Let's Get Some Shoes

Oh my god, shoes. (If you don't know what I'm quoting, check YouTube.)

I have been shoe shopping like a madwoman, and I must say, I now have an awesome collection of kicks. Let me explain:

One of my biggest goals to complete while home for a month was to bulk up my wardrobe with Tokyo-appropriate apparel. At CMU, I can totally get away with wearing sorority t-shirts and hoodies 24/7, but in Tokyo, fashion is a very important expression of who you are and a lot of thought goes into one's outfit. Though I am obviously American and have no hope of blending in, fitting in and being stylish would be nice. So hoodies out, dressy shirts in.

I also felt pre-departure shopping was necessary because of my body type. As a 5'7" female with a medium build, I'm probably taller than 90% of the female Tokyo population, and my proportions are therefore quite different. It's already difficult to find regular jeans that fit me here, so I foresee problems in that area in Japan, and their shirts probably won't fit my torso very well either. So even though I love clothes shopping (whether or not I can afford it), I probably won't be doing much in Japan.

But I have no hope whatsoever in the shoe department.

I... am a size 11. Yes, you heard me, 11. A total injustice considering I'm not even model height. I find the shoes I like in my size about 5% of the time, including online shopping. There is no way any Tokyo store would carry my size, which sucks because their shoes are ADORABLE! It makes me cry inside.

Then I remember that handbags are one size fits all, and I feel a little better ^_^

Knowing this, I have been hitting up every mall in a 60-mile radius and all the online stores I know to look for heels, sneakers, and flats to go with all my outfits, in any situation. Though it's been a tough three weeks, I think I've got all the shoes I need. You may not understand how important this mission was to me, but trust me: there are others that feel the exact same way. I'm not weird, I'm just really picky about which shoes to pair with an outfit.

Even though purchasing multiple pairs of shoes within a three-week time period has put a small dent in my checking account (yay for birthday money), the knowledge that I have shoes for every outfit in my closet gives me a lovely surge of contentment and confidence. Shopper's high, I suppose. *sighs contentedly*

But if ombré heels go out of style in the next year, I'm gonna be in trouble... ^^;;;