In the run up to my transition its no secret that I went a bit nuts on shoes….
I managed to fill a multi tiered, chest high shoe rack in a just a couple of weeks. It was fun.
Oddly, the next four months, once I had transitioned were spent entirely wearing knee boots, which it should be noted I also purchased in what may, or may not be larger than normal quantities.
The weather was cool, the boots are long, and my legs remained well hidden beneath layers of Denim, Leather and the odd pair of lacy tights. For the most part I was remarkably comfortable. Even when the Boss insisted I ditch the denim in favour of dresses whilst in the office…
I knew it couldn’t last, and it hasn’t.
The reality of living in Western Australia is that Summer arrives straight after the last day of Winter. Spring is a kind of utopian concept that the West Australians voted out years ago.
What tends to happen is, you go to bed underneath several layers of thermal fabrics to stave off the biting cold, with the temperature jut above freezing. You then wake up the next day soaked in sweat at 5:00 am with the mercury already climbing past 30 degrees C. Welcome to WA Summer.
So out come the cute flats with the little bow, with hopefully a degree of comfort assured.
The grown up heels in my collection are gorgeous, but at the moment, they remain as attractive ornaments adorning my shoe rack. I live in fear of ending up in an undignified heap at the bottom of the stairs in the office, or limping between meeting rooms at the end of the day.
What I have discovered however is that at the end of day two in my “Cute Flats”my feet are complaining bitterly, a fact I shared with Jane in a phone call from Perth….
“Ah, you need some spare shoes, pop out and pick a pair up whilst you are in Perth.” she suggested helpfully….
Try as I might, and I really did try, I couldn’t get myself into a shoe shop. This is seriously odd, because shopping for shoes used to be pretty high up my list of fun things to do. I am now gripped by a complex problem….
How come it was easier to shop for shoes before I transitioned than it is now….?
So far I have concluded that previously such shopping was conducted under a veil of secrecy.
The secrecy being required to hide the shame. Handing a gorgeous pair of Patent nude pumps, with practical (we shall see just how practical one day) two inch heel, to the sales assistant was so much easier when I could pretend they were not for me….
The veil is gone, but the shame remains.
Suggestions on a postcard to the usual address please 🙂
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