Shoe Party History Part One...

Shoe Party Saturday :)

My idea for a shoe party was borne of sympathy for a shoe-stomer that came to me and said she never had any fun buying shoes because of all the foot problems she had suffered in her life. I couldn't imagine not having fun buying shoes and it just broke my heart that she had such unhappy feet. I knew I couldn't fix her feet or suggest a pair of strappy sandals to cheer her up but perhaps I could bring at least a little fun into the process of buying shoes. I mean if “they” can make “Tupperware” fun by calling it a party....why couldn't she have a shoe party?

We both knew which pair of practical shoes she had to purchase to allow her feet to function without pain but that didn't mean we couldn't have a little fun trying on a whole pile of shoes just to feel like a regular woman who adores them. In the very act of doing this we actually stumbled upon a pair of Helle Comfort sandals that accommodated her orthotics well enough to wear for short periods of time when she wanted to dress up a bit. She hugged me and thanked me for caring enough to listen to what she really needed which was simply a bit of fun. I was truly moved by her hug and what we had both learned.

Now some shoe sales people might cringe at the idea of bringing out a pile of shoes that they know they are not going to actually sell to the customer. I was merely embracing the moment and found that it was worth the smile on my shoe-stomers face. She began to bring her friends in for shoe parties and even enjoyed watching them try on shoes she could never wear but enjoyed the parade of shoes vicariously. Of course, spending your friends' money and helping them pick out shoes is fun too.

And so the shoe parties began....