or bags but now, the envy is on the shoes! We can't deny, shoes are hot and we love them! I love shoes and would love to have my own collection too! We can hardly say no to a hot pair lusciously calling out for your purchase especially when it's on sale. It's like dragging you to get inside & to come outside with it in a shopping bag. But what's behind all these fashion crazes that have deterred the purpose of mainly protecting the feet? Have they become soulful soles that define the personality or fill in the need to become the person that they are transformed?



Shoes can go far to telling what kind of person you are. Go and check a woman's closet. If she's into sneakers and rubber shoes, she may be the active kind whose first love is sports. The closet with all the boots of different colors and length may be to a woman who is very cow-girly but if her boots are amazingly well preserved, clean, free from dust or mud, she may be the type who is into runways. The office girl may have rows and columns of stilettos, high heeled pumps, closed or open toe types. That may not sound as in depth as how we ought to get to know a person but that's pretty basic.

Shoes have become less of the aid and comfort it provides and more of the source for confidence and authority. They create empowered women, glamorous fashionistas and famous personality icons. In the movie, "In Her Shoes," Maggie, played by Cameron Diaz, puts on a pair she finds very amazing when she went out to audition for the VJ slot. What for? Because she thinks it could boost her confidence and eventually land her the job.

Authority is another psychological boost that these high heeled pumps can manifest; that sense of authority that commands respect and regard. According to Shari Benstock and Suzanne Ferriss, coeditors of Footnotes: On Shoes, "It (high heels) raises the buttocks and curves the back, pushing the chest forward." Lazy bones and slouched shoulders are zeroed out. She is motivated to walk carefully, step down meticulously and stand painstakingly. Shoes provoke feelings of autonomy too. Women want to feel independent. When female sexuality took a toll on feminism, they want to wear high heels to feel sexy and powerful.

Setting aside the newly found esteem, there are health hazards that these high heeled shoes pose to our physical health. Like medicine with side effects, there are consequences too when it is abused. It could deform the feet, create back problems, decrease instead of aid and ease the person's mobility and we don't want chopped toe nails too.

We certainly don't want our shoes to represent the real "us." There is still more to the heart than your shoe collection. Society may dictate the latest fashion trend but don't bargain fashion with health. Whatever it is that would rock this season or next year, your shoes have a story to tell and for the most part, in the path that it has already walked.