Blog
The Emperor’s new shoes?
Posted: 29 December 2009
I like to consider myself reasonably ‘fashion forward’ and despite living in the back of beyond with no easy access to clothes shops, keep up to date with the twists and turns of the fashion world by subscribing to Grazia and watching Project Runway. I take care not to fall in to the ‘victim’ category (think Victoria Beckham) whilst retaining some sense of youth by buying new clothes from shops that my Mum wouldn’t and by asking the regular advice of my younger, and much more trendy, little sister.
It was this younger, much more trendy little sister of mine who recently advised that a pair of Ugg boots would both give my wardrobe a new lease of life (think skinny jeans and leggings) and make me seem magically younger. And so it was with these wise words ringing in my ears that I set off on my yearly shopping extravaganza to the ‘big city’ and to the nearest shoe shop. Despite the fact that Ugg boots first hit the fashion headlines nearly a decade ago, it is only very recently that I can look at them without recoiling in horror – so how did I get here – in a shoe shop weighing up the benefits of the ultra short chestnut versus the classic long? It is a mystery but thankfully it didn’t take me long to come to my senses.
Rather like the boy who cried of the Emperor, ‘He’s got no clothes on!’ my husband, upon seeing me try on a pair of grey (mid length) cardy Uggs cried, ‘It’s just a sock with a sole knitted on!’ – and the scales well and truly fell from my eyes. What was I thinking? I don’t even own a pair of leggings, will never be able to bring myself to pull on a pair of skinny jeans (I remember drainpipes all too well) and quite frankly have a lot better things to spend my hard earned cash on.
And so, unlike the Emperor who despite suspecting he was actually naked, pulled himself up to full height and marched proudly on, I scurried, head down, out of the shop with my cash and my reputation safe and sound. And on the way home I must have seen ten people wearing socks with soles sewed on – next time perhaps I should try jumping on the bandwagon a bit sooner...
Sarah